On Monday 3 February, the Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States will meet at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels for their first defence ‘retreat’.
According to one European official, two principles underpin the meeting: the EU must assume greater responsibility for its own defence, and there must be a shared interest in greater cooperation at EU level. While no decision is expected, the discussion should help to “prepare, shape and provide guidelines for future...