EU Insight 13 February 2026

Brussels, 13 February 2026

EU LEADERS BACK ‘ONE MARKET’ VISION AT INFORMAL COMPETITIVENESS RETREAT

EU leaders held an informal competitiveness retreat at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, focusing on how to build a more competitive and resilient European economy amid current geopolitical and economic challenges. Discussions covered simplifying EU rules, advancing the Savings and Investment Union, energy policy, digital and telecoms networks, and trade. Several Member States and Commission President von der Leyen signalled openness to using enhanced cooperation so that smaller groups of countries can move ahead on key initiatives if all 27 cannot agree. European Council President Costa called the meeting a ‘game‑changer’, pointing to leaders’ shared ambition to move from an incomplete single market towards ‘one market’. The Commission is now preparing a ‘One Europe, One Market’ action plan before the March European Council.

PORTUGUESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WON BY SOCIALIST-PARTY’S ANTÓNIO JOSÉ SEGURO

Centre‑left candidate António José Seguro won Portugal’s presidential run‑off with 66.8% of the vote, defeating far‑right Chega leader André Ventura, who secured 33.2%. Seguro, backed by the Socialist Party, becomes the country’s first socialist president in two decades and is expected to work with the centre‑right minority government once Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s term ends. The election was only the second presidential contest in Portugal’s democracy to go to a second round. Turnout was higher than in the previous presidential election despite severe storms and flooding, and Seguro obtained the highest absolute number of votes ever recorded by a candidate in a Portuguese election. Nevertheless, Ventura’s score confirms Chega’s as the main opposition force.

COMMISSION PRESENTS ACTION PLAN TO STRENGHTEN DRONE SECURITY 

The Commission presented an Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security, in response to a growing number of incidents affecting critical infrastructure, borders, airports and public spaces. Presenting the plan, Executive Vice-President Virkkunen pointed to the increased use of drones in Ukraine and in hybrid attacks against EU member States, stressing that Europe’s security environment has changed and that collective action is needed. The plan aims to strengthen defence readiness by improving preparedness and detection capabilities and by supporting more coordinated responses. It also includes measures to develop EU counter-drone technologies and use tools such as 5G networks to detect and track malicious drones. The Commission will now discuss its proposals with Member States as well as industry and the European Parliament.

COUNCIL ADVANCES SECURITY ACTION FOR EUROPE (SAFE) DEFENCE LOANS & PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR CLOSER EU-NATO COOPERATION

This week, the Council adopted implementing decisions making financial assistance under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument available to eight member states to support joint procurement of priority defence capabilities and is set to approve a second batch for eight more in the coming days. While SAFE funding mainly covers equipment sourced from EU industry, a newly signed EU-Canada agreement will also allow procurement from Canadian companies and products originating in Canada. In parallel, the European Parliament endorsed an own-initiative report identifying Russia as the main threat to European security and stressing that security and defence partnerships are essential to EU strategic autonomy, while remaining fully complementary to NATO.

PARLIAMENT BACKS NEW SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR EU WINE SECTOR 

The European Parliament has endorsed new rules to strengthen the EU wine sector, following a deal with Member States. The reform is intended to help producers cope with climate-related shocks and market pressures while adapting to shifting consumption patterns and export prospects. It also updates labelling for de-alcoholised wines: products below 0.05% alcohol by volume may be sold as ‘alcohol free 0.0%’, while wines that are at least 30% lower in strength but still above 0.5% can be described as ‘alcohol reduced’. Additional EU funding will support crisis management, including for responses to extreme weather, plant disease, green harvesting and distillation. The package also increases co-financing rates for wine tourism and promotional activities in non-EU markets. It will apply once formally signed off by the Council.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

• 16 February: Eurogroup. On the agenda: International role of the euro, global imbalances in the context of geo-economic risks.
• 17 February: Economic and Financial Affairs Council. On the agenda: Pensions package, EU budget, defence financing, economic governance, support to Ukraine, taxation.
• 18 February: College of Commissioners. On the agenda: Eastern border regions.