Rome, 16 October 2026 — The European Union (EU) is set to move its March 2027 summit of leaders to Rome, according to a source familiar with the matter. The source was cited by Belga news agency on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The summit, expected to take place on 25 March 2027, is framed as a symbolic gesture to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
European Council President Antonio Costa proposed relocating the meeting during talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever as part of his tour of European capitals earlier in the autumn. The move requires an exception to European Council rules, which stipulate that EU leaders must hold two formal summits in Brussels during each six-month period.
Under these rules, the European Council president can convene a summit outside Brussels only in exceptional circumstances, provided all member states unanimously approve the decision. Belgium has approved the request to host the summit in Rome, according to government sources, and the exception to the rules will be considered during the Council’s meeting in November.
The Treaty of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957, led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), one of the three original European Communities, along with the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The EEC aimed to create a common market among the six founding member states: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany.
The Treaty of Rome proposed the progressive reduction of customs duties and the establishment of a customs union. It also proposed the creation of a common market for goods, labor, services, and capital across member states. Additionally, it established the European Commission and the European Social Fund.
Since 1957, the Treaty of Rome has been amended several times. The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 removed the word “economic” from the treaty’s official title, and in 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon renamed it the “Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.” The Treaty of Rome is considered one of the most important treaties in the history of the EU. It marked a significant step toward closer economic cooperation and the broader process of European integration that eventually led to the formation of the EU.
By commemorating this milestone in Rome, the EU hopes to link its past foundations with its present governance. The EU will provide further details about the 2027 summit in the coming months.
As the event approaches, the focus will shift to preparation and the symbolic significance of the gathering in Rome. As the EU marks the 70th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the significance of this historical milestone will not be lost on those involved in the process of European integration. For those who lived through the events of the mid-20th century, the anniversary offers a chance to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
As for the future of the EU, the anniversary provides an opportunity to look forward and consider the direction in which the Union is headed. The 2027 summit in Rome will no doubt be a moment of reflection, but it will also serve as a platform for discussion and decision-making about the EU’s future course.
