EUCO Liveblog
Are European socialists aligned on defence?
Europe's socialist leaders held their pre-meeting online today instead of the usual in-person meeting with the press in attendance – with a readout coming through in the last few minutes.
Fairly dry, non-committal language on defence: the statement reads that "progressive leaders agreed that the individual rearmament of 27 member states is not in itself an EU-wide solution, which is what we need."
It's worth noting that socialist leaders appeared some way short of consensus on defence this morning, if you take their words on the doostep as gospel.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he had a problem with the name 'ReArm Europe', on the grounds that the EU is a "political project of soft power".
But Denmark's Mette Frederiksen called on countries like Spain to "make up your mind whether you are going to defend our continent or not."
Denmark and Spain's geographical differences impact their views on Europe's rearmament, of course. But time pressure means they'll have to find common ground quickly.
Fairly dry, non-committal language on defence: the statement reads that "progressive leaders agreed that the individual rearmament of 27 member states is not in itself an EU-wide solution, which is what we need."
It's worth noting that socialist leaders appeared some way short of consensus on defence this morning, if you take their words on the doostep as gospel.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he had a problem with the name 'ReArm Europe', on the grounds that the EU is a "political project of soft power".
But Denmark's Mette Frederiksen called on countries like Spain to "make up your mind whether you are going to defend our continent or not."
Denmark and Spain's geographical differences impact their views on Europe's rearmament, of course. But time pressure means they'll have to find common ground quickly.