EU leaders gathered in a Belgian castle on Thursday (February 12) for an informal "retreat" to hold frank discussions on how to ensure the bloc is not left trailing the United States and China economically or squeezed by tariffs and export curbs by its global rivals.

The bloc is contending with U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and Chinese restrictions on exports of critical minerals at a time when it needs greater wealth to decarbonise and digitise its economy and strengthen its defences against Russia.

EU growth has persistently lagged that of the United States and China, and EU productivity and innovation in fields such as AI have fallen short.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BILZEN, BELGIUM (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF EU LEADERS WALKING IN CASTLE GARDEN AND HEADING TO PODIUM

2. EU LEADERS TAKING THEIR PLACE ON PODIUM

3. VARIOUS OF EU LEADERS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

4. AERIAL VIEW OF CASTLE