Outcome of the 12 February 2026 EU leaders' competitiveness retreat

'In 2026, we will deliver', was the main message of European Council President António Costa after the EU leaders' informal competitiveness retreat at Alden Biesen castle, Belgium, on 12 February 2026. There was a shared sense of urgency on the need to fix the ailing EU economy, which suffers from low productivity, expensive energy, bureaucracy, a fragmented single market, fierce competition from the United States and China, and the unravelling rules-based global order. As usual, no formal conclusions were adopted, but in light of the new geoeconomic situation a consensus emerged among EU leaders to move forward rapidly and decisively on: 1) the simplification agenda, 2) the completion of the single market towards 'one market for one Europe', 3) the review of the merger guidelines to allow champions to emerge in strategic sectors, 4) the need for short-term measures to address the cost of energy, notably electricity prices, 5) the introduction of a targeted European preference for strategic sectors, 6) a proactive trade policy, with swift implementation of recent trade deals and the negotiation of further ones, and 7) accelerated implementation of the savings and investment union. The meeting paved the way to the adoption of concrete measures at the March European Council, at which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present a 'One Europe, One Market Roadmap and Action Plan'. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was invited to join EU leaders, as were the authors of two landmark competitiveness reports, Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi.