EU Leaders Clash Over Budget as China Threat Dominates Summit

European leaders are convening in Brussels for a critical summit that highlights the bloc's struggle to maintain its global standing while addressing internal divisions and rising populist movements. The two-day meeting, beginning on Thursday, will first tackle the challenge posed by China to the EU's economy, followed by a contentious debate over the bloc's budget on Friday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set the stage by warning of "geopolitical fragmentation, economic reconfiguration and rapid technological change." The discussions come amid a week of global diplomacy that began with the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, and reflect the EU's efforts to navigate shifting geopolitical dynamics and secure its place in the world.