European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, economic and security challenges.
According to an invitation letter from European Council President António Costa, the discussions will centre on Ukraine, the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, enlargement, and the bloc’s wider geo-economic position.
The agenda also includes debates on the Middle East, European defence and migration, reflecting the increasingly complex environment facing the EU as it looks towards the latter half of the decade.
Ukraine is expected to dominate the discussions, as EU leaders revisit commitments made at their previous meeting in October 2025 to address Kyiv’s urgent financial needs for 2026 and 2027.
These include funding for military assistance, defence capabilities and the functioning of the Ukrainian state as Russia’s war continues.
In addition to Ukraine, leaders will hold strategic debates on the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, which will shape spending priorities beyond the current budget cycle.
Discussions are likely to focus on how to fund defence, climate goals, industrial competitiveness and enlargement ambitions within a constrained fiscal environment.
Enlargement, particularly involving Ukraine and other candidate countries, raises fundamental questions about the EU’s capacity, governance and financial solidarity.
The summit brings together heads of state and government at a time when the EU is under pressure to balance long-term strategic planning with immediate crises.
Arrivals began early in the morning, with live broadcasts from Brussels ahead of a press conference expected later in the day.
This is a developing story.
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European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a European Council summit that is set to focus on some of the bloc’s most pressing political, eco...
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's “symbolic steps” in the region are becoming a point of focus.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law and set out the direction for American military spending and strategy for the coming year.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futile. He made the comment during his evening address on Wednesday ahead of a key European Union summit focused on Moscow’s frozen assets.
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