The EU held a summit in Brussels, Belgium on the 26th. The outcome communiqu é released at the meeting showed that the European Council emphasized the continued significant increase in European defense and security spending. At the NATO summit that ended on the 25th, leaders of NATO member countries reached an agreement on future military spending targets and decided to increase annual defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Some countries that are members of both NATO and the European Union believe that achieving the 5% target will face significant difficulties. The communiqu é states that the European Council has taken note of the commitments made by NATO member states at the NATO summit. In the face of uncertainty regarding the United States' commitment to security on the European continent, the European Council has pointed out that Europe must enhance its strategic autonomy, take on more responsibility for its own defense, and effectively improve its ability to act independently and coordinate responses to current and future challenges and threats. This is the scene of the EU summit captured in Brussels, Belgium on June 26th. The Xinhua News Agency (EU photo provided) issued a statement stating that the European Council welcomes the adoption of the "European Security Action" tool and the upcoming launch of the State Immunity Clause under the Stability and Growth Pact. The European Security Action is a loan tool that provides funding support to EU member states in need in the form of long-term loans with preferential interest rates, while the exemption procedures under the Stability and Growth Pact allow member states to significantly increase defense spending without triggering excessive deficit procedures. The European Council stated that it will evaluate the relevant progress at its meeting in October this year and develop the next steps to advance European defense readiness goals. (New Society)