About: European Council summit

EU-Turkey: A showdown in Brussels 

The question of whether to impose sanctions against Turkey will test how far EU leaders are prepared to support President Erdogan's “repressive form of rule”. writes Robert Ellis.

Hopes of Brexit trade deal fade as EU leaders take hard line

The prospects of an EU-UK trade deal being agreed imminently faded on Thursday (15 October) after EU leaders took an uncompromising approach on the progress of talks.

The next EU budget must repair and transform the European economy

As EU leaders gather for a crucial summit on Thursday, a radical rethink of the next seven year EU budget is needed, argues Margarida Marques.

Macron prepares counter-offensive for Brussels

French President Emmanuel Macron will only choose the new French candidate for the  European Commission after an EU summit on 17-18 October, where he intends to secure political support from the European Parliament. EURACTIV France reports.

UK is ‘wasting time’, Tusk says as leaders express hostility to Brexit delay

EU leaders ruled out the prospect of a further Brexit extension as the European Council summit drew to a close on Friday (21 June), with Council boss Donald Tusk accusing the UK of wasting its six-month extension, which ends on 31 October.

Macron already taking shots at remodelling Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to change the Spitzenkandidaten process to ensure a strong European executive. According to him, the programme comes first, and only then the candidate who could implement it. EURACTIV France reports.

The ball’s in your court on Brexit, leaders tell UK

EU leaders struck a reflective tone as they wrapped up a Spring summit in Brussels that was, again, dominated by Brexit.

Warm words but no Brexit concessions, as May leaves Brussels empty-handed

EU leaders took turns to praise Theresa May on Thursday night (13 December) but the UK Prime Minister left Brussels empty-handed after promising her divided Conservative party that she would secure new concessions from EU leaders.

EU must prioritise nature in its next long-term budget

The future of Europe is at stake as European leaders meet this week. Now is the opportunity to safeguard European biodiversity, writes Luc Bas.

A technical European Council to defuse tension

The European heads of state will meet in Brussels for three days. France is hoping to avoid reopening the eternal political debate surrounding migration and make progress on specific aspects, including Brexit – even though the final agreement is not ready. EURACTIV France reports.

Political scientist: Germans are used to V4’s strong “No” from time to time

The EU's stand on migration policy is moving towards the demands of the Visegrad group, one of the best functioning groups in the bloc, says Dr Kai-Olaf Lang, adding that in many respects, Germany and V4 are much closer to each other today than Germany and France.

World Refugee Day, a reminder for EU leaders that reforming the migration system is urgent

Millions are fleeing war or persecution worldwide. As we commemorate their strength and courage on World Refugee Day, we try to be calm quoting the record high number of 68.5 million displaced people – 3 million higher than the total population of the UK – 25.4 million refugees, 40 million internally displaced and 3.1 million asylum seekers, writes Luca Jahier.

EU heads of state issue warning over Facebook data case

The 28 EU heads of state issued a warning shot on Thursday (22 March) over allegations that 50 million Facebook users’ data was harvested without their consent to influence political campaigns.

No new Russia sanctions, or Tusk letter to Putin

Theresa May will update fellow EU leaders on the Salisbury spy attack on Thursday evening but has not requested any further sanctions on Russia following the attack, an EU official has said.

Migration row mars EU summit, exposes divides

EU leaders ended the first day of the end-of-year European Council summit with no sign of tensions thawing amid recent disagreements on migration, which have once again exposed divides between eastern members and 'old Europe'.

‘Let’s do our work’ on social policy, Juncker tells member states

Europe’s credibility hinges on national leaders agreeing social legislation that applies across the bloc, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday (17 November) at a summit with leaders from EU countries in Gothenburg, Sweden.

#EUCO wrapup: EU summit agrees on ‘Leaders agenda’ despite Brexit

EU leaders wound up two-days of high-level talks in Brussels on Friday (20 October). Digital single market, migration, defence, but also Catalonia and Turkey, were discussed on Thursday. On Brexit, the leaders welcomed 'some progress' in the talks, but said it was not enough to move to phase two, postponing that assessment for December.

Tusk vows to keep unity with proposal on EU’s future

European Council President Donald Tusk has set himself a time limit of two weeks to talk to leaders from every EU member state before he proposes a plan for how to advance on the future of Europe.

EU leaders agree to extend sanctions against Moscow

EU leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Moscow for another six months because of Russia's failure to implement a peace deal for Ukraine, European Council President Donald Tusk said in a tweet on the first day of the 22-23 June EU Summit.

Macron prepares for first EU summit as a free political agent

Right, left or centre? In preparation for his first EU summit as president of France, Emmanuel Macron has chosen not to throw his lot in with any political family. He has his own strategy and expectations are high all round. EURACTIV France reports.

Brexit will dominate Council summit behind the scenes

With London and Brussels going head to head over Brexit, the EU's leaders are eagerly awaiting Theresa May's first European Council summit this week. EURACTIV France reports.

Wrap up: EU summit on energy union, Ukraine and Greece

Energy Union, and the ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine, dominated EU leaders' talks in Brussels this week (19-20 March). Follow our live coverage below.

Cameron announces fund to fight Russian ‘bullies’

UK Prime Minister David Cameron used possibly his last European Council summit to announce a £20 million (€27.66 million) fund to make Ukraine, other ex-Soviet states, and the Balkans more resistant to Russian “bullying” tactics.