The European Council has officially approved the EU's annual budget for 2026 with commitments of €192. 8 billion and payments of €190.1 billion. The budget is aimed at defense, migration, competitiveness, and crisis preparedness.
The coalition in Belgium has agreed on a budget deal worth 9. 2 billion euros until 2029 to avoid the collapse of the government. The agreement includes raising excise duties on gas, some recreational goods, and air ticket taxes, as well as bringing 100,000 people back to work.
Slovenians voted against a new law legalizing euthanasia in a referendum, suspending its implementation for at least one year. About 53% of voters opposed the law, while 47% voted in favor.
The Dutch military opened fire on unknown drones over Volkel Air Base. The drones were observed for two hours before flying away, and could not be tracked.
Switzerland has allocated almost $12 million to the World Bank fund to support the restoration of the Ukrainian healthcare system. The funds will be directed to a project to expand access to medical services, restore and modernize hospitals, and provide them with modern equipment.
European diplomats and officials are expressing outrage over a new US peace plan that could derail efforts to provide financial assistance to Ukraine. Trump's proposed plan involves using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine after a truce, which contradicts EU plans to use these funds for a loan to Kyiv.
US President's envoy to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, calls on European allies to take a more aggressive stance on Moscow and use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This move would provide support to Ukraine for years and signal a new, bolder phase in European politics.
European leaders will gather on December 18 for the last EU summit in 2025 to address Ukraine's funding, aiming to avoid a funding shortfall by mid-next year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for coordinated action, warning of costly alternatives.
Belgium has purchased autonomous Blaze drones from the Latvian company Origin Robotics to detect and neutralize enemy aircraft. This is part of a 50 million euro package of measures aimed at countering drones after a series of incidents.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU leaders assessing Ukraine's funding needs for 2026-2027. This amount is 135.7 billion euros, based on the assumption that the war will end in 2026.
The European Commission has offered Belgium significant guarantees regarding a €140 billion loan to Ukraine to protect it from the legal and financial consequences of using Russian assets. EU countries are ready to assume the risks of Russian retaliation, including those arising from bilateral investment treaties.
The European Union has offered Ukraine €90 billion in funding in the form of a grant or a loan backed by EU debt. This will happen if countries fail to approve the desired plan to use frozen Russian assets.
Russia's fossil fuel exports in October fell to their lowest levels since the start of the full-scale war, amounting to 524 million euros per day. This is 4% less than in September, due to Ukrainian attacks and international sanctions.
The federal government of the European country is investing 100 million euros in modern drone defense systems, including interceptors. The move is aimed at combating illegal drones appearing over German territory.
On the night of November 16, Ukraine repelled an enemy air attack, which included an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 176 attack UAVs. According to preliminary data, 139 enemy drones were destroyed in the north, south, and east of the country.
Belgian Foreign Minister Max Prevot stated that Belgium strongly condemns the massive Russian attacks on Ukraine, which are war crimes. He also expressed concern about the strike on the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv.
According to a European Commission study, 46 road fatalities per million inhabitants were recorded in the EU in 2023. The highest mortality rates are observed in the southeastern regions, particularly in Bulgaria, Greece, France, and Romania.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the possibility of issuing joint EU debt to support Ukraine. This will happen if the plan to use frozen Russian assets fails due to Belgium's blocking.
EU ministers discussed financing for Ukraine, supporting the idea of a reparations loan. This option is considered the most feasible for covering the deficit without additional burden on member states.
Dean Spielmann, an advisor to the EU's Supreme Court, stated that the Spanish amnesty law for participants in the Catalan separatist movement does not contradict EU law. This decision supported the government of Pedro Sánchez, which relied on the law to maintain power.
Eurostat has published data for the first half of 2025, showing a significant gap in electricity and natural gas prices between European countries. Some countries pay several times more than their neighbors.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the allocation of almost 6 billion euros to Ukraine under the ERA loan and the Ukraine Facility. The European Council also committed to covering Ukraine's financial needs over the next two years, considering three funding options, including a reparations loan based on immobilized Russian assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU allies to overcome differences on using frozen Russian assets, as new funding is critical for the country's economy. The EU has postponed a decision until December on using Russian state assets to provide Ukraine with €140 billion in loans, facing objections from Belgium and Slovakia.
Norway is considering supporting the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. However, the country will not use its sovereign wealth fund as the sole financial support.
A number of European countries will receive additional support from the EU to overcome the growing migration burden. The new mechanism will become operational after the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force in mid-2026.
Belgium has sought assistance from allies after a series of drone incursions near airports, military bases, and nuclear power plants. Officials say the incidents "resemble" Russian actions, but there is no direct evidence yet.
The European Union will discuss two main ways to raise financial support for Ukraine: borrowing or using frozen Russian assets. EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels after pledging to cover Ukraine's needs in 2026-2027.
Three drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium, which did not affect its operation. This happened after a series of similar incidents with drones over military facilities and airports in Belgium and other European countries.
This move could unlock funding for Kyiv as the EU seeks ways to secure a loan without the risk of non-repayment.
Pope Leo XIV spent almost three hours meeting with Belgian victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, listening to their testimonies of trauma. The Catholic Church in Belgium is facing a crisis due to hundreds of abuse cases, and the Pope has pledged to combat violence and cover-ups.
