ENHANCING BILATERAL EU SUMMITS EFFECTIVENESS

One of the responsibilities of the President of the European Council is to represent the EU externally at international summits, usually alongside the President of the European Commission. Bilateral summits are organised between the EU and its strategic partners. Such summits are held on a regular basis, usually once a year, with countries such as Japan, the US, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and China. The location for the summits alternates between Brussels and the country concerned.

Typically joint summits with EU partners are not the place where serious differences are ironed out and grand bargains are struck over a few hours. The last thing that leaders of large emerging countries want is appear to have had their arm twisted or to have been corned. Rather summits are successful if they are well prepared (well understood division of labour within the EU and clear common messages) and leaders are called upon to close deals when positions are already converging. Hard talk ought to take place in other platforms. Summits offer a major opportunity to feel the pulse of the relationship at the highest level and explore new dimensions.

The ultimate goal of EU joint summits is to frame a sustainable, lasting engagement with the partner country. The main products of each summit are a joint summit declaration and a joint summit action plan. Action plans and commitments need to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

The first priority for any summit is be to build a framework for a partnership that will stand the test of time. The most important products are the declaration and the action plan; these documents present a clear plan of how the EU will engage with the partner country going forward (through further summits or otherwise). The joint communiqué should contain action items that will be measurable and tractable for substantial progress by the next summit, including the announcement of a date and location for the next leaders’ summit, a joint follow-up committee, and a date for the first follow-up committee meeting.  

The EU plans for their next summit three to five years ahead of time, with multiple joint meetings and preparatory work in between summits. More preparatory time helps bring greater perspective and more voices to the table.

Beyond the guest list, it is necessary to hold joint preparatory events that include senior officials and ministers to prepare and consult on the key themes and issues that will be discussed at the summit. Preparatory events help the host country cover more summit themes by allowing more time for discussion with ministers, senior officials, diplomats and other stakeholders.  

The EU chairs its summits jointly, typically between the host country/region at leader level.

In order to increase transparency, the joint summits should use economic and social stakeholder meetings before their summits to allow a review of themes and action plans. After the summits, follow-up mechanisms increase the participation of partners and hold  countries (host or otherwise) accountable to commitments.

Increasingly joint business forum are organized in the margins of joint summits. Business Forums brings together representatives of the business and political communities of the EU and the partner country to discuss challenges and propose solutions. Business Forums identify a wide range of areas in which enhanced cooperation between stakeholders can contribute to better leverage the participation of the private sector. Their conclusions and recommendations are made available to political leaders on both sides.