Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is looking forward to meeting his fellow leaders at a castle in the Belgian countryside tomorrow, but even this calm atmosphere cannot quell the smoldering divisions in the EU, writes "Politico".
The main agitator this time is French President Emmanuel Macron, who is pushing for a new "Buy European" campaign that would seek to benefit EU companies in areas of strategic importance such as defense, steel and electric vehicles. Macron has caused concern among some of his colleagues, including Kristershon, who presides over a proudly free-trade nation and is deeply suspicious of state intervention in markets.
"Well, he and I quite often argue amicably on these issues," Kristershon said of his relationship with Macron. "I don't always agree with his methods."
The European Commission is expected to soon present proposals for how a "European preference" could work to help boost the bloc's production in strategic industries. Macron has looked increasingly isolated this week, with Germany rejecting his proposal for more joint EU debt to finance strategic investment, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warning of "a fine line to walk" regarding the concept of "European preference".
However, the crisis in transatlantic relations - fueled by US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on its allies in his bid to acquire Greenland - has made it more urgent for EU leaders to strengthen the bloc's economic power, Kristershon noted.
Macron is right that Europe needs to be "more independent", but trying to protect European supply chains and businesses from international competition does not necessarily help the competitiveness of the EU economy, he pointed out.
"I think that if European preference means having such exceptionally good companies, products, services in Europe that they are inevitable for the rest of the world, then I am strongly "in favor" of that," Kristershon noted. "If that means protecting European companies for European purchases or European public procurement, which makes them avoid competition from other parts of the world, I'm not sure that's a good idea at all," he added.
Kristershon called on European leaders to improve the conditions for companies to thrive: better infrastructure, education, research and new trade agreements with countries outside the bloc.
He cited Stockholm-based audio streaming platform Spotify as a rare European success in an otherwise sparse environment for tech giants. Spotify is "the one big tech company" in Europe right now. Otherwise, most companies have turned to the United States," Kristershon said.
He said a more open approach to promoting European business should include British and Norwegian companies. He said exposing companies to competition from Korea, China or the US actually helps them become more competitive.
"There is always a risk of protecting companies that are not inherently as competitive as their rivals would be, or of a race to the bottom," he said. "If the world goes in a direction where we try to trade only with neighbours, I think that would be a bad idea."
Kristershon expressed hope that the 27 EU leaders would use the current "crisis" in relations with the US to bring "a sense of urgency" to the discussion and agree on concrete actions to improve the bloc's ability to defend itself and stimulate its businesses.
"There is always, obviously, a risk of the opposite," he acknowledged. "Every crisis takes all the attention, so sometimes we are better at managing crises than at systemic, long-term reforms".