2-day EU leaders summit to begin in Brussels

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) - A two-day EU leaders summit will begin on Thursday in Brussels.

The summit, which gathers 28 EU leaders, will focus on the Brexit, climate change, financial issues and priorities of the European Commission under the President-elect Ursula von der Leyen, who will take over duty on Nov. 1.

The leaders are also expected to discuss Turkey’s research and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and Ankara's ongoing Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria that was launched last Wednesday to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from the region east of the Euphrates in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Launching membership negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania will be another topic that the leaders will handle.

The EU leaders will make a final decision on Christine Lagarde's appointment as the new chief of the European Central Bank.

* Writing by Diyar Guldogan