European Council President António Costa will host EU leaders for a two-day summit on 18-19 June 2026, with discussions set to cover foreign affairs, competitiveness, Russia's war against Ukraine, the Middle East and North Africa, industry, and EU enlargement, according to a media advisory published by the European External Action Service on 18 June.
The summit will open on Thursday at 17:00 with arrivals and doorsteps, followed by an exchange of views with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at 18:00. At 18:45, leaders will hold an exchange of views with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, before a working dinner at 20:45. Friday's programme includes a working session at 09:30 and a working lunch at 12:30, with a press conference scheduled after the meeting ends. The agenda reflects the EU's ongoing focus on supporting Ukraine amid the war, boosting European competitiveness, and addressing instability in the Middle East. The meeting comes as EU institutions have been advancing parallel initiatives on defence and economic security, though no prior coverage of this specific summit exists in recent records.
The summit will impact several stakeholders. EU member states will face pressure to align on further military and financial aid for Ukraine, potentially straining national budgets. EU defence and energy industries could benefit from new procurement commitments or investment signals. Ukrainian authorities stand to gain renewed political backing and possible concrete pledges. Meanwhile, EU taxpayers may bear the cost of additional support packages, though no specific figures have been announced.