European Council

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, right, greets European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, during a round table meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.

– Hello there! What a lovely weekend we just had—bright but chilly with the sun showing its teeth, and thankfully no rain (let’s see how long this lasts in November).

The European Council has extended the mandate of the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for an additional two years, now set to continue until November 15, 2026. Established in October 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the mission aims to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities through targeted training programs.

Acting Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev expressed optimism about progress on Bulgaria's entry into Schengen but advised caution in commenting on specific outcomes. Speaking to journalists in Budapest, he noted that Bulgaria's position is closely aligned with Romania's in the process.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his congratulations to Donald Trump for his emphatic victory in the US elections, noting that Europe should wake up from its geopolitical naivety and secure additional resources for competitiveness and European defense.

Before the start of the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and Albani

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that it is uncertain whether Vladimir Putin will extend congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory. He emphasized that the United States is considered an enemy country by Russia, both directly and indirectly involved in the conflict against Russia.

In a discussion heavily influenced by the American elections, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou reflected on the broader implications for Greek-American relations and European geopolitics.

Mitsotakis emphasized that, regardless of the outcome, the strategic nature of Greek-American relations would remain unchanged.

The European Union's annual progress report on Turkey's accession process, presented Wednesday, includes references to Greek-Turkish relations, the migration issue and the Cyprus problem. 

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) and European Council President Charles Michel address a closing press conference after an EU summit in Brussels on Oct. 17, 2024.