EU leaders yesterday vowed to act boldly to bolster Europe’s economy faced with twin threats from China and the United States, as they huddled in a Belgian castle to bridge differences on the path ahead.

It is a challenge that has long dogged the European Union, but has gained greater urgency because of geopolitical shocks, intensified global competition and an economy that lags behind bigger powers.

Leaders share a common diagnosis that Europe’s moribund economy needs a kickstart -- but they are far from agreed on the cure.

Paris and Berlin have publicly diverged on France’s push to favour EU companies and for more joint debt -- although French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were keen to present a united front yesterday.

“We share this sense of urgency that our Europe must act very clearly” in the face of “very strong pressure”, such as unfair competition from China and US tariffs, Macron said.

“We want to make this European Union faster. We want to make it better,” Merz said, adding: “I am pleased Emmanuel Macron and I are almost always in agreement on these matters.”