European Council President António Costa is set to gather EU leaders for an informal retreat in the picturesque setting of rural Belgium next February, specifically to address Europe’s competitiveness. The meeting will occur on February 12 at Alden Biesen Castle, a 16th-century moated complex located in the eastern region of Limburg, as Costa disclosed in a recent interview with the Portuguese daily, Expresso.
Focus on competitiveness and industrial revival
The informal summit will take place just a few months after EU leaders deliberated on the European Commission’s proposal aimed at revitalizing the continent’s industrial sector. This initiative involves merging funding for research, defense, and innovation within the framework of the EU’s budget for 2028-2035. The upcoming meeting seeks to foster discussion on these pressing themes in a more relaxed environment.
Before assuming office a year ago, Costa expressed his desire to host periodic informal gatherings for EU leaders, allowing them to engage in strategic dialogues without the pressure of reaching concrete conclusions. These meetings would create a forum for discussions that often derail during official summits, which were previously chaired by Costa’s predecessor, Charles Michel.
Challenges and evolving dynamics
While Costa aimed to hold these retreats outside of Brussels, initial security concerns led to the first event taking place at the Egmont Palace in the Belgian capital last February. During that gathering, EU leaders discussed broader topics concerning European defense. Most recently, the bloc’s leaders convened informally in Luanda, Angola, to focus on achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine.
Reflecting on his first year as Council President during the interview with Expresso, Costa acknowledged that stabilizing relations with U.S. President Donald Trump represented one of his greatest challenges. He noted that while he has succeeded in this endeavor, the dynamics between Brussels and Washington have changed significantly. Costa emphasized the importance of maintaining a calm and constructive approach in dealings with Trump, pointing out that the EU comprises 27 individual member states, each with its own policies and interests, contrasting with the unified approach of the U.S. as a single federal entity.
“The EU must remain calm, serene, and continue to strive to be constructive,” Costa stated.