From AI to Tariffs: EU Leaders Seek Edge in a Shifting World Order

European Union leaders are meeting at a Belgian castle on Thursday to discuss strategies for staying economically competitive with global rivals like China and navigating a less predictable ally in the U.S., amid a weakening rules-based international order.

Over the past two decades, EU growth has consistently lagged behind that of the United States, with productivity and innovation—particularly in areas such as AI—falling short.

The EU now faces challenges from Donald Trump’s trade war and recent tariff threats over Greenland, as well as Chinese restrictions on exports of critical minerals that the 27-member bloc urgently relies on.