EU leaders criticize Costa after summit fails to advance on energy and budget

European Union leaders failed to make significant progress at a summit on Thursday, with President António Costa facing criticism over his handling of tense negotiations on energy prices and the bloc's next budget. Diplomats accused Costa of losing control of the room and favoring southern member states in budget talks, while divisions over the ETS2 carbon market pitted Germany and France against Italy and several eastern nations. The discussions ran past midnight, forcing the cancellation of a planned press conference. Despite the criticism, some officials defended Costa as a capable negotiator, noting that several leaders reopened previously agreed issues. The pressure comes as the EU faces external challenges, including the war in Ukraine and competition with China.