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From the Castle of Alden-Biesen, a March Roadmap Aims to Turn Economic Ambition into Concrete Results
From the historic castle of Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, European leaders have sent a clear message: the time has come to transform the European Union’s economic ambitions into measurable outcomes. At the end of an informal summit dedicated to competitiveness, the President of the European Council, António Costa, pledged that discussions would soon evolve into binding commitments, with a detailed roadmap set to be unveiled at the March European Council.
The overarching objective is bold. EU leaders have embraced the challenge laid out by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta: moving from what he described as an “incomplete single market” to a truly unified “single market for a single Europe.” According to Costa, this transformation is urgent and must be achieved between 2026 and 2027.
Renewed Urgency Around the Single Market
The informal gathering injected what Costa described as “new energy and a shared sense of urgency” into efforts to strengthen the single market. Leaders agreed unanimously to push forward an ambitious simplification agenda, aiming to reduce bureaucratic burdens and streamline regulations across member states.
A key initiative under discussion is the so-called “28th regime,” a unified corporate framework designed to allow companies to operate seamlessly across all 27 EU member states under one simple set of rules. Leaders stressed the importance of moving swiftly this year to implement this mechanism, which is seen as crucial for boosting cross-border investment and fostering a more integrated business environment.
There was also broad consensus on the need for strategic consolidation in certain sectors. In industries such as telecommunications, leaders signalled openness to allowing a degree of corporate consolidation to achieve the scale necessary for investment and innovation. The ongoing revision of EU merger guidelines is expected to play a pivotal role in enabling the emergence of genuine European champions in key strategic sectors.
Energy Prices and Strategic Autonomy
High electricity prices remain a pressing concern for European industries. While leaders reaffirmed that the energy transition is Europe’s best long-term strategy to achieve strategic autonomy and reduce costs, they acknowledged the need for immediate, concrete solutions tailored to the specific challenges faced by individual member states and industrial sectors.
Working closely with the European Commission, leaders will assess practical measures at the March European Council. The focus will be on bridging the gap between long-term sustainability goals and short-term competitiveness needs.
Protecting Strategic Industries
Another central theme of the summit was the protection and strengthening of strategic industries. Leaders highlighted sectors such as defence, space, clean technologies, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and payment systems as areas where Europe must reduce external dependencies and reinforce internal capabilities.
A mapping process will identify critical dependencies, followed by a diversification strategy to mitigate vulnerabilities. In selected sectors, leaders expressed broad agreement on applying a targeted and proportionate “European preference,” ensuring that strategic considerations guide procurement and investment decisions when necessary.
At the same time, the EU reaffirmed its openness to global trade. Costa emphasized unanimous support for an ambitious and pragmatic trade policy centred on diversification. Leaders underscored the importance of continuing the Commission’s efforts to expand trade agreements while safeguarding European interests.
Mobilizing Investment for Competitiveness
A recurring concern throughout the summit was Europe’s investment gap. “There will be no competitiveness without greater investment,” Costa stated plainly. The discussion focused primarily on mobilizing private capital, with unanimous backing for accelerating the Savings and Investments Union.
Europe, leaders agreed, needs a single and efficient financial system capable of channelling European savings into European investments more effectively. However, public investment will also play a decisive role. This implies reopening discussions on the function of European financial instruments in the context of negotiations over the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
The ultimate objectives, as summarized by Costa, are clear: economic growth, industrial innovation, quality employment, and affordability for citizens.
A Roadmap for “One Europe, One Market”
The next step will be decisive. At the March European Council, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will present a detailed roadmap aimed at delivering a fully integrated single market by the end of 2027.
Von der Leyen described the forthcoming document as an action plan with precise timelines, objectives, and clear deadlines. The ambition is not merely to secure endorsement from the Commission, but also formal approval from the two co-legislators: the European Council and the European Parliament.
“We want one Europe, one market,” she stated, emphasizing that competitiveness must be backed by structure and discipline.
If the commitments made in Alden-Biesen translate into concrete measures in March, the European Union could enter a new phase of economic integration. Leaders are betting that by 2026 tangible results will begin to materialize, just as coordinated action in defence yielded progress last year.
The message from Belgium’s castle walls is unequivocal: Europe intends to deliver.
Alessandro Fiorentino