EU to Discuss Migration, Economy at Brussels Summit

On Friday, the second day of an EU summit in Brussels, leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states will discuss migration and the bloc’s economic worries.
On Thursday, the assembled prime ministers and presidents agreed to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, use revenues from seized Russian assets to help Ukraine, bolster Europe’s defence industry, and open accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The meeting would take a broader view of the bloc’s economic condition and difficulty controlling its external borders.
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel said Russia’s statement shows the need for the EU to strengthen its own defense industries.
“We must be lucid and we must tell to our citizens all across the EU that if we want peace, if we want security and stability, it is extremely important to improve our defense capabilities and to build a true European Union in defense,” Michel said at the end of the summit in Brussels.
Leaders of countries using the Euro single currency would discuss sluggish economic growth in the Eurozone.
“Economic activity is subdued in the near term,” an advance draft of the leaders’ declaration, seen by dpa, said.
However, “with inflation on a declining path supporting real incomes, the conditions are in place for gradual recovery going forward.’’
European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde will attend.