EU leaders meet at Alden Biesen Castle to redefine the single market and economic security

President António Costa convenes an informal meeting to discuss "European preference" in strategic sectors and reducing economic dependencies, alongside experts Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta.

Brussels, February 9, 2026 – Heads of state and government from the EU will meet on February 12 at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium for an informal meeting of major importance. The meeting, convened by the President of the European Council, António Costa, aims to establish a new strategic consensus on boosting EU competitiveness and defending the single market against unfair global competition and economic coercion.

In brief

1. Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta will join EU leaders to present strategies on geoeconomic resilience and completing the single market.

2. Discussions will focus on "European preference" in strategic areas and reducing risks in supply chains for critical raw materials.

3. The official program begins at 09:30 with the arrival of leaders, followed by intense working sessions and a final press conference at 18:30.

The agenda for Thursday is structured to facilitate direct and in-depth dialogue among leaders. After the official arrivals and exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, the first working session will start at 11:00 with a presentation by Mario Draghi. This will analyze the impact of geopolitical changes on European competitiveness, followed by a working lunch exclusively for leaders, for confidential discussions on strategic autonomy.

The second part of the day will be dedicated to internal strategy, starting at 15:00, when Enrico Letta will present his vision for the future of the single market. A central point of this session will be the exploration of the "28th regime", a legal framework designed to allow companies to expand throughout the bloc without navigating through 27 different sets of national rules. The objective is to harmonize key sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and capital markets to enable European firms to compete effectively on a global scale.

President Costa emphasized that strengthening the single market is now an "urgent strategic imperative." The results of this retreat will be summarized in a press conference scheduled for 18:30, which will send a political signal regarding the economic direction of the Union in the new geoeconomic context. By accelerating the trade agenda and reducing critical dependencies in technology and raw materials, the EU aims to ensure long-term resilience.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/liderii-ue-se-reunesc-la-castelul-alden-biesen-pentru-a-redefini-piata-unica-si-securitatea-economica