EU vows reforms to confront China, US -- but split on joint debt

Alden Biesen, Belgium (AFP) Feb 12, 2026
EU leaders pledged after talks Thursday to move ahead swiftly with reforms to revive Europe's flagging economy but were split on calls for joint debt to help the bloc confront twin threats from China and the United States. Reducing Europe's dependencies on countries outside the bloc has gained greater urgency because of geopolitical shocks, intensified global competition and an economy that