Today the European Council, tensions over energy between Meloni and Moscow

A European Council with a very busy agenda kicks off today - for two days. The theme of expensive energy stands out. But Ukraine and the Middle East are also on the table. Yesterday Prime Minister Meloni, in her communications to the Senate in view of the European summit, underlined that energy is "the issue that weighs most heavily on our economy today": "No one", she underlined, "can respond effectively alone". But there was also a distant back and forth between Meloni and Moscow on the agreement on Russian diesel reached by Trump and Putin. The Prime Minister said that "Trump's agreement is risky because it legitimizes Moscow". From the Kremlin, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, replied: "The agreement on diesel is not Meloni's business."

Merz: "Sharply cut the EU budget"

"We must significantly reduce the common budget compared to the proposals", because "no EU member state can afford to pay contributions of this magnitude", said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon his arrival at the summit, predicting "very, very difficult" negotiations.

Today's program

Today's discussion also concerns energy prices. The debate on the problem should be concentrated above all on "short-term measures". Von der Leyen proposed some interventions, such as the postponement of some provisions of the methane regulation and the revision of the temporary framework on state aid. But leaders are expected to call for "further measures". Then, during lunch, we focus on the issue of global macroeconomic imbalances. In the afternoon we move on to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF or MFF 2028-34), before the press conference. A "strategic" discussion on the enlargement of the Union and the reforms that must be made within it to welcome new members is planned for the dinner.

The program of the second day of the European Council

For the second day, however, we will start from the war in Ukraine: the leaders will listen to President Volodymyr Zelensky on the latest developments in the conflict. Then there is space for defense and security issues. Last theme, migrations. At the end of the meeting there will be the final press conference with the presidents Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.

In-depth analysis

Energy, Ukraine and the Middle East, the themes of the European Council