Strasbourg (France), 9 February. (LaPresse) – French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to attend the pre-summit convened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, together with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, on Thursday 12, ahead of the informal EU summit on competitiveness to be held at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium. LaPresse has learned this from French diplomatic sources. The Italian and German leaders have decided to bring together leaders with a more cautious common line towards other trading partners, particularly the US, while France insists on “European preference” in procurement as well. Macron had been invited, but the Élysée Palace had not yet responded. Leaders from a dozen countries, including Finland, the other Nordic countries and the Baltic countries, are expected to attend the meeting.