European Council, live coverage. France and Germany reach agreement on the automotive sector and ‘Made in Europe’. Meloni: ‘EU rules on irregular migrants must be reviewed’

‘As a long-serving President over the past twelve years, I have seen a growing realisation that the Union has a vital need for more streamlined and rapid decision-making processes. Without swift decision-making, these issues in international affairs would be decided by other actors, and we in Europe would passively suffer the consequences.” These were the words of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking on the need for greater European integration at the summit of 12 EU Heads of State in Arraiolos and Brdo, Slovenia.

France and Germany have announced an agreement on the future of the automotive sector and the criteria for ‘Made in Europe’. The agreement was formalised in a joint statement following this morning’s bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the EU summit between Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz.

“Spain has sent a signal by regularising the status of many irregular migrants in the country, and it is not a good signal,” said the Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, on his arrival for the second day of the European Council in Brussels, criticising Madrid’s decision. “Here in Europe, we are committed to combating irregular migration, protecting our borders, and involving third countries where we will also have repatriation centres and where procedures will be carried out,” he observed. “What Spain has done is certainly not a positive sign in this regard.” As for the Ukrainian issue, Stocker added: “There are a great many figures circulating that we need to sort out” in order to understand how to organise financial support for Kyiv in the future. “We have made over 90 billion euros available” for 2026 and 2027 and “of this, as far as I am aware, around 20 billion has been used. There would therefore still be sufficient potential, if this information is correct,” he noted. “We will need to explain transparently where this funding shortfall comes from.”

“Europe needs higher growth” to protect itself from potential new shocks and resolve the mounting problems surrounding public debt. For Mateusz Szczurek, the IMF’s Director for Europe, this is “the only way out”: higher growth would make it easier to put public finances back on a sound footing. “For politics, too.”

The lifting of Italian border controls with Spain “was agreed yesterday between the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who discussed the matter on the sidelines of the European Council”. This was reported by sources within the Spanish delegation, who confirmed that Italia had announced the extension of the controls for a week. “The interior ministers will work throughout this week to proceed with their removal,” the same sources stated.

Cutting public debt, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and boosting productivity. The IMF’s report on Europe, which has just been published, sends a clear message to an economic bloc that has weathered the shock of the war in the Middle East better than expected, but whose growth remains too slow.

The second day of the European Council began a few minutes ago. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was greeted by the leaders with a round of applause.

“Disappointed by the lack of progress on the EU’s long-term budget at the European Council. The Council has yet to reach a common position on the Multiannual Financial Framework, whilst the European Parliament adopted its position by a large majority six months ago. The Irish ‘negotiating box’ has failed to bridge the differences between Member States.” This was stated on social media by the European Parliament’s rapporteur for the 2027–2034 multiannual budget, Siegfried Muresan (EPP). “We now expect the President of the European Council, António Costa, to present an improved proposal by November – one that can unite the Member States and takes account of Parliament’s position on both expenditure and new own resources,” he added. “Parliament will not accept a last-minute budget negotiated in haste, without adequate funding for competitiveness, defence, agriculture and cohesion. A weak budget means a weak Union. Europe’s citizens, businesses, farmers, researchers and regions need a robust budget adopted on time. They must not be made to pay the price for further delays,” he concludes.

“The situation is truly serious. We must support Ukraine, not least to help it get through the winter, because it will be a harsh winter,” said the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas on her arrival at the European Council. “We see no sign from Russia that it wants to stop this war or that it is open to any kind of truce or peace. That is why we really must help the Ukrainians to survive and defend their country,” she emphasised. “It is crystal clear that they need air defence. We can also discuss, for our part, what more we can do to ensure that Russia gets the message that it must negotiate to end this war.” Kallas noted that on Monday “1,600 new entries” had been added to the sanctions lists and that the EU is “working on a new package of sanctions to increase pressure on Russia”, expressing the hope that it could act “together with all our partners”.

“We need to discuss (the financial requirements, ed.) not only for 2026, but also for 2027. This is a fundamental issue and I am grateful to our Parliament and our Government: they have done an excellent job; despite such massive attacks, they have managed to find a way to pass important reforms,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his arrival at the European Council. According to Zelensky, the other ‘crucial’ issues on the agenda are ‘energy needs’ and ‘air defence’. ‘We want to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible, but at the moment we see no sign from the Russian side that they are ready to end this war,’ he reiterated.

Further reading

Trump, the deal with Moscow and the new tensions with Zelensky

15 October 2026

‘Our message to President Zelensky is very simple: the European Union’s support for Ukraine remains as strong as ever. Now is not the time to waver in our support for Ukraine, nor to ease sanctions against Russia. On the contrary, now is the time to step up our support and increase the pressure; this is essential to persuade Russia to accept a genuine ceasefire, to come to the negotiating table and to put an end to this war. ‘It is time for peace, not for continuing the war.’ This was stated by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa whilst speaking to the press alongside President von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

“The aim now is to open the final two negotiating clusters by the end of the year, so that we can really get to the heart of the reforms necessary for Ukraine’s accession” to the EU. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside the President of the European Council António Costa, ahead of the start of the second day of the EU-27 summit in Brussels. “You have managed to open up two further clusters, and I would also like to thank the Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, for working so hard to bring about the necessary reforms,” added von der Leyen, emphasising the close ties between Brussels and Kyiv and the intensity of their joint efforts on the path to EU accession.

“I am delighted to be here, and I am truly grateful for the tremendous support we have received from the Council of the EU, the Commission and European leaders – true leaders – who have stood by us since the start of the war.” This was stated by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival at the European Council

The ‘frugal’ states’ stance on the ETS. The clash with Spain over immigration. The additional flexibility linked to the inflation ‘emergency’, raised solely in conjunction with Greece. Giorgia Meloni went on the offensive on the first day of a European Council in Brussels, widely regarded as ‘difficult’. Even more so for Italia. And overnight it accepted a compromise (meagre) on the ETS, namely a commitment to ensure ‘a well-functioning carbon market’ and, above all, to ‘update all the impacts of ETS2, particularly with regard to its configuration and the relevant safeguards’. It is not the postponement of the entry into force that had been requested, but neither is it silence on the matter.