Kostan to Gather EU Leaders: Discussions Related to the United States

The President of the European Council, Antonio Kostan, plans to organize an informal meeting of EU leaders in Belgium to discuss Europe’s competitiveness. According to Politico, Kostan has stated that the meeting of the heads of state and government of the coalition will take place on February 12 at the Alden Biesen Castle.

The informal discussions will occur several months after EU leaders addressed the European Commission's proposal to promote a pan-European industrial revival by consolidating resources for research, defense, and innovation in the budget from 2028 to 2035.

Kostan highlighted that his primary challenge is stabilizing relations between the EU and U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that cooperation between Brussels and Washington is “different” than it was previously. He added that it is essential for the EU to “remain calm and continue to strive to be constructive” in its relations with Trump.