European Union (EU) leaders are set to gather in Brussels on Thursday for two days of talks on some the bloc’s most persistent issues.
The meeting will kick off with a discussion on the economy, including the EU’s faltering competitiveness and soaring energy prices.
Leaders are also expected to discuss the bloc’s huge trade deficit with China and whether recently announced plans to curb imports of hybrid cars to the EU are enough to improve the strained relations with Beijing.
The EU has accused China of using state subsidies to create unfair competition, prompting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron to jointly call for new EU measures to tackle market-distorting practices ahead of the meeting.
Another controversial topic on the agenda is the bloc’s next seven-year budget for the years 2028 until 2034.
A recent compromise proposal could do little to bridge divisions deeply entrenched between wealthy, frugal member states, including Germany, and those that rely heavily on EU cohesion funds.
Although no breakthrough is expected this week, European Council President António Costa is under pressure to find a way forward as he aims to reach a compromise by the end of the year.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join the leaders to press Kiev’s case for further support after Russia intensified its strikes on Ukraine, killing dozens of civilians.
Discussions on the Middle East, defence, EU enlargement and migration will round out the two-day summit.
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