The Latest Breaking News from Ursula von der Leyen

The Commission has offered early access to €45 billion of fuding under the next Common Agricultural Policy budget as soon as 2028 to appease farmers. While France’s backing for the Mercosur deal remains highly uncertain, all eyes are on Italy. Prime Minister Meloni welcomed the proposal.

High-stakes diplomacy is set to continue next week, with the "Coalition of the Willing" convening as Ukraine seeks to secure European support. Meanwhile, Von der Leyen doubled down on Ukraine's EU membership as part of a security guarantees package for Kyiv after talks with European leaders.

European Union leaders have agreed a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, offering Kyiv a financial lifeline as it faces mounting budgetary pressure, but stopped short of the contentious step of using frozen Russian state assets.

EU leaders fail to strike a deal on an unprecedented reparations loan for Ukraine, turning to joint debt instead to finance a €90 billion loan. Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will not participate in the scheme.

Farmers in tractors have blocked roads, thrown potatoes and eggs, and set off fireworks in Brussels outside a European Union leaders’ summit

Proponents argue the agreement would provide an alternative to Beijing's export controls and Washington's tariff policies. Critics warn it would weaken environmental regulations and damage the EU's agricultural sector.

As European Union leaders converge on Brussels, the debate over how to pay for Ukraine’s defence is coming to a head. The proposals to use frozen Russian assets are exposing legal risks, political fault lines and testing the limits of European solidarity.

Pressure is growing on member states to back a €90bn loan for Kyiv ahead of a Brussels summit

The European Commission president's comments come days after 15 people were killed at a Hannukah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach, one of Australia's worst mass shootings in years.