Overview
- EU leaders postponed the Council decision to January after plans to finalize the pact around December 20 were pulled.
- Giorgia Meloni told Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva she aims to sign in January and will work to reassure Italian farmers.
- According to Associated Press, the delay was agreed on the understanding Italy votes in favor next month, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz said Rome sought roughly a two-week pause and that qualified-majority support is available.
- France remains unconvinced, with Emmanuel Macron saying it is too early to confirm a January signature and pressing for stronger mirror and safeguard clauses.
- Farmer demonstrations in Brussels drew thousands and nearly a thousand tractors, and police used water cannons and tear gas as tensions flared near EU institutions.