Overview

• Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen’s proposed Europe-wide anti-drone network drew pushback from France and Germany, and no common design or governance model was agreed.
• EU countries declined to endorse using €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to back a loan for Ukraine, with Belgium seeking stronger legal assurances given Euroclear’s exposure.
• European Council President António Costa’s bid to allow accession talks by qualified majority failed, with Hungary opposing and several other states unwilling to change the rules.
• A planned two-hour defense debate stretched to four as national leaders asserted control over security policy, with more frequent meetings of defense ministers set to continue the work.
• Amid warnings of escalating Russian aggression from multiple leaders, Costa said late-October talks could serve as a decision point for the unresolved proposals.