On February 12, 2026, Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi will participate in an informal retreat of European leaders, convened within the European Council, dedicated to strengthening the Single Market in a rapidly changing geo-economic context.

The discussion will focus on the future of the Single Market and the conditions necessary to strengthen European competitiveness, also in light of the conclusions of their respective reports and the ongoing debate on the Union’s industrial and economic policies. Particular attention will be paid to reducing national barriers, improving the regulatory framework, and creating more favorable conditions for investment, innovation, and business growth. In this context, the possibility of a new European “28th regime,” as proposed in the Letta Report, will also be discussed.

The debate will also address the European Union’s geo-economic positioning, a central issue in light of growing geopolitical tensions. In particular, strategies to reduce strategic dependencies and strengthen instruments to protect against unfair competition practices will be examined, within the framework of an approach that combines trade openness, strategic autonomy, and economic security.

The contributions of Letta and Draghi, who have been invited to share their thoughts on European competitiveness based on their respective reports, will fuel a discussion focused on long-term structural choices, the outcomes of which will feed into the preparation of the formal European Council in March.