Noah DeMichele and Kristen Taylor
On Thursday, European leaders are gathering in Brussels for the final European Council (EUCO) meeting of 2022, marking the culmination of a year of upheaval and evolution for Europe.
The leaders of the twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states who make up the EUCO—which outlines the EU’s political direction—will face a demanding agenda. Discussions include Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, trade disputes with the United States, the continent’s energy crisis, and the accelerating economic downturn. The agenda itself paints a daunting picture of the biggest issues confronting Europe but also encapsulates the EU’s rapid evolution as a geopolitical actor. Heading into Thursday’s meeting, what can we expect from the European Council?
