EU leaders voted to nominate the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, for President of the Commission. His nomination will have to be approved by the European Parliament.
After exchanging views on the Union's goals and priority tasks, EU leaders underscored that it was necessary to continue enhancing competitiveness and carrying through structural reforms to boost growth and employment.
According to President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the European Union needed to fully develop the potential of the Single Market, ensure the creation of an effective internal energy market, put an end to energy dependence and eliminate the energy isolation of specific regions in the EU.
In the context of the current developments in Ukraine, the President said, the European Union assesses in very clear terms the risks posed by energy dependence on external monopolistic suppliers. She underlined that the European Union needed to implement, both responsibly and effectively, the European Energy Security Strategy developed by the Commission and that regular follow-ups should be made at every Council meeting.
The strategy identifies immediate short-term measures as well as medium to long-term challenges in building strategic energy interconnections, quickly responding to possible supply disruptions this coming winter, searching for alternative fuels and reducing energy dependence on single suppliers.
The Council has reiterated its strong condemnation of the annexation of Crimea and has urged all parties to engage in President Poroshenko's peace plan to restore stability in Ukraine.
EU leaders have also urged Russia to stop the flow of weapons and militants across its border with Ukraine and to use its influence on militant fighters to end the violence.
It is stated in the conclusions that by Monday the following steps will have to be taken: agreement on a verification mechanism, monitored by the OSCE, for the ceasefire and for the effective control of the border; return to the Ukrainian authorities of the three border checkpoints; release of hostages including all of the OSCE observers; launch of substantial negotiations on the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan. The Council will adopt the necessary decisions, if needed, and it stands ready to introduce further significant restrictive measures.
EU leaders discussed the Commission's country-specific recommendations and gave their political endorsement to the adoption of the euro by Lithuania on 1 January 2015.
The Council also approved the granting of an EU candidate country status to Albania.
