EU leaders to press for new energy price measures at Brussels summit on 15 and 16 October

Energy prices top the agenda

Leaders of the 27 EU member states meet in Brussels on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October, and the discussion starts with energy costs rather than Ukraine, which breaks the usual order. Fuel prices have risen under public pressure, and several leaders, including Portugal's Luís Montenegro, are looking to the EU for ways to bring them down. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday 14 October that the rise is mainly due to the war in Iran, not the conflict in Ukraine. She argued that what Donald Trump has done legitimises Moscow, provides new revenue to fund the war and weakens the pressure of sanctions. German chancellor Friedrich Merz had already criticised the US president earlier in the week. European governments see Trump's purchases of Russian diesel, made to lower pump prices in the United States, as unacceptable because they harm Ukraine and do not solve the energy price problem.

The leaders are expected to endorse recent proposals from the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen. These include continuing state aid for the most exposed industrial sectors and postponing new methane rules, which could push up the price of gas and oil imports. Also on the table are an initiative to pool energy demand so purchases can be made jointly, and a framework to optimise refinery capacity and efficiency in the short term. Three sources warned that the summit will not produce a 'magic solution' or immediate effects, but they expect leaders to endorse a coordinated European response.

Budget talks pass to Costa

The 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework is the other main item. The Irish presidency, which holds the Council's rotating presidency until the end of the year, proposed an 8% cut to the Commission's proposal, bringing the total to 1.62 trillion euros without touching cohesion and agriculture. The proposal drew criticism from north to south of Europe. A group of 15 'cohesion friends', including Portugal, criticised the cuts and a lack of ambition on community priorities, while the 'frugal' countries, led by Germany, consider the cuts insufficient. António Costa now leads the negotiations and wants a deal by the end of the year so the new budget can take effect on 1 January 2028. In his letter to the leaders, Costa wrote:

In a context of growing geopolitical uncertainty, our next meeting will have a strong focus on the economy and on finding answers to the challenges of European competitiveness and affordability.

The goal could become harder to reach, given elections next year in France, Italy and Poland whose results could influence the negotiations.

Ukraine and the transatlantic rift

Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in person, but his address has not been placed at the start of the discussion as is usual. It is scheduled for the end, and a European diplomat said the intention is not to downplay the importance of the Ukraine debate. Continued support for Ukraine sits alongside hybrid attacks in Europe linked to Russia, migration, enlargement and reforms, and the situation in the Middle East. Leaders will also discuss trade with China, including the EU's trade deficit with Beijing. Divergences with the United States are among the main themes as well.

Timing and what comes next

The summit opens at 09:00 Lisbon time on Thursday 15 October in Brussels, and Costa plans to close the work at lunchtime on Friday 16 October. Leaders aim to reach a political agreement on the budget in 2026 and are due to meet again in November and December. Until then, the energy measures and the budget will remain in play as governments weigh how to ease pressure on household budgets.

1. Thu 15 Oct, 09:00 Lisbon timeSummit opens in Brussels with the 27 EU leaders
2. Fri 16 Oct, lunchtimeCosta plans to close the meeting at lunch
3. November and December 2026Leaders are due to meet again