EU leaders set to clash over Buy European policy 

French president Emmanuel Macron has been the policy’s most vocal supporter, describing it as a “defensive measure” against “unfair competitors” who ignore international trade rules. Picture: AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, Pool

EU leaders are set to clash over whether a “Buy European” policy could revive Europe’s struggling economy, as they meet in Belgium this week to debate on how to compete with the US and China in an increasingly unstable global market.

The 27 heads of state will gather on Thursday at a castle in eastern Belgium for a strategic discussion on Europe’s declining competitiveness — a long-running concern made more urgent by the 2022 energy crisis, the fallout from Donald Trump’s trade wars, and China’s growing global dominance through state subsidies.