EU leaders met in Brussels on 20-21 October 2022 to discuss Ukraine, energy, economic issues and external relations.

On 20 October, European leaders reached an agreement to incresase efforts, in light of the ongoing crisis, to reduce demand, to ensure security of supply, to avoid rationing, and to lower energy prices for households and businesses across the Union and preserve the integrity of the Single Market.

The European Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the indiscriminate Russian missile and drone attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure in Kyiv and across Ukraine. It likewise condemned Russia’s actions at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and underlined the European Union’s support to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to maintain the safety, security and safeguards of the facility.

On 9 November, during a plenary debate on the outcome of the October summit, MEPs urge to speed up the reform on the electricity market to decouple electricity prices from those of gas. They also called for further measures to protect citizens and businesses who are struggling to pay rising energy bills, as well as a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022: closing statement by Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council