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Europe.Table Talk of the Town European Council

Leaders’ retreat on competitiveness: Merz invites like-minded partners to preliminary meeting

“Buy European” criteria could become a point of contention at an informal meeting of European Union leaders on competitiveness and the single market. Six member states have raised concerns in a non-paper.

Markus Grabitz
09. February 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrive for German-Italian government consultations in Rome, Italy, Jan. 23, 2026. Credit: Francesco Fotia/Avalon (Italy). Rome Copyright: xFrancescoxFotiax xAvalonx 1068611426
At consultations between the German and Italian governments in Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to step up bilateral cooperation. (IMAGO / Avalon.red)

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Last updated: 09. February 2026

European Council Reducing bureaucracy EU internal market Trade policy