Brussels (Eurotoday) – During today’s plenary session in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament debated the implications of the new Trump administration.
A day after Trump’s comeback to the White House, MEPs dedicated part of their plenary session to discuss how trade, international relations, military defence and the fight against climate change are going to be affected by it.
Most MEPs agreed that it’s time for the European Union to be united. They shared hope for a positive and productive relationship with the Trump administration while also emphasizing that the EU should not only react to what happens in Washington. It should focus on itself too, on strengthening its own economy and defending its principles.
“It’s time to make Europe great again,” said Christine Anderson, German MEP from the Europe of Sovereign Nation group.
At the same time, many MEPs from the left wing shared serious concerns about the consequences of Trump’s US presidency on freedom of speech on social media, fighting against climate change and economic growth within the EU, whose partnership with the United States is the most significant it has.
Is the EU ready for a possible trade war?
Trump has not mentioned the European Union in his inauguration speech, nor any EU representatives were invited. However, the EU is still getting ready for a trade war through tariffs that might happen soon.
“There is a lot at stake,” commented Vladis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity and European Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification, after the Eurogroup meeting on January 20. “We have agreed today on the need for coordinated urgent action,” he told the press, “to increase competitiveness, productivity and innovation across the Euro area, and to move from words to action.”
Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, speaking on behalf of the EU Commission, emphasized the same points in front of the MEPs today: increase in competitiveness and productivity are key.
NATO spending on defence: What is going to change?
Trump has repeatedly threatened to leave NATO during his first term, and although he never followed through, he is threatening to do so now. Earlier this month he called on NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on military defence. At the moment, NATO’s guideline is 2%.
NATO Secretary Mark Rutte already told MEPs that increased spending will be necessary. “To stay safe in the years to come, allies will need to spend considerably more than 2%.”
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron also called on increasing European countries’ contribution to NATO military defence. However, Trump’s 5% request is highly unrealistic for many members – especially those like Canada, Spain, Italy and Belgium that have not even reached the 2% target yet.
Will the fight against climate change be put aside?
On day one of his second presidency, Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement – which unites over 200 countries in the fight against climate change – again. However, European countries’ commitment to it doesn’t change, as Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe highlighted at a press conference on January 20.
Commissioner Šefčovič commented that the EU regrets this decision.
“For more than a decade we have worked side by side with our American friends to design and implement the Paris Agreement. Companies in both Europe and America are investing in climate action, in clean technologies, and in bringing their benefits to the citizens. So Europe will stay on the course and work to assure that this continues both at home, for example through the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal and abroad, with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming.”
Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. Eurotoday publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, Eurotoday covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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