EGN NEWS DESK
The conferences, first reported by POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook, come because the concern of former U.S. President Trump returning to the White House permeates the very best echelons of energy in Europe’s capital. Small teams of the 27 EU nations’ ambassadors met Thursday and Friday with Brussels’ prime officers, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of employees, Björn Seibert, and representatives of a number of Commission departments protecting subjects from commerce to power.
The conferences come amid stories the bloc has arrange a speedy response pressure to arrange for the fallout of the elections, colloquially generally known as the “Trump process pressure.” The EU needs to hit again laborious on commerce if Trump wins.
Trump has warned that he received’t defend “delinquent” NATO allies spending lower than 2 % of GDP on protection. And he has threatened to slap 10 to twenty % tariffs on all imports to deliver manufacturing jobs again to the U.S. On Thursday, Trump known as the EU a “mini China.”
“They do not take our vehicles, they do not take our farm merchandise, do not take something. You have a $312 billion deficit with the EU. You know, the EU is a mini — however not so mini — is a mini China,” he stated.
Three of the diplomats stated that the discussions additionally touched upon the EU’s relations with China, with Trump set to antagonize Beijing much more. The conferences contain six Commission departments and canopy subjects akin to commerce, power and digital coverage — areas that would expertise turbulence if Trump returns to the White House.
Even if a Harris presidency wouldn’t be as disruptive as a Trump administration, the EU govt needs to point out it’s on the ball no matter occurs, one of many diplomats stated.
“We are certainly getting ready for the U.S. elections. All attainable outcomes are thought of. We are dedicated to sustaining a detailed partnership with the U.S.,” stated Arianna Podestà, a spokesperson for the Commission.
Koen Verhelst contributed reporting.
