European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the European Summit scheduled for February 12. While EU defense, security, and competitiveness were discussed during the meeting, the Commission did not respond to questions regarding possible contacts with Russia.
Ursula von der Leyen has intensified her diplomatic engagements ahead of the European Union summit to be held on February 12. She met with French President Emmanuel Macron to assess the current European agenda.
Announcement made via X
In a post shared on the social media platform X, the European Commission President said, “Ahead of next week’s European Summit, I reviewed current issues with President Emmanuel Macron.”
Defense, security, and competitiveness on the agenda
According to von der Leyen’s statement, the meeting covered the following topics:
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EU defense policies
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European security
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Global competitiveness
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Economic resilience
It was noted that the parties exchanged views on developing a common stance, particularly in light of rising geopolitical risks in recent times.
No response to Russia-related claims
The timing of the meeting drew attention as it took place amid reports concerning potential high-level contacts with Russia. On Wednesday, the European Commission declined to answer questions on whether von der Leyen discussed technical preparations related to possible contacts between France and Russia.
Diplomatic silence continues
While Commission officials refrained from commenting on questions posed by members of the press, Brussels circles assess that the meeting is also significant in the context of regional security and the war in Ukraine.