Overview
- Emmanuel Macron warned that renewed U.S. friction is likely and predicted tariff threats over EU digital rules if the bloc enforces its Digital Services Act.
- Framing the Greenland episode as a wake‑up call, Macron urged joint EU borrowing and a “European preference” in industry, reviving long‑running disputes inside the bloc.
- Germany swiftly rejected fresh common debt and, with Italy, is promoting a deregulation agenda that includes an emergency brake on new EU laws, according to diplomats and officials.
- Nordic and Baltic governments, including Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson, voiced skepticism of a Buy European push, arguing competitiveness should come from openness and innovation rather than protected procurement.
- Thursday’s informal leaders’ retreat is not expected to produce binding measures but will guide the Commission’s next steps, as talks also touch defense cooperation and, per Macron, newly restored technical‑level channels with Russia.