EU leaders opened a two-day Brussels summit on Thursday, October 15, with energy costs, Chinese imports and deep divisions over the bloc’s next long-term budget pressing their talks.
The 27 member states are weighing ways to ease high energy prices as households and companies face fuel-cost pressure, while also considering longer-term steps to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels. Trade with China is another flashpoint: the European Commission recently reached an agreement with Beijing to limit imports of Chinese hybrid cars, but leaders are seeking broader ways to respond to rising imports and protect EU industry. The bloc’s goods trade deficit with China reached €360 billion in 2025, according to the report.
On the budget, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said member states remained far apart, with net contributors such as Germany facing off against countries that receive more EU funding. The talks concern the 2028–34 budget, and leaders must weigh support for farmers and regions against calls to invest in competitiveness and other priorities. Energy policy is also contentious: six countries called for delaying the next phase of the EU emissions-trading scheme over cost concerns, but that proposal was rejected.
The summit agenda includes further discussions on competitiveness, the long-term budget and energy measures, with the disputes underscoring how difficult it may be for the bloc to agree on a common response.