Trump’s surtaxes are “a mistake”, says von der Leyen
Keystone-SDA
The additional tariffs proposed by US President Trump are a mistake, declared European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF). She was reacting to the US President’s threats if Greenland was not ceded to him.
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“We regard the American people not only as our allies, but also as our friends. Plunging us into a dangerous downward spiral would only benefit the adversaries that we are both determined to keep out of our strategic landscape,” said von der Leyen in Davos on Tuesday.
“Our response will therefore be firm, united and proportionate,” she added, pointing out that the sovereignty and integrity of Greenland as an autonomous territory of Denmark are non-negotiable. Germany announced that the EU would be stepping up security in the Arctic, in collaboration with Greenland and Denmark, but also with the United States.
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New independent Europe
Von der Leyen also called for an economically strong Europe and the need for the construction of a “new independent Europe”. “Stalling for time and hoping that things will soon return to normal will not solve the structural dependencies from which we suffer,” she declared.
The President of the European Commission highlighted Europe’s latest economic successes, including the signing of the agreement between Mercosur and the EU, which came to fruition last weekend after years of stalemate. She also cited the agreement with Switzerland and a future agreement with India.
“Long live Europe,” concluded von der Leyen to a round of applause.
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Translated from German by AI/jdp
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