EU leaders tackle competitiveness, budget, and migration at Brussels summit

EU leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday for their penultimate summit of the year, with competitiveness, the long-term budget, Ukraine support, and migration on the agenda amid tensions over budget negotiations. The summit opens with discussions on boosting EU competitiveness, following the Draghi report, as high energy prices pressure businesses. Leaders will urge the Commission to propose temporary measures to mitigate costs, while also addressing trade imbalances with China, where the EU's daily deficit exceeds one billion euros. The most difficult topic is the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, with divisions between frugal countries like Germany and the Netherlands, and net beneficiaries like Portugal. European Council President António Costa aims for a deal by year-end, but no decisive progress is expected at this meeting.