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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R) addresses the press as she arrives for a EU leaders Summit at The European Council Building in Brussels
Image: Ludovic Marin/AFP

EU summit

Leaders of the European Union's 27 member states regularly meet to determine the bloc's role in world events. This is an automated collection of DW's coverage of European Council summits.

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All Content on this topic

An EU flag on a military uniform

Eurobonds: EU plans debt revolution to finance defense

Eurobonds are touted as the silver bullet to finance Europe's rearmament. But raising joint debt is still controversial.
BusinessMarch 12, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands between the EU and Ukrainian flags with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium

EU summit on Ukraine: Europe seems ready to spend on defense

The US turn away from Europe over Ukraine has shook the continent. Are EU leaders now taking matters into its own hands?
ConflictsMarch 7, 2025
Border police walk along the steel fence near the Evros river between Greece and Turkey

EU summit focuses on migration amid rise of far-right

EU leaders are seeking reforms on migration and ways to strengthen the bloc's external borders.
MigrationOctober 17, 2024
A tractor bearing the words "SOS" leads a line of other tractors protesting in the European district in Brussels,

Farmers protest in Brussels amid EU summit

Farmers gathered some 1,000 tractors across the EU capital Brussels to press European leaders meeting for a summit.
PoliticsFebruary 1, 2024
A young woman wearing a Ukrainian wreath (Vinok), poses at the memorial of Maidan activists

Ukraine, Moldova set for EU talks after Hungary drops veto

In a dramatic twist after days of hardballing by Hungary, Ukraine got the OK to start EU membership talks.
PoliticsDecember 15, 2023
Two soldiers from the Wagner Group, a private army, seen in a tank in Rostov on Don, Russia

Wagner mutiny in Russia changes EU summit agenda

EU leaders had intended to tackle membership and accession issues, but Wagner Group tanks have upended the agenda.
PoliticsJune 28, 2023
Foreign ministers from left, Kosovo's Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, North Macedonia's Bujar Osmani, Albania's Olta Xhacka, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Bosnia's Elmedin Konakovic, Serbia's Ivica Dacic and Montenegro's Djordje Radulovic pose for a group photo on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, May 22, 2023.

EU foreign ministers hold talks on Ukraine, Balkans

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected to join the Brussels meeting via video link.
PoliticsMay 22, 2023
Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) | Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland

EU summit: European banking sector not in turmoil

While European bank shares have slumped, EU leaders are not worried. But they warn to "never be complacent."
PoliticsMarch 24, 2023
Deutschland | Bundestag Bundeskanzler Scholz Regierungserklärung Zeitenwende

Germany's Scholz seeks strengthening EU competitiveness

At the German parliament, the chancellor presented Berlin's position before an EU meeting in Brussels.
PoliticsMarch 16, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Charles Michel

Zelenskyy optimistic Ukraine will get European fighter jets

The Ukrainian president saw progress on getting European allies to send fighter jets, but had nothing big to share.
PoliticsFebruary 9, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the European Parliament

Zelenskyy says Russia world's 'most anti-European force'

The Ukrainian president thanked lawmakers and national leaders for their help so far and called for greater speed.
PoliticsFebruary 9, 2023
File picture of a F-16 fighter jet

Ukraine updates: Russia warns jets will prolong conflict

Russia says supplying Western jets wil prolong the conflict and make it "more painful" for Ukraine. DW has more.
ConflictsFebruary 9, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcome Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris

Ukraine updates: Macron, Scholz meet Zelenskyy in Paris

Macron and Scholz assured Volodymyr Zelenskyy their countries will support Ukraine as long as necessary. DW has more.
ConflictsFebruary 9, 2023
A dinghy full of refugees being rescued by a Spanish NGO, Open Arms, off the Libyan coast.

