EU states talk about tips on how to cope with the USA at a particular summit | EUROtoday

As of: January 22, 2026 10:02 p.m

In Brussels, the EU states really needed to debate a response to the US punitive tariffs, which have now been withdrawn. After the dispute with the USA has been quickly resolved, there’s nonetheless loads to be clarified on the particular summit.

After the preliminary settlement of the dispute with the USA over Greenland, the heads of state and authorities of the EU met in Brussels for a particular summit.

Top politicians reacted with aid to the most recent developments – however made it clear that there needs to be no “business as usual” given the state of affairs. Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned that Europeans should now draw conclusions and strengthen their protection capability and financial competitiveness: “The European Union, the European part of NATO, must be able to defend itself,” he mentioned.

Plea for NATO

At the identical time, Merz and a number of other heads of state and authorities continued to talk out in favor of shut cooperation on the particular EU summit – and above all for the preservation of NATO. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned the whole lot should be achieved to guard relations and cooperation with the United States – even when there’s at present a disaster. For Poland, the United States continues to be completely crucial accomplice on the subject of safety.

Merz additionally emphasised that NATO should be maintained as “the most successful political alliance that has ever existed between Europe and America.” “I also have the impression that many Americans see us that way,” he mentioned. “You don’t just give up on this transatlantic alliance.”

EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned: “On the European side, we are not prepared to destroy 80 years of good relations and we are prepared to work for it.” The sign to the USA should be power.

Summit regardless of leisure on the Greenland situation

The particular summit was known as after US President Donald Trump threatened new punitive tariffs for some EU nations in reference to the Greenland battle. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump surprisingly withdrew this once more. The cause he gave was a future settlement on Greenland and all the Arctic area.

EU Council President António Costa had urged that the summit assembly ought to nonetheless be held and that the most recent developments in transatlantic relations and their influence on the EU needs to be mentioned in precept.

Merz and Macron attribute Trump’s turnaround to Europe’s habits

At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Merz, amongst others, have been satisfied that the actions of the Europeans in latest days have been largely chargeable for the withdrawal of the tariff risk. “If Europe responds in a united manner and uses the tools at its disposal, then when threatened, it can command respect,” Macron mentioned. That occurred this week. Macron was alluding to the truth that the EU particularly had made it clear that it didn’t wish to settle for the blackmail makes an attempt with the extra tariffs.

If Trump had applied his bulletins as deliberate on February 1st, particular tariffs on US items exports price 93 billion euros may have been levied as early as February seventh. There was additionally discuss of utilizing a brand new EU instrument in opposition to financial coercion. The latter may additionally make it attainable to exclude US firms from awarding public contracts or to impose extra taxes on digital firms resembling Apple, Microsoft, Google and Meta.