LIVE: EU leaders to discuss Middle East, energy prices and Ukraine
On Thursday, EU leaders will descend on Brussels for the European Council summit. They will discuss the situation in Iran and its consequences for energy prices and security in the EU.
Initially billed as the summit to tackle Europe’s industrial competitiveness and hash out a single market plan, the leaders’ meeting will be overshadowed by the ripple effects from the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and a fierce stand-off between Kyiv and Budapest over the Druzhba pipeline.
The summit follows an informal retreat in Belgium in February, where EU leaders discussed ways to revive the bloc’s economy. But Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not put forward the roadmap on Wednesday, as first reported by Euractiv, allowing for more time for leaders’ input.
Also on the agenda are a blocked, provisionally agreed €90 billion emergency loan for Ukraine, the next seven-year budget, migration, and defence.
Stay tuned for more updates.
