The leaders at the castle: How the EU will become stronger

Thursday's meeting at the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle will focus on competitiveness. Leaders will listen to Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, who has written a report on the subject.

Among the major issues are free trade agreements, the simplification agenda and energy issues, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) says in the EU Committee ahead of the meeting.

We need more trade, more investment in European companies and less complicated regulations.

Costa wants to talk about, among other things, how the EU's internal market can be strengthened and dependence on other great powers reduced.