European leaders reached agreement on “Buy European” policies during their competitiveness-focused Belgian summit. The gathering of 27 member states addressed Europe’s position through strategic industrial protection.
Costa identified defense, space, clean technology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and payment systems as requiring reinforcement through proportional European preference. The approach represents pragmatic response to unfair competition.
Commission President von der Leyen promised March action addressing regulatory simplification, startup support, capital market integration, and energy costs. She emphasized pressure could enable transformative change.
Belgian Prime Minister De Wever characterized major European economies as facing existential crisis from factory closures and investment declines. High energy costs, regulatory burdens, and Chinese dumping created urgency.
The summit addressed vulnerabilities exposed by Russian gas loss, American trade wars, and Chinese state subsidies. These crises transformed European preference from controversial to necessary.