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| United We Stand Divided We Fall |
EU leaders pledged the need for unity and for Europe to stand on its
own two feet at their meeting in Valletta on Friday (3 February), during
a discussion on how to handle US president Donald Trump, whom EU
council chief Donald Tusk described earlier this week as a "threat" to
the EU.
Leaders emphasized the importance of the transatlantic relationship,
and said they would work together with Trump on common interests, but
move toward more independent European action on issues where the EU and
the US administration disagree.
"We work on the basis of our shared values, [...] there are areas
where we agree, like fighting international terrorism, and where we
don’t agree," German chancellor Angela Merkel said after lunch, which
summed up the mood toward Trump among EU leaders after a turbulent week
of heavy criticism from Europe and concern over the US president's first
days in office.
Merkel said that this is an opportunity for Europe to redefine itself and become more self-reliant.
"The general debate concentrated on where we stand, we have to act
together," Merkel said, adding that it could lead to boosting investment
in defense capabilities in the EU but also in Germany. "We have our
destiny in our own hands."
Some EU leaders heavily criticised Donald Trump's decision to ban
refugees and people arriving to the US from seven Muslim-majority
countries.
Others, like Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban ( whose
country represents the new face of corruption in Europe), slammed those
who
criticized Trump. Before arriving at the Valletta summit, Orban said
that the US has the right to decide its own border control policy, and
that he is puzzled at the "neurotic European reactions" over the travel
ban.
Read more: EU leaders forced to unite in new Trump reality
