EU leaders gather to discuss China, Ukraine and budget

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 07:57 · Archive

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to address trade challenges with China, support for Ukraine and the bloc's budget for 2028–2034.

European Union leaders convened in Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit addressing multiple economic and security challenges facing the bloc. The meeting focused on competition from China, Ukraine's defence needs and the bloc's energy security amid soaring prices that are affecting competitiveness.

The EU's trade deficit with China reached €360 billion last year and is expected to exceed that figure this year. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron called for new EU measures to counter market distortion. The European Commission had recently reached an agreement with Beijing to curb hybrid car imports, as the bloc seeks to remedy what it says are unfair Chinese economic practices and state subsidies creating an unlevel playing field.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to attend Friday's discussions on further supporting Ukraine as it faces Russia's full-scale invasion. The leaders were also expected to debate the EU's next seven-year budget covering 2028 to 2034, a contentious issue requiring unanimous approval. Divisions between wealthier states and those relying on EU cohesion funds typically make budget discussions intense, with a special summit scheduled for November to seek agreement.

How it is being reported

• EU summit to focus on China, Ukraine and bloc budgetEU leaders meeting in Brussels will examine measures to curb the bloc's huge trade deficit with China. But they will also be looking to further agreement on the next EU budget ahead of some major elections next year.DW News · 15 Oct, 07:43
• EU leaders talk energy crisis and budget — live updatesSummit in Brussels will see leaders talk Russia and Ukraine as well as migration and the long-term budget.Politico Europe · 14 Oct, 18:40

In this story: European Union · China · Ukraine · Russia · Volodymyr Zelenskyy · Friedrich Merz · Emmanuel Macron

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