Key facts
- Four new prime ministers are joining the European Council, changing the bloc's decision-making body.
- Hungary's new Prime Minister Péter Magyar has repaired ties with the EU and is seen as a constructive partner.
- Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev has previously argued against increasing military aid to Ukraine.
- Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Janša is a supporter of Ukraine but may oppose sanctions on Israel.
- Latvia's new Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' government prioritizes strengthening anti-drone defenses.
- The summit will address the EU's next budget, energy policy, and foreign affairs.
Four new prime ministers are set to join the European Council, significantly altering the bloc's political dynamics as leaders gather in Brussels. These changes, occurring in Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Latvia, come at a critical juncture for major EU decisions on its next €2 trillion budget, energy policy, and foreign affairs.
Péter Magyar, Hungary's new leader, has already begun repairing Budapest's relationship with Brussels, unlocking frozen EU funds and signaling a more constructive approach than his predecessor, Viktor Orbán. While Magyar aims to wean Hungary off Russian energy by 2035 and maintains continuity on migration policy, his alignment with the European People's Party suggests a more pro-EU stance.
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev, attending his first summit as head of government, presents a potential challenge to the EU's united front on Ukraine. Radev has previously voiced skepticism about increasing military aid to Kyiv and has cultivated warmer ties with Moscow, raising concerns among diplomats about future sanctions negotiations.
Janez Janša returns as Slovenia's Prime Minister, known as a staunch supporter of Ukraine. However, he is expected to oppose proposed EU sanctions against Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, potentially aligning with countries like Germany and the Czech Republic on this issue.
Latvia's new Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, a coalition-backed businessman, is focused on bolstering the country's anti-drone defenses ahead of upcoming discussions on securing the bloc's eastern flank airspace. His arrival follows a political crisis triggered by drone incursions.
The departure of Viktor Orbán from the European Council leaves a void, with diplomats now observing where future opposition to EU decisions might emerge.