What if 27 European leaders – and their respective foreign ministers – gathered in a room and had nothing much to talk about? That is the dilemma confronting the European Union on the eve of this Thursday’s summit in Brussels.
As European summits go, this one looks particularly thin. It is supposed to be devoted to the hazy question of how Europe can get more out of its strategic partnerships with the likes of China, Brazil, Russia and India. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer since the EU’s members have different policies and priorities when it comes to these relationships. Some would prefer that Brussels stay out of the matter altogether.The subject of economic governance – arguably the most urgent one in town – will also be raised. Yet leaders are expected to receive little more than an oral progress report from Herman Van Rompuy, the European Council President. The thorniest discussion – about what sort of sanctions to impose on countries that violate budget rules – will be saved for the weeks ahead.
Touch wood, but there does not even seem to be a flaring bank or sovereign debt crisis to enliven the proceedings, as they have other recent summits. (There are still two days. This could change).
The damp nature of Thursday’s gathering is already renewing questions among diplomats about the wisdom of Mr Van Rompuy’s proposal to hold 10 summits a year. The UK has made clear that it believes no more than four would do the job. Germany’s Angela Merkel has warned that she does not plan to come to Brussels 10 times a year. If all else fails, Mr Van Rompuy may want to have some of his famous haikus ready to entertain his guests.
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