Geopolitics Threaten to Hijack EU Competitiveness Summit. European leaders planned to use next month’s informal summit to focus on reviving the EU’s struggling economy, but growing global tensions may dominate the talks instead - According to Politico. The meeting, scheduled for February 12 at a castle in eastern Belgium, was called to brainstorm ways to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and reduce reliance on the U.S. and China. However, escalating international crises are now expected to intrude. Diplomats say concerns over transatlantic relations, Russia, and recent moves by U.S. President Donald Trump — including renewed pressure over Greenland and talks involving Ukraine — are likely to take up significant time. EU ambassadors have warned that leaders will need space to address major geopolitical issues before turning to economic reforms. While most countries support this broader agenda, Hungary remains skeptical, pushing instead for a focus on internal problems like energy costs and bureaucracy. As a result, the summit risks being pulled away from its original economic purpose by urgent global events.