Budget, Ukraine, migration: Five takeaways from the EU leaders’ summit
2 Video Views·Oct 16, 2026
EU leaders wrapped up a two-day summit on Friday discussing matters
on energy, the long-term budget, migration, China and Ukraine.
Leaders were no closer to reaching a compromise on the EU budget,
as disputes between cutting and increasing spending remain,
with hopes fading a deal will be reached by the end of the year.
The bitter row between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
and U.S. President Donald Trump dominated the second day of the summit.
Leaders closed ranks behind Zelensky
and promised to keep sanctions in place
and condemned the diesel deal struck by Trump
with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, migration proved once again among
the most contentious issues,
as Spain and Italy continue
to work out disputes born out of the Ceuta crisis.
On China, leaders discussed so-called macroeconomic imbalances.
They pressed the Commission to prepare
a toolbox of new trade defense instruments
to shield European industries from Chinese competition.
Lastly, the interminable discussion on energy ended
with some leaders pushing the Commission
to propose new measures to curb prices,
while others warned that such measures should not
curb investment in sustainability.