Live blog: European Council summit There’s both a corruption scandal gripping Brussels and a long-list of divisive issues on the agenda. It could be a long day.

 Live blog: European Council summit

There’s both a corruption scandal gripping Brussels and a long-list of divisive issues on the agenda. It could be a long day.

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BY POLITICO STAFF

DECEMBER 14, 2022 6:57 PM CET

It’s the final EU leaders’ summit of 2022 — and they’re in for a doozy.

To start, there’s a corruption scandal swirling around Brussels, raising the possibility that Qatari and Moroccan money was illicitly influencing the European Parliament’s work.

On top of that, EU leaders have given themselves a full plate of divisive issues to munch on: U.S. attempts to lure industry away from Europe, managing spiking migration, capping high gas prices, earmarking fresh aid for Ukraine, expanding Europe’s free-travel zone — the list goes on.

The goal is to get through the whole list in a single day, breaking with the normal two-day summit rhythm. That could make for a long one.

So sit back, pop some popcorn and send supportive thoughts to the POLITICO reporters who will be keeping you informed here every step of the way.

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DECEMBER 15, 20228:02 AM

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Cory Bennett

aAAAAAND THEY’RE OFF

All your favorite EU leaders are set to arrive shortly at the European Council summit in Brussels. And for those seeking some holiday season fireworks, you probably won’t leave disappointed (by closed-door bureaucratic standards, that is).

Indeed, the diplomatic dance and cautious politician-speak will be Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers level today.

First, there’s the corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament. The chamber’s president, Roberta Metsola, is in town to update the leaders and give a press conference around 10 a.m.

Normally, Metsola’s appearance is an afterthought amid the Macrons and Scholzs of the world, but this time her regular press conference will be a hot ticket. Suzanne Lynch has you covered here with a preview.

Then, the EU leaders have just one day to tick through a whole host of divisive issues. Keeping them especially busy will be the fight about how to keep Europe’s industries in the game as energy prices refuse to budge and the U.S. pumps green subsidies into its own economy. Barbara Moens and Suzanne have the rundown on that tussle here.

Then there’s Poland. The country became an 11th-hour bête noire for EU leaders on Wednesday when it decided to halt a massive deal comprising an €18 billion aid package for Ukraine, Hungary’s spending plan and fines and a global tax for big multinationals — over concerns about that minimum corporate tax law.

So despite that issue not even being on the agenda, it could still hijack the discussion. Paola Tamma has the rundown in this morning’s Brussels Playbook.

POLITICO