Before every European Council summit, another summit takes place in Brussels – and it may be becoming more contentious than the often orderly main event, reports Nick Alipour.

What used to be a pre-Council talking shop is evolving into something more strategic.

The meeting now sees Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Poland’s Donald Tusk, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the 10 other EPP leaders that dominate the Council table agree joint position papers.

But the new tradition is stirring internal unrest. Some officials consider the position papers unrepresentative and divisive, if not an outright stealthy power grab by EPP President Manfred Weber – who never misses a meeting.