5 things to watch at the Dublin EU leaders’ summit
EU leaders are meeting in Dublin on Friday to discuss artificial intelligence, but the agenda is overshadowed by immediate political crises over Ukraine, the bloc's budget, and the European Central Bank.
Formal talks are scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m., followed by lunch around 1 p.m., and a press conference provisionally set for 4:15 p.m.
The summit, hosted by Ireland, is taking place at a time when the bloc is grappling with multiple strategic challenges.
Artificial intelligence ambitions
The first dedicated discussion on artificial intelligence is set to take place, with leaders debating how Europe can build its own AI capacity.
European Council President António Costa has framed the discussion around sovereignty, asking leaders to consider how Europe can become a leading and sovereign player across the AI value chain.
The central question is whether Europe should build frontier models to rival U.S. and Chinese developers or focus on applications built on those models.
Obstacles to this ambition include the lack of money to fund the computing capacity needed to turn European research into products.
Leaders will also hear from the CEO of French AI company Mistral, Arthur Mensch, and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton about global rules for the technology.
Ukraine representation
A consequential discussion will focus on who should represent the EU in future Ukraine peace talks, with European officials deeply divided.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Europe needs to choose a single person to represent them by the end of this month.
European Council President António Costa wants greater clarity on European representation and a coherent message from the bloc’s 27 members.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argues that the treaties already provide an answer: She and Costa should represent the bloc.
However, France and Germany disagree on the matter.
President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that Europe must first agree on its proposals and security vision.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed the E3 (Germany, France and the U.K.) as 'a well-established format,' adding: 'I don't see any problem at all with things staying that way.'
Ukraine financing and the budget
Leaders are also expected to address Ukraine’s funding needs, as Kyiv faces a €70 billion shortfall next year.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has linked Ukraine funding to negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget.
He said Germany, the bloc’s biggest budget contributor, can’t accept free-riders on Ukraine and European security.
The funding debate is also tied to Europe’s leverage in any eventual settlement.
Some lawmakers want frozen Russian assets placed in an EU-controlled structure, arguing the funds should not be available for a deal struck without Europe.
The question of funding for Ukraine will likely resurface at the November 26-27 summit.
ECB race and jobs bargain
The race to replace European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is part of a broader contest over three senior appointments.
Spain’s Pablo Hernández de Cos and former Dutch central banker Klaas Knot are the leading contenders for the top job.
Paris and Berlin both want the chief economist post, with one official suggesting Germany could secure it by backing Hernández de Cos, who is seen as less hawkish than Knot.
A deal is expected at the November 26-27 summit.
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and Dutch leader Rob Jetten, both backing their country’s candidates, will miss the Dublin gathering amid domestic political pressures.
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