European Council meeting: What goes on inside the room at EU summits?

European Council president Charles Michel. Over a two-day summit, EU leaders will discuss foreign and economic issues. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA

More recently Viktor Orban has been a stick between the bicycle spokes of much sought-after unanimity around the council table. At a meeting last December the Hungarian leader vetoed a €50 billion package of aid to help Ukraine in the war with Russia, holding it up for two months before he was brought around.Scholz visits Beijing but tensions simmer on Russia and Gaza

In some cases leaders attending their first summit can keep their head down, in others they have tried to make themselves known. Right-wing Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni sought to make a big statement inside the room during her first meeting, indicating – at least at an EU level – that she would not necessarily be sitting in Orban’s camp.

Personal relationships between leaders that cut across, or are even contrary to, geographical or political lines, can be crucial in garnering support in the room for or against some measure. Micheál Martin was known to be friendly with Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas and Michel. Leo Varadkar is understood to have had a relatively good working relationship with Orban, despite their political differences.

Viktor-Orban Simon-Harris

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