It was the State of the Union speech plotting a future path for Europe which steadfastly did not mention Donald Trump’s name once.
There were references aplenty to Europe, Russia, danger, democracy and the need to ‘fight’ in the 7500-word address, but nothing on the current US president.
“Europe is in a fight – for its place in a world in which many major powers are either ambivalent or openly hostile to Europe,”
said Ursula von der Leyen in her opening remarks to the European Parliament last week.
There was a time, of course, when America would have had Europe’s back, facing down the threats from the East.
But first came JD Vance and that Munich Speech claiming the greatest threat to our continent came not from Russia, but from within because of our limits on free speech when used to incite hatred.
Then it was Trump’s turn to bash the European Union over trade ties saying it was ‘nastier than China’.
Now America lines up as just another one of Europe’s bullies, like Russia and China, with its across the board tariffs of 15% and threats to slap on more over the treatment of US tech giants.
A sure a sign as ever that Trump has banked the win and getting ready for his next round of bullying.
But there comes a time in every European Commission president’s term when they say ‘Enough’s enough’ and for Ursula von der Leyen that time has come.
She came out fighting as she charted a path, not just for Europe but for all global trading blocs, towards a world of carrying on regardless of what the White House is saying.
Not even Trump’s latest threats to put additional tariffs on countries with digital policies he considered ‘discriminatory’ to US tech companies could put her off her stride.
“I want to be crystal clear on one point: whether on environmental or digital regulation, we set our own standards, we set our own regulations,”
she said.
“Europe will always decide for itself.”
Facing her critics down over the trade deal she signed with the US by asking them to picture the chaos of a full-fledged trade war with America was probably not the smartest move when all people can see around them is chaos.
She ended up trying to ride both horses by using the trade relationship with America as an anchor against China and Russia, while pointing out that 80% of EU trade was with countries other than the US.
She was unequivocal in her ‘I do not believe in tariffs’ statement which set her apart from the man to whom they are ‘the most beautiful words’.
Unable to speak the words ‘Forget Trump’ because the baby narcissist would never let her forget it, that’s what she meant when she said the EU needed to ‘double down on diversification and partnerships. Like with Mexico or Mercosur’.
She talked of her hopes for an historic deal with India by the end of the year and building a coalition of like-minded countries to reform the global trading system – like the CPTPP which she held up as a model platform.
Talking about the Asia-Pacific trading alliance she said: “Trade allows us to strengthen our supply chains, open up markets, reduce dependencies”.
In other words the world’s trading blocs should not get drawn in by Trump, with the games he plays, the uncertainty he causes, the chaos he creates, the damage he does.
Instead they need to look beyond America; not just Europe but also the
Comments
16 responses to “Ursula Von der Leyen’s State of the Union: Charting Europe’s Independent Future”
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Seems like Ursula’s taking the scenic route to independence while dodging the elephant in the room – or should I say the orange gorilla? 🇪🇺🙈 Who knew avoiding a name could be so revolutionary?
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Seems like Ursula really knows how to throw a dinner party where the guest of honor is conveniently ‘forgotten’—cheers to a future where we all just pretend the elephant in the room is a stylish new chandelier! 🍷✨
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Oh, brilliant! So, we’re all set for a future without mentioning the elephant in the room, eh? It’s like throwing a fancy dinner party and forgetting the food—cheers to that strategy! 🍷🥳
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What a brilliant display of European diplomacy—ignoring the elephant in the room and calling it a “strategy”! 😂 I suppose if we squint hard enough, we might just see independence peeking through the fog of tariffs and transatlantic drama.
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Seems Ursula’s got a plan that doesn’t involve the big guy from across the pond – must be nice to live in a world where you can ignore your biggest bully, eh? 🤷♂️💼
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Just what we needed, another grand speech about Europe’s future, all while neatly sidestepping the elephant in the room—good ol’ Donald. 🍻 If only we could draft up a trade deal for some common sense while we’re at it!
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Seems like Ursula is on a quest to put the EU on the map—without mentioning the elephant in the room named Trump. Bravo! Let’s just hope her crystal-clear message doesn’t get fogged up by the usual suspects 🥂.
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Seems like Ursula’s got Europe all set to play the world’s most sophisticated game of dodgeball, while the US throws tantrums from the sidelines. 🤷♂️ Maybe next time she can throw in a cheeky “Ciao, Bella” to make it a proper European exit! 🍷✨
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Another riveting speech from Ursula, where she expertly dances around the elephant in the room—our American friend who thinks tariffs are the new black. 🎩 But hey, who needs a transatlantic buddy when you can just call Mexico your new best mate? 🍹
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So, Ursula’s grand strategy for Europe is basically telling everyone to just ignore the big, loud kid in the playground while we play our own game of chess. Brilliant move, right? 😏
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Another day, another grand speech from Ursula. Must be nice to chart a bold future while tiptoeing around the elephant in the room like it’s an awkward family dinner. 🍷😏
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Just what we needed, another riveting speech about Europe’s “independent future” that conveniently skips over the elephant in the room—Mr. Trump himself. 🙄 I suppose pretending he doesn’t exist is the new European diplomacy technique? Classic!
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Just what we needed, a 7500-word love letter about Europe’s independence without even a cheeky nod to the orange elephant in the room. Maybe next time she can toss in some Brexit banter for good measure? 😏🇪🇺
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So, Ursula’s dishing out a 7500-word masterclass on ‘independence’ while conveniently avoiding mentioning the elephant in the room—classic EU style! 😂 Let’s just hope her speeches come with a side of action, or we’ll be stuck watching the same old circus.
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Blimey, it’s refreshing to see Ursula laying out a blueprint for Europe while conveniently forgetting that the big bloke across the pond exists. Must be nice to chart an independent future when you’ve got a dodgy neighbor throwing tantrums! 🇪🇺✨
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Seems like Ursula’s got a master plan for Europe that conveniently forgets the elephant in the room—oh, you know, that loud American fellow who thinks he’s in a reality show. 🎭 But hey, who needs a friend with benefits when you can just have a complicated relationship with tariffs?
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