Giorgia Meloni ‘surprised’ by the Limburg winds during the EU summit

The castle founded by the Teutonic Order in the 11th century, then rebuilt between the 16th and 18th centuries, was chosen by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa to encourage discussion between leaders in a more informal context of the Europa Building. Informal it certainly is, but it is certainly not as comfortable as an Apulian farmhouse or a Greek beach.

Even if the thermometer reads ten degrees above zero, as in Brussels, hereThe perceived temperature is currently only 3 degreesmainly due to rain and gusts of wind, which reach 41 km per hour.

The Council has not yet clarified how much the ‘trip’ to Limburg cost, which involved the transfer of the entire Brussels ‘bubble’, including a very large component of journalists, as in all EU summits. The reporters were transported by bus from the capital this morning and will return this evening (it takes about an hour and a half to get to the castle from Brussels).

The summit in Limburg seriously risked turning into yet another Brussels summit. In the distance this morning the horns of tractors could clearly be heard: a farmers’ protest was feared by the Council, so much so that, as we understand, a plan B was ready, namely to hold the informal summit in Brussels. Last year too, the plan to hold the defense briefing away from the Belgian capital was wrecked due to logistical difficulties, and was decided on the Palais d’Egmont in Petit Sablon, to change the context.

Last night the Europa Building was reclaimed, as happens at formal European Councilsand those who have an office at the Residence Palace, behind Europa, have received a notice regarding access limitations, as happens at summits. Plan B, however, did not take place, e.g the summit is taking place as planned at the castleprobably because the police managed to block access to the manor and keep the tractors, ready to ruin the leaders’ trip to Limburg, at a safe distance.