On Thursday 22 January, European leaders underlined the importance of a united European Union in dealing with an unpredictable US administration. Several heads of state or government reiterated that cooperation with the United States was essential, but not at any price, and that Europe’s autonomy had to be strengthened at the same time.
“The European Union and the United States have long been partners and allies. (...) We believe that relationships between partners and allies should be managed in a cordial and respectful way”, stressed the President of the European Council, António Costa, at the end of the informal summit.
While US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his tariff threats against eight European countries (see EUROPE 13791/1), Europeans remain on their guard. “When it comes to relations between Europe and the United States, we must not accept everything”, warned the Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo. “We have to show that when we are united, we are strong. I think that the United States, and President Trump, respect strength and unity”, he explained.
“When Europe is united, strong and reacts quickly, things return to normal”, confirmed French President Emmanuel Macron. “Things need to be more stable and predictable”, he warned.
The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, described as “invaluable” a “united Europe that remains focused on the need to avoid a collapse or crisis in transatlantic relations”.
The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, also warned against an escalation that would be “detrimental to everyone, the Member States, the United States” and would damage transatlantic relations, while warning that the EU would not compromise on sovereignty, territorial integrity and the fundamental principles of international law.
“We need the United States (...) but this implies more complex relations, which we need to redefine clearly, without ever abandoning our fundamental principles”, according to Luc Frieden from Luxembourg.
For despite the unpredictability of the US President, the United States remains an indispensable ally. “We remain ready to continue engaging constructively with the United States on all issues of common interest”, António Costa reiterated. These include Ukraine and Arctic security.
“The relationship between the US and the EU remains crucial in economic, political and geopolitical terms. Both parties must therefore work hard to maintain this relationship and breathe new life into it”, said the Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin.
Similarly, for his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof, one must continue to “cherish the transatlantic link”. This link “is evolving, but it is far from broken. We shouldn’t look back on it with nostalgia, but we should look towards the future”.
Extension of countermeasures. In the light of the latest developments, the European Commission is expected to extend the freeze on trade countermeasures beyond 6 February, allowing tariffs to be imposed on a list of US products worth €93 billion.
These countermeasures were envisaged in 2025 in response to the trade war initiated by the US administration. They were subsequently suspended for a period of six months when Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump reached an agreement including a 15% cap on all EU products (see EUROPE 13694/15).
The vote on the extension for a further six months should take place shortly, under the comitology procedure, involving a qualified majority vote of the Member States, within a Committee on the Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR).
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pointed out that these countermeasures still existed, but that it was now important to respect the summer agreement. “This is what we want from the United States and what we want to finalise on our side”, she insisted (see other news).
Anti-coercion tool. Repeatedly mentioned this week as a powerful tool for trade retaliation for the EU, the activation of the anti-coercion instrument, adopted in 2023, was no longer on the table (see EUROPE 13789/2).
However, the latest upheaval with the US ally, which culminated last weekend in coercive threats over the annexation of Greenland, has served as a wake-up call.
According to several diplomatic sources, it is important to remember that this tool exists as a “strategic weapon” and can be mobilised to respond to threats from hostile third countries.
They also pointed out that this “weapon” is a toolbox that can be used gradually, with a range of possible responses depending on the scale of the threat. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Pauline Denys, with the editorial staff)