EU leaders weigh China threats against a tight, retooled budget

EU leaders meet for a two-track summit focusing on how to counter China’s impact on Europe’s economy and how to resolve a stubborn seven-year budget. Northern/frugal capitals want a smaller, modernized budget with more own resources, while southern/eastern members seek to protect cohesion spending. The debate centers on redirecting funds from traditional areas like agriculture to defense, R&D, and energy resilience, with a year-end goal to reach a 2028 budget deal despite domestic populist pressures.