Published on •Updated
“I’m part of the ones that say that the EU-US trade deal is a total capitulation”, Belgian MEP Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA) told Euronews’ Europe Today morning show in Strasbourg Wednesday, commenting on the political agreement European lawmakers reached the day before to approve the trade deal.
“There is obviously a willingness from the von der Leyen majority to show signs of appeasement with Trump. I’m not sure this is the language he understands,” Bricmont said.
Representatives of the European Parliament’s political groups have agreed on the conditions to attach to the deal, which include a “sunset clause” to make the agreement expire at the end of March 2028, unless explicitly renewed, and a “suspension clause” to suspend the deal in the event the US threatens the territorial integrity of one of the EU member states.
“Trump is somehow less vocal about Greenland, but I am pretty sure he is not giving up,” Bricmont said. “He has an international agenda, it’s pretty clear, and it’s a security strategy as well.”
The Belgian MEP said that Europe has