Free trade or fortress Europe? The battle for the soul of the EU economy

SCMP · 2026-02-12
Free trade or fortress Europe? The battle for the soul of the EU economy

A 16th-century Flemish castle is the setting on Thursday as European leaders try to resolve a set of economic tensions haunting Europe that are almost as old: the pull between free trade and protection, integration and sovereignty. On the agenda are prickly items such as how to kick-start the EU eco