Migration: The European Union's perennial conundrum

The recurring conundrum of how to sort out the dysfunctional EU migration system returns to the stage this week.
MigrationFebruary 8, 2023
Olaf Scholz in the Bundestag

Scholz says Putin 'will not achieve his goals' in Ukraine

The Chancellor is addressing parliamentarians in the federal parliament on the upcoming EU special summit in Brussels.
PoliticsFebruary 8, 2023
Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen address a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels

EU agrees new sanctions against Russia at end-of-year summit

EU leaders had to deal with an internal dispute, holding up aid for Ukraine, and a spat with the US over subsidies.
PoliticsDecember 15, 2022
Sali Berisha speaks at a rally after being attacked

Albanian opposition leader attacked during protests

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha was punched in the face by a man during an anti-government protest march.
PoliticsDecember 6, 2022
A person lights a gas burner inside a house.

EU agrees to Ukraine aid, but no gas price cap

EU leaders talked China and agreed to boost aid to Ukraine, but say they will continue discussing price limits on gas.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2022
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz among EU and European national flags

EU leaders focus on war and energy markets at summit

Disagreement among member states, however, means a price cap on gas is still very unlikely.
PoliticsOctober 20, 2022
Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks in the Bundestag, wearing a black suit and blue tie

Scholz: Russian air attacks on Kyiv are 'war crimes'

Speaking to lawmakers in the Bundestag, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed continued support for Ukraine.
PoliticsOctober 20, 2022
People gathered outdoors in Brussels holding a sign reading "Proud to be Ukrainian"

EU grants Ukraine, Moldova candidate status

Joining the European Union, though, will likely take years, with reforms to integrate European standards still required.
PoliticsJune 23, 2022
Western Balkan and EU leaders walk for a family picture during a summit in Brussels

Western Balkans aim to join EU after talks

For years, Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia have criticized the slow progress on their EU membership bids.
PoliticsJune 23, 2022
Leaders of the world's largest economies meet in Brussels to address the war in Ukraine

NATO, G7, EU leaders show unity

Western leaders met in Brussels to show support for Ukraine — without getting involved in an all-out war with Russia.
PoliticsMarch 25, 2022
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) makes a press statement in Brussels

EU leaders struggle over COVID travel rules

EU leaders have been unable to find a clear position on travel measures to tackle the omicron variant of COVID-19.
PoliticsDecember 16, 2021
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaking to press outside the European Council building in Brussels

Chancellor Scholz in Brussels for first EU summit

A week after taking the top job in Germany, Olaf Scholz is in Brussels to meet his EU counterparts.
PoliticsDecember 16, 2021
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron

Angela Merkel receives fond farewell at final EU summit

Merkel was praised as the "Eiffel Tower" of the European Union at her 107th, and likely final, leaders' summit.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2021
Mateusz Morawiecki und Ursula von der Leyen

Rule-of-law row with Poland dominates EU leaders' summit

EU leaders are taking the Polish premier to task over a court ruling questioning the supremacy of EU law.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2021
Group photo of EU leaders at summit in Brdo

Western Balkans EU membership a long way off

Vetoes by EU member countries continue to hold up the start of talks for Albania and North Macedonia to join the bloc.
PoliticsOctober 6, 2021
A demonstrator stomps on a smoke canister during a protest against vaccinations and coronavirus measures in Ljubljana, Sloveni

Slovenia: Police disperse protesters ahead of EU summit

Thousands gathered in the Slovenian capital, just as EU leaders rolled into town for a major summit.
SocietyOctober 5, 2021
A tense European Union summit has wrapped up in Brussels, after two days of heated discussions.

Difficult talks in Brussels

A tense European Union summit has wrapped up in Brussels, after two days of heated discussions.
PoliticsJune 25, 202102:15 min
Discussions on day one of the EU leaders' summit

Merkel hopeful of swift economic recovery at EU summit

The first day of the summit grew heated over a proposed EU summit with Russia.
PoliticsJune 25, 2021
Brussel's Grand Place is lit up in rainbow colors

Hungary anti-LGBTQ law dispute overshadows EU summit

The European Commission and Hungary are at loggerheads over LGBTQ discrimination. Bernd Riegert reports from Brussels.
PoliticsJune 24, 2021
German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks to Ursula von der Leyen

EU summit: COVID, climate change on the agenda

EU leaders discussed the bloc's fight against COVID-19 and climate change on day two of their summit.
PoliticsMay 25, 2021
European Council President Charles Michel, top screen left, takes part in an EU Summit, via videoconference link, at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

EU leaders to tackle vaccination drive, receive Biden

The EU leaders are talking pandemic strategies and will also virtually receive the US President Joe Biden.
PoliticsMarch 25, 2021
Barbara Wesel Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

One last compromise

Barbara Wesel
Rule of law was put aside in order to save the EU budget and coronavirus stimulus package, DW's Barbara Wesel writes.
PoliticsDecember 11, 2020
Neil King

Europe hasn't forgotten the climate crisis

Neil King
The announcement that Europe has increased its 2030 climate reduction targets is welcome news says Neil King.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 11, 2020
From left to right: Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Mateusz Morawiecki and Viktor Orban

What's next after summit reaches budget deal?

Germany's presidency of the Council of the European Union is ending with a summit that will leave unanswered questions.
PoliticsDecember 10, 2020
Mateusz Morawiecki and Viktor Orban

Hungary, Poland hold EU hostage over budget

EU leaders will debate the coronavirus and Hungary and Poland's attempts to blackmail the EU over a rule-of-law clause.
PoliticsNovember 19, 2020
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, center, speaks with Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, right, during a meeting of European Union foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.

Two EU foreign ministers test COVID-19 positive after summit

The foreign ministers of Belgium and Austria have both tested positive for the coronavirus.
HealthOctober 17, 2020
Finnische Ministerpräsidentin Sanna Marin

Finnish Prime Minister leaves EU summit to self-isolate

The Finnish prime minister has left an EU summit as "a precautionary measure" after possible exposure to COVID-19.
SocietyOctober 16, 2020
external

Coronavirus overshadows EU summit

EU leaders are struggling to deal with a sharp rise in coronavirus infections across the bloc.
October 16, 202001:39 min
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron meet at an EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

EU leaders urge UK to budge on Brexit trade deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that EU should also compromise with the UK to reach a final agreement.
PoliticsOctober 15, 2020
Chinese high-speed trains in Wuhan

Merkel wants China to be fair on investments

EU leaders urged Brussels to look into reducing dependence on the US and China at the EU summit.
TradeOctober 2, 2020
Belgien Brüssel | Pressekonferenz Brexit | Ursula von der Leyen

EU threatens Turkey with sanctions over Mediterranean row

EU leaders threatened Turkey with sanctions over its aggressive actions. They also offered it rewards for good behavior.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2020
EU meeting

EU leaders agree Belarus sanctions

After hours of deadlock, EU leaders agreed to sanction Belarus over its disputed election and crackdown on protesters.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2020
Bernd Riegert

EU does the right thing

Bernd Riegert
Taking on joint debt is a sign of solidarity that will change the bloc forever, says DW's Bernd Riegert.
PoliticsJuly 21, 2020
Angela Merkel

Coronavirus: Germany's Merkel eyes EU recovery deal

Friendships end easily over money. After an unsuccessful weekend, the EU is continuing talks on a €1.8 trillion deal.
PoliticsJuly 20, 2020
Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel

EU leaders start 'very difficult' recovery talks

Despite hours of talks, the EU leaders have remained divided on the €750-billion coronavirus recovery package.
PoliticsJuly 17, 2020
Angela Merkel with EU flags

Germany finds new coronavirus generosity ahead of EU summit

In the past, Germany pushed through austerity in the EU. Now the coronavirus crisis has sparked a new generosity.
PoliticsJuly 16, 2020
India and EU flags

India-EU summit focuses on coronavirus, thorny trade issues

Both sides are expected to voice support for a rules-based global order and find a way forward to resume trade talks.
BusinessJuly 14, 2020