Following a landmark NATO summit in The Hague, where member states reached a historic agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, European Union leaders have gathered in Brussels for a pivotal EU Council meeting expected to define the bloc’s foreign policy direction amid global tensions.
From The Hague to Brussels: A Strategic Shift
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives to pose for a group photo within a meeting between the NATO Secretary General, the president of Ukraine, and leaders of E5 countries during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
The NATO summit drew international attention with its decision to boost defense budgets, reflecting growing security concerns worldwide. Now, the EU’s own summit picks up the baton, focusing heavily on geopolitical developments, especially in the Middle East, Ukraine, and broader defense cooperation within the Union.
EU Stance on Middle East Tensions and Iran
According to a draft version of the Council conclusions, EU leaders have welcomed the recent cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, signaling cautious optimism. Nevertheless, the draft reiterates the EU’s long-standing opposition to Iran developing nuclear weapons, underscoring ongoing concerns about regional stability.
A satellite overview shows the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center, as well as nearby tunnels, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Isfahan, Iran, June 24, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO.
The document also explicitly condemns the Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, a move highlighting continued EU unease over geopolitical maneuvering in the Eastern Mediterranean.
A separate section addresses humanitarian issues, calling for the unimpeded delivery of aid to Gaza, which remains under Israeli blockade. Additionally, EU-Israel relations are under review, with discussions expected on whether Israel continues to meet the criteria required for its cooperation pact with the EU.
Terrorism and Ukraine on the Agenda
The draft also includes a clear condemnation of a recent terrorist attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, reinforcing the EU’s broader commitment to religious freedom and regional security.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy adjusts his suit, as he arrives for a dinner for NATO heads of states and government hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Dutch Queen Maxima, on the sidelines of a NATO Summit, at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville
On Ukraine, the EU reaffirms its support with a substantial €30 billion aid package pledged for 2025. The document outlines a commitment to Kyiv’s EU accession aspirations and signals upcoming discussions on an 18th sanctions package against Russia in response to its ongoing invasion.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a meeting on the sidelines of NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
European Defense: Toward Greater Autonomy
Defense and security dominate much of the draft text. Leaders are expected to welcome the adoption of the SAFE program regulation and call for swift agreement on a proposal to incentivize defense-related investments under the EU budget.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, British Defence Secretary John Healey, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and others attend a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The Council also encourages greater efforts to scale up the European defense industry, aiming to boost production capacity and reduce dependency on external actors. A section titled “The EU in the World” highlights the need to strengthen partnerships with third countries and reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Migration and Tariff Talks with the U.S.
Migration remains a hot-button issue. The conclusions stress the need for new agreements with non-EU countries to help manage external borders and propose the establishment of a list of “safe countries” to which migrants could be returned. An informal meeting on the subject, initiated by Italy’s Prime Minister, will include leaders from 15 EU member states.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks on during a joint statement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf at the end of ‘The Mattei Plan for Africa and the Global Gateway: A common effort with the African Continent’ summit, at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, Italy June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to brief leaders on the state of EU-U.S. negotiations over tariffs. While talks continue, progress appears slow, with several sticking points yet unresolved.
