EU leaders give a series of contradictory ‘door-step’ quotes to waiting journalists

In times of crisis, the European Union has a habit of calling emergency summits. Its recent history is littered with them. Now, it is to have one on the threat of protectionism in Europe. It will take place on 1 March.

The shadow of a return to economic nationalism has certainly raised tensions among member states. The Czech Republic and France have had a high-profile and not particularly dignified slanging match concerning Paris’ proposals to help its car sector.

But the problem with hastily convened summits with a ‘we-must-do-an-undefined-something’ feeling about them is that they tend to highlight how Europe is not actually dealing with the issue at hand.

Informal summits, as this one will be, are particularly open to this charge. They are usually one-day meetings and not bound by the necessity to agree a list of formal conclusions. What tends to happen is that before the meeting, EU leaders give a series of contradictory ‘door-step’ quotes to waiting journalists. During the meeting, spokes persons from member states who did not think the meeting was a good idea, are at hand to say they are not sure what the point of the meeting is.

After the meeting, leaders do a bit of grandstanding for the national gallery in front of domestic press. The country in charge of the EU, at the moment the Czech Republic, does its best to put a glossy spin on things – cue talk of “fruitful discussions” – and then everybody goes home, safe in the knowledge that have been seen to be doing something.

It will be interesting to see if this one manages to break the mould. In any case, it will take great skill by the Czech Republic to make sure that the 1 March meeting does not descend into a France-bashing fest as leaders line up to condemn Paris’ state aid to its car sector. The EU is already damaged by the rift between its presidency country and one of its biggest member states, a lacklustre summit will only compound the feeling that the bloc is floundering in the face of this economic crisis.