EU Leaders Gather in Belgium as Bloc Faces Global Pressures and Internal Divisions

Leaders from across the European Union are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle as the 27-nation bloc faces antagonism from US President Donald Trump, strong-arm economic tactics from China and hybrid threats from Russia, challenges that have prompted a rethink of Europe’s approach to diplomacy and trade.

The informal summit at the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle comes at a pivotal moment for the EU, as member states debate how to respond to mounting geopolitical and economic pressures. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever captured the mood ahead of the talks, telling several leaders on Wednesday: “We all know we must change course, and we all know the direction. Yet it sometimes feels like we’re standing on the bridge of the ship staring at the horizon without being able to touch the helm.”

Divisions have emerged over what that change should look like. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are leading a push for sweeping deregulation, a reset in relations with Washington and expanded global trade agreements, including a recent deal with Mercosur nations in South America. “We must deregulate every sector,” Merz said Wednesday.

France, however, is advocating a more protective approach. President Emmanuel Macron argues that Europe must prioritize its own industries, particularly in strategic sectors such as cleantech, steel, chemicals, automotive manufacturing and defense. A key point of contention is whether EU defense spending should be directed primarily toward European arms manufacturers. Macron has called for a “European preference,” while Merz and Meloni support purchasing from both European and foreign suppliers.

“We need to protect our industry. The Chinese do it, the Americans do it too,” Macron said in interviews published this week. He warned that without such safeguards, European companies risk being pushed aside in a global market shaped by what he described as unfair competition.

Leaders are also expected to debate new financial tools to shield the bloc from disruptions in global trade, including US tariffs and China’s restrictions on critical mineral exports. Macron has renewed calls for joint EU borrowing, describing the idea as “Eurobonds for the future” that could reduce reliance on the US dollar.

Germany and Italy are set to urge counterparts to focus on cutting red tape, strengthening the single market and advancing an ambitious trade policy grounded in shared rules. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized in speeches this week that economic resilience is central to Europe’s global influence. “Our power on the global stage depends greatly on our strength on the economic front,” she said.

An EU-wide Eurobarometer poll indicates growing public support for stronger and more unified leadership in response to military, economic and climate challenges. The proposals discussed in Belgium are expected to shape decisions at a formal summit scheduled for late March.