European Council Roundtable Meeting Gets Underway

The roundtable meeting of EU member state leaders in Brussels got underway at the top of the hour, with the two-day European Council summit due to focus on four main issues.

• Single market, industrial policy, digital transition: Among EU officials there has been much talk recently of ensuring the EU's 'strategic autonomy', a vague phrase described by supporters as ensuring 'economic sovereignty', but is seen by detractors to mean 'greater protectionism' at the EU level. Countries such as France, Italy, Hungary and Romania see the desire for strategic autonomy as one to support EU industries amidst an extremely difficult economic environment. Nordics and Baltic states believed to be sceptical towards the aim.
• EU-Turkey relations: Rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean between Greece and Cyprus and Turkey over maritime borders and hydrocarbon drilling rights another key topic. Greece and Cyprus advocating a tough line against Ankara, but EU institutions see Turkey as an important strategic partner in the region and do not want to see ties damaged comprehensively.
• Belarus: The EU has proved unable to act decisively on sanctions against the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Cyprus torpedoed the prospect of sanctions in September after failing to get support for a tougher line against Turkey in its dispute. Measures such as sanctions require unanimity at member state level, so Cyprus can block any EU action until it gets its way re: Turkey.
• EU-China relations: Leaders to discuss relations with China following conference in September involving Council President Charles Michel, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her capacity of chair of rotating EU presidency.