🏛️ EU leaders push for economic overhaul at Alden Biesen retreat

Oneliner

EU leaders met at Alden Biesen Castle on February 12, 2026, to discuss a comprehensive action plan aimed at enhancing the bloc's economic competitiveness amid global pressures. Key proposals include regulatory simplification, a 'Made in Europe' strategy, and advancing the capital markets union. Leaders acknowledged the need for differentiated integration, allowing smaller groups of member states to move forward on initiatives when consensus is not possible. A detailed roadmap will be presented in March, setting measurable targets for various sectors.

Key points

• EU leaders agreed on a comprehensive action plan to enhance competitiveness amid global pressures.
• A roadmap for regulatory simplification and a 'Made in Europe' strategy will be presented in March.
• The EU will explore differentiated integration to expedite decision-making among member states.
• Key sectors targeted include energy, telecommunications, and capital markets.

Links

• Público: Uma Europa, um mercado: eis o novo slogan e a nova ambição da UE
• Europa Press: Sánchez pide actuar de inmediato para que la UE sea más competitiva
• Deutsche Welle: France, Germany signal unity at EU's Belgium castle retreat
• Reuters: EU eyes plan to deepen single market in March, accelerate capital markets union
• Reuters: Exclusive: EU looking to ease path for pan-European deal approvals, sources say
• France 24: Economía - La Unión Europea promete reformas urgentes para competir con EE. UU. y China
• Diário de Notícias: Líderes da UE concordam em agir com urgência ao nível económico
• Politico: After years of resistance, leaders finally say EU should go at different speeds
• Público: La UE apunta a la simplificación como acicate económico y explorará el 'Made in Europe'
• Euronews: Newsletter: Summer deadline for EU economic relaunch
• France 24: EU leaders back major economic overhaul to counter pressure from US, China and Russia
• Il sole 24 ORE: ### Morning note: economia e finanza dai giornali - Il Sole 24 ORE
• Euronews: Two-speed Europe could be 'pathway to unity,' Metsola tells Euronews
• Expresso: Elevados custos energéticos e excesso de burocracia ameaçam 350 mil empregos entre os fornecedores da indústria automóvel
• France 24: The Debate - Whatever it takes? EU in race to shore up sovereignty
• La Stampa: Dan Jørgensen: "Sulle bollette pesano le tasse nazionali. I governi diano più poteri a Bruxelles"
• Il sole 24 ORE: Meloni e l'Europa delle alleanze variabili, dalla competitività all'immigrazione
• Il sole 24 ORE: La transizione energetica aspetta una rivoluzione della governance
• Politico: Europe’s China shock worsens as trade deficit widens
• Reuters: EU body should oversee Europe's biggest asset managers, ECB blog says
• ANSA: Gozi (Renew), 'su eurobond dibattito travisato, li stiamo già usando' - La voce degli Eurodeputati - Ansa.it
• ANSA: Benifei (Pd), 'attuare subito le proposte di Draghi e Letta' - Altre news - Ansa.it
• La Stampa: Chi ha fatto palo?
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Es kommt Bewegung in den Streit um "Made in EU

Facts

• The meeting took place on February 12, 2026, at Alden Biesen Castle, Belgium.
• A roadmap for regulatory simplification and a 'Made in Europe' strategy will be presented in March.
• EU leaders aim to save €15 billion annually through reduced bureaucracy.
• The capital markets union aims to mobilize €10 trillion in savings for investments.

Quotes

• The pressure and the sense of urgency is enormous, and that can move mountains — Ursula von der Leyen
• We need to act fast — Emmanuel Macron
• What we have decided today is that between now and June we will have to finalise the agenda — Emmanuel Macron

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