EU leaders discuss impact of re-election Trump at summit in Budapest

Donald Trump's comeback as US president is dominating an informal summit of EU leaders in Budapest. Europe needs to take control of its own destiny, is the general message of the EU leaders.

The EU leaders are on Friday holding a debate on the competitiveness of the European economy. Outgoing European Council president Charles Michel, for whom this is his last European summit, is confident that the leaders can come forward with a declaration that can serve as a framework for strengthening European competitiveness.

The re-election of Donald Trump as US president increased the “sense of urgency” among Europeans, former ECB president Mario Draghi said, presenting a new report. What needs to be addressed most urgently, according to Draghi, “is the fragmentation of the single market and the European capital markets union”.

Outgoing Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo declared that Trump's re-election could be a catharsis for the European Union. “It could make us stronger,” he said. “Europe sometimes needs those moments where it is confronted with the facts. That could give a new boost.” He called for a dialogue with Trump to make it clear to him that a tariff war would also hurt the US and that China is the common competitor. “We are partners, it would be crazy to start imposing tariffs on each other,” said De Croo.

Yesterday, French president Emmanuel Macron already made a plea for a Europe that takes its role on the world stage more confidently. “The question we face is: do we want to read the history written by others, or do we want to write history ourselves?” he said. “We must take action, defend our national and European interests, believe in our strategic autonomy, in our sovereignty, because we don't want to be extras.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked European leaders for more support in the war with Russia, telling them certainly not to make any concessions. That would be “suicidal” for all of Europe, he stressed.

^{Informal meeting of heads of state or government of the EU in Budapest, on 8 November 2024 © BELGA PHOTO Ludovic MARIN / AFP}