epa12730230 France's president Emmanuel Macron (L) and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz speak to the press upon arrival at the Informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting...

epa12730234 Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever speaks to the press at the start of the informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic landscape. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

epa12730227 Spain's Prime minister Pedro Sanchez and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the start of the Informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic...

epa12730226 France's president Emmanuel Macron (L) and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrive to attend the Informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic...

epa12730225 (L-R) European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Christodoulides, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and European Council President Antonio Costa at the start of the informal EU leaders’ retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic...

epa12730222 France's president Emmanuel Macron (R) and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrive to attend the Informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic...

epa12730223 Spain's Prime minister Pedro Sanchez and European Council President Antonio Costa at the at the start of the informal EU leaders’ retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic...

epa12730224 Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the start of the Informal EU leaders' retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium, 12 February 2026. The strategic session focuses on deepening the Single Market, boosting investment, and enhancing Europe's competitiveness in a shifting geoeconomic...