Six of Europe’s largest economies have pledged to take the lead in pushing forward projects that have stalled under the European Union’s slow and complex decision-making system, as pressure grows for the bloc to act faster in a shifting global landscape.
Finance and economy ministers from Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands held a video conference this week to discuss ways to advance key initiatives without waiting for consensus from all 27 EU member states. The talks come amid rising geopolitical tensions and criticism from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has repeatedly mocked the EU for its slow pace of decision-making.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the six countries want to act as drivers of progress rather than wait for unanimity. “We are providing momentum; others can join,” he said, adding that Europe must strengthen both its competitiveness and defence capabilities. German officials stressed that “business as usual” no longer works under current global conditions.
The idea of smaller groups of EU countries moving ahead on specific projects is not new. The bloc has used similar arrangements in the past, including the creation of the euro currency. However, the approach has gained renewed urgency as Europe faces sluggish economic growth, widening political divisions, and mounting security concerns linked to the United States, Russia, and China.
While the ministers did not announce concrete decisions during the call, they agreed to focus on several strategic areas. These include advancing a long-discussed capital markets union, strengthening the international role of the euro, and developing an independent European payment system. The group also highlighted the need to better coordinate defence investments and secure access to critical raw materials such as rare earths through joint purchasing, emergency reserves, and global trade partnerships.
“In view of global uncertainties, we are placing greater emphasis on European sovereignty,” Klingbeil said. Earlier this week, he had raised the idea of a “two-speed Europe,” though he avoided using that term following the meeting.
It remains unclear when other EU countries could join the initiative or whether future actions would take place outside the EU’s formal decision-making framework. EU sources described the group as informal and flexible, stressing that it would not operate as an exclusive club.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently shown a greater willingness to move forward without full EU consensus, including on trade talks with Mercosur and support for Ukraine. France has long backed smaller coalitions to advance policies blocked at the EU level, particularly in areas such as steel safeguards and nuclear energy.
Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domański echoed the urgency, saying Europe needs to speed up. “Changes are happening too slowly,” he said, warning that delays risk weakening the European economy at a critical moment.
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