Key facts
- EU leaders will convene for a summit on October 15-16.
- Key agenda items include the bloc's long-term budget, migration, trade dependencies, and enlargement.
- European Council President António Costa plans for the budget to be agreed before Christmas.
- The summit will also address support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
- The implementation of Europe's defence readiness agenda is also a focus.
Leaders from across the European Union are set to convene for a summit on October 15 and 16, with a draft agenda highlighting migration, trade, the bloc's €2 trillion long-term budget, and the potential for admitting new member states as key priorities. The meeting, obtained by POLITICO, outlines a running order for discussions that aim to make significant headway on the budget, with European Council President António Costa expressing a desire to have it agreed before the end of the year.
In addition to the budget, the summit will feature strategic discussions on migration and enlargement, including internal reforms. The leaders will also review the EU's dependencies on trading partners and consider pathways for new countries to join the bloc. The agenda also includes discussions on support for Ukraine, the ongoing situation in the Middle East, and the implementation of Europe's defence readiness agenda.