There was a grey, rainy sky stretching out in every direction above Alden Biesen castle in northeast Belgium where European leaders spent the day on Thursday. A debate has been taking place between different camps inside the EU for months about how to jump-start the union’s economy. A “European preference” plan championed by Macron would see strings attached to future EU funding and competitions for public contracts to ensure more money flowed back to European companies. The Government believes any preference should apply to multinational firms with European bases, rather than be limited to European-owned companies. It should also fit in with the bloc’s wider trade policy.

Source: The Irish Times February 14, 2026 15:31 UTC