‘Buy European’ Consensus Emerges from Summit Addressing Global Competition

A landmark agreement on “Buy European” policies emerged from the EU summit addressing strategic sector protection. Leaders from all 27 member states developed coordinated responses to Europe’s declining competitiveness relative to global competitors.
The policy could require governments to prioritize locally manufactured goods in public contracts for strategic sectors. This represents significant shift for the traditionally free-trade-oriented EU, reflecting changed circumstances and competitive pressures from China and America.
Von der Leyen’s comprehensive March action plan encompasses regulatory simplification, EU Inc startup support, capital market integration, and energy price reductions. The package addresses multiple competitiveness constraints through coordinated initiatives.
Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands face particularly severe challenges with factory closures and declining investment. Prime Minister De Wever blamed high energy costs, regulatory burdens, and Chinese dumping, characterizing the situation as existential crisis.
The summit revealed Franco-German cooperation despite policy differences, with leaders arriving jointly. While demonstrating shared urgency, they diverge on European preference scope, with differing views on including trading partners versus narrow European focus.