EU, 19 countries at Meloni-Merz pre-summit: 3 priorities for competitiveness

Brussels, 12 February (LaPresse) – On the sidelines of the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Alden Biesen, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, together with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, hosted the inaugural meeting of a new informal working group dedicated to European competitiveness issues. This was announced by Palazzo Chigi in a statement. Alongside Italy, Germany, Belgium and the European Commission, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Hungary took part in the meeting. The leaders’ discussion focused on the three priorities outlined in the guidance document prepared by Italy, Germany and Belgium: completion of the Single Market; regulatory simplification and reduction of energy prices; ambitious and pragmatic trade policy. Particular attention was paid to the initiatives needed to revive European industry, starting with a rapid review of emissions taxation mechanisms (ETS and CBAM), as well as the need to ensure rapid and faithful follow-up to the political priorities set out by the European Council. The leaders agreed to meet again on the sidelines of the March European Council to maintain focus on competitiveness issues and contribute to the definition of concrete objectives and precise deadlines.