EU leaders to convene virtually as Macron shares key insights from US visit

President of the European Council, António Costa, has called a virtual meeting of 27 EU member states' leaders for February 26, where French President Macron will update them on his recent US visit.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Costa confirmed that the videoconference would take place ahead of an emergency European Council session scheduled for March 6, Caliber.Az reports.

To prepare for the Special European Council on 6 March, I am organizing a videoconference of the members of the @EUCouncil, tomorrow morning, to hear a debriefing from President @EmmanuelMacron on his recent visit to Washington DC.#EUCO

— António Costa (@eucopresident) February 25, 2025

To recall, US President Donald Trump hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on February 24 for discussions on key issues including Ukraine, European security, and trade relations. Macron, who has cultivated a strong rapport with Trump, became the first European leader to visit the US president since his second term began in January.

Despite growing public tensions between Europe and the US, particularly over Ukraine's war with Russia and security matters, the leaders maintained a friendly tone, exchanging compliments and firm handshakes. Macron, however, challenged Trump on several issues, particularly the financial contributions to Ukraine's efforts and the US-EU trade dynamics.

Macron emphasized the need for “fair competition” and cautioned that the US should avoid a trade war with both China and Europe simultaneously. Trump's approach to trade, including potential tariffs on the EU, remains a point of contention, but Macron remained firm in his calls for cooperation to foster prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan praised Macron for skillfully navigating discussions with the US president.

By Aghakazim Guliyev