The informal EU defence summit, originally scheduled for 3 February at Limont Castle in Belgium’s Liège province, has been moved to the Egmont Palace in Brussels.

The decision was made for security reasons, as confirmed by a spokesperson for European Council President António Costa, who organized the event.

“The venue was changed after reassessing the measures required to ensure the meeting’s security,” said spokesperson Maria Tomasik. The Egmont Palace, situated in central Brussels, provides state-of-the-art security features and comprehensive translation services, making it better suited for such high-level discussions.

Limont Castle, an 18th-century estate located about an hour from Brussels, was deemed inadequate for hosting a summit addressing sensitive defence matters. This landmark meeting will bring together the 27 EU leaders, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The agenda will focus on two core themes: enhancing Europe’s ability to manage its own defence and fostering greater collaboration among member states. António Costa emphasized that building a more autonomous and resilient Europe would also strengthen transatlantic ties within NATO.

Notably, this summit will mark the first major European meeting since US President Donald Trump assumed office. Photo by Zinneke, Wikimedia commons.