L’obsession qui a été celle de la Présidence, c’est que l’Europe prenne ses responsabilités et, en ce mois d’août, nous avons d’abord négocié le cessez-le-feu, le 12 août, puis un accord de retrait, le 12 septembre.
The Presidency was passionate about ensuring that Europe shouldered its responsibilities, and in August we started by negotiating the ceasefire, on 12 August, followed by a withdrawal agreement on 12 September. In the end, war was avoided, the retreat was started and, above all – thanks to all the Member States of the EU – Europe remained united.