Olaf Scholz Bids Quiet Farewell at His Likely Final EU Summit

The summit emphasized EU's defense buildup plans while highlighting internal divisions on Ukraine aid and Scholz's subdued departure from European leadership.

• Olaf Scholz concluded his likely final EU summit with a brief 'Tschüss,' reflecting on his tenure and achievements, including Ukraine support and crisis management.
• EU leaders agreed to mobilize 800 billion euros by 2030 to bolster defense capabilities, preparing for potential conflict with Russia and reduced U.S. commitments.
• Hungary blocked new EU decisions on Ukraine aid, leading the other 26 member states to issue a separate declaration supporting Ukraine's sovereignty.
• Southern EU countries expressed reservations about the defense buildup, prioritizing issues like border control and counterterrorism over increased military spending.
• Friedrich Merz is expected to succeed Scholz as German Chancellor by June 2025, potentially influencing Germany's approach to EU policies.

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