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Shkruar nga PamfletiUrsula von der Leyen warned of rising tensions between the EU and the US, stressing the need for Europe to strengthen its strategic independence, particularly in security and defence. She underlined the importance of the summit of European leaders in support of Ukraine and stressed that the economic downturn is a global trend that affects both Europe and the US.
Tensions between the European Union and the United States are becoming increasingly visible, taking the form of a cold clash between two traditional allies.
This has been made clear by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who warns that the global reality has changed radically and that today the international scene is dominated by " predatory" actors .
In this context, she has also directly responded to Donald Trump's criticisms, emphasizing that the economic downturn is not only affecting Europe, but also the US.
During her speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Von der Leyen underlined the crucial importance of the summit of European leaders starting tomorrow in Brussels. This meeting, she said, is expected to be key both for continued support for Ukraine and for confronting the increasingly open threat from Russia.
The President of the European Commission stressed that Europe must accelerate steps towards strategic independence, particularly in the field of security and defence. She underlined that the continent can no longer rely on others for its protection and that taking responsibility for European security is no longer a choice, but a necessity.
According to Von der Leyen, the challenge is not only political or military, but also economic. She recalled that Europe's share of global GDP has fallen from 25 percent in 1990 to around 14 percent today. However, she stressed that the same trend is also observed in the United States, which has gone from 22 percent of global GDP in 1990 to as much as 14 percent currently. According to her, this shows that it is a question of a structural change in the world economy and not a failure of one or the other side of the Atlantic.
Regarding financial support for Ukraine, Von der Leyen recalled that the European Commission has presented two alternatives, a scheme based on the use of assets and another through European Union loans. She stressed that the choice should be made without delay at the European Council meeting in these days, warning that any postponement of the decision would constitute a loss.
Europe is being destroyed, run by weak people
US President Donald Trump last week issued harsh criticism of the European Union and its leaders, in an interview with Politico.
He has described the continent as a group of nations "in the process of decay", led by "weak" people.
Trump accused European leaders of lacking vision and not making strong decisions.
"I think they're weak. I think they don't know what to do. Europe doesn't know what to do," Trump said.
He praised Hungary and Poland for their tough policies on migration, while expressing concern that other countries on the continent are being endangered by what he called " the entry of uncontrolled and unverified people ."
Trump warned that Europe would be "seriously weakened" by migration, claiming that "the people who are coming have completely different ideologies."
In the interview, he again hit out at his old adversary, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whom he called " a disaster ," adding, " I hate what has happened to London and Paris. "
According to Trump, European countries' attempt to be " politically correct " is the reason they are "weak ", while he called for EU states to "take out people who have entered illegally".
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