Filenews 13 February 2026
Yesterday's informal EU Summit in a castle outside Brussels was long, ended around 8 pm Cyprus time and the first information about what was reported during it by the 27 leaders converges on the conclusion that the more frequent use of the institutional option of "enhanced cooperation", in order to bypass the vetoes of some countries and not to slow down the processes of critical decision-making is the trend that wins many supporters among the leaders of the member countries.
Enhanced cooperation is provided for through the EU treaties as a safety valve for the promotion of decisions and policies that do not ensure unanimity, provided that the consent of at least nine states is secured. If the nine-state condition is met, then the nine states – or more – can proceed with decision-making and implementation.
If the information is confirmed today that the majority of member states recognize the need to use enhanced cooperation to overcome the deadlocks caused by the vetoes of some - a few - states, those who insisted in recent weeks that the Europe of two (or more) speeds is closer than ever will be vindicated.
However, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said yesterday very clearly: "Our ambition must always be to make decisions with the agreement of the 27 member states.
However, where a lack of progress may undermine our competitiveness or ability to act, we must not resist using the possibilities provided by the Treaties for enhanced cooperation." That is, decision-making by at least nine states. Already yesterday, 19 states, including Cyprus, participated in an informal meeting on competitiveness and strengthening the single market, which was convened by Germany and Italy.
After the end of the informal meeting, which was held at different levels and timescales, European Council President Antonio Costa wrote on X:
"EU leaders are united on the urgent need to strengthen the dynamism of the social market economy in Europe." He thanked former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi for his contribution to the debate on strengthening competitiveness in energy, capital markets and strategic industries, as well as former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, for his "perspective" on the future of the Single Market.
The "other" summit
On the sidelines of the informal Summit of European Union leaders - Alten Bissen, the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, together with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, hosted another meeting – referred to as an informal working group – focused on European competitiveness issues.
The meeting was attended by Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the Netherlands.
The discussion of the 19 leaders focused on the three main priorities included in the guidance document prepared in non-papers jointly by Italy, Germany and Belgium. These priorities concern the completion of the Single Market, regulatory simplification and the reduction of energy prices.
According to CNA, the document calls for generalized withdrawals and simplifications of European initiatives, a kind of "cleansing" of old or incompatible legislative proposals and the establishment of a "brake" mechanism when new legislation creates excessive administrative costs for businesses and national authorities. It also shifts the discussion to financing, the leverage of private capital, the creation of a pan-European stock exchange and secondary market, as well as the revision of capital requirements for corporate financing, without affecting financial stability.
Particular emphasis was placed, reports CNA, on the initiatives deemed necessary for the restart of European industry, starting with the rapid revision of emissions taxation mechanisms, such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). At the same time, the need for the immediate and faithful implementation of the political priorities set by the European Council was underlined.
The leaders who took part in the preparatory meeting agreed to resume coordination in the margins of the March European Council, in order to keep the issue of competitiveness high on the European agenda and to help set concrete objectives and clear timetables for the European Union.
Costa's statements after the summit
After the meeting, at a press conference, European Council President Antonio Costa said, according to the Council's website:
"Today, leaders held a strategic discussion on Europe's competitiveness. On how to build a more competitive and resilient economy, which will promote our prosperity, create high-quality jobs and ensure affordability.
Today's discussions at Alden Biesen brought new energy and a shared sense of urgency around this goal. And, most importantly, today we paved the way for agreeing on concrete actions at the March European Council.
Firstly, there is a consensus to continue to push forward with the ambitious programme of simplification of EU procedures, as set out in Ursula von der Leyen's recent letter to leaders.
- Second, leaders accept Enrico Letta's challenge to move from an imperfect single market to "one market for one Europe". This is urgent and must be done in 2026 and 2027.
- We also all agree on the importance of speeding forward, this year, the 28th regime. To ensure that our companies can operate seamlessly across our 27 Member States, with a simple and unified set of corporate rules.
- Third, in certain sectors, such as telecommunications, we should allow a degree of integration of companies in order to achieve the necessary levels of investment and innovation. This should be part of some kind of social contract. To ensure that consolidated companies invest more and innovate more. The leaders want to become true European champions in strategic areas. The ongoing revision of the Merger Guidelines plays an important role in this.
- Fourth, on electricity prices: The energy transition remains the best long-term strategy for Europe to achieve strategic autonomy and lower prices. But in the meantime, we need pragmatic solutions. Concrete solutions focusing on the specific challenges of Member States and certain industrial sectors. In close cooperation with the European Commission, we will consider concrete measures at the next European Council in March.
- Fifth, with regard to the protection of strategic industries and the reduction of dependencies, there is a widely accepted understanding of the strategic importance, for Europe, of protecting and strengthening certain sectors. I heard defense, space, clean technologies, quantum intelligence, artificial intelligence, as well as payment systems mentioned. We will map and identify our dependencies and address them through a differentiation strategy.
- And with regard to European preference (priority to the purchase of European products by companies that secure public contracts), I believe that there is broad agreement on the need to use it in selected strategic sectors, in a proportionate and targeted manner, after in-depth analysis, to identify where it is necessary and useful.
- Sixth, there is a consensus that Europe is open to trade and that an ambitious and realistic trade policy, centred on diversification, is in our collective interest, and we must continue to support the excellent work done by the European Commission.
- Finally, there is no doubt that Europe has no investment. There will be no competitiveness without more investment. Today, our attention has focused mainly on how to mobilise private investment, and I was pleased to hear unanimous support for accelerating the Savings and Investment Union. Europe needs a single and efficient financial system, which can better turn European savings into investments in Europe. But public investment will also play a decisive role. And here we need to discuss the role of the European instruments, in the context of the MFF negotiations."
