EU leaders meet in Brussels to combat sanctions against Russia, American prices and Middle East conflicts.
The leaders of the 27 member countries of the European Union will meet in Brussels to discuss the more strict sanctions against Russia, the means to prevent the painful prices of the new United States and how to make their voices heard in the conflicts of the Middle East.
Most of the leaders will arrive at the event that will take place Thursday from a short but intense NATO summit, where they promised a big boost in defense spending and focused on some of their differences with US President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join the EU summit by videoconference, after meeting Trump on Wednesday.
NATO led by the United States has downgraded Ukraine with an absolute priority to a parallel player this week, but the Russian war in Ukraine remains essential for the EU.
Members will discuss an 18th cycle of potential sanctions against Russia and maintain a price ceiling on Russian oil, measures that certain nations oppose because it could increase energy prices.
Meanwhile, Trump’s threatened prices weigh on the EU, which negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the 27 member countries. He unleashed Wednesday in Spain for not spending more in defense and suggested even more prices. The French president criticized Trump for launching a trade war with longtime allies.
European leaders are also concerned with the rebates of wars in the Middle East, and the EU pushes to relaunch diplomatic negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program.
EU members have internal disagreements to overcome. They are divided on what to do with European policy towards Israel because of his conduct in his war against Gaza.
Speaking before the summit, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez became the most eminent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a “genocide” while urging the EU to immediately suspend his cooperation agreement with Israel.
He mentioned a recent report on human rights in the EU diplomatic service which revealed that the “indications” according to which Israel violated its obligations in terms of human rights under the cooperation agreement, which constitutes the basis of trade links.
The text cited the blockade of Israel of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory, the high number of civilian victims, the attacks against journalists and massive movements and the destruction caused by war.
Other points of friction that could emerge during the event may come from leftist parties which attack the European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen for having pivoted the EU climate management in favor of military investment.
Defense and security are also likely to go beyond the agenda. The summit will end with a declaration of conclusions which will establish the agenda of the block for the next four months, and can be considered as a Belwether for political feeling in Europe on regional and global issues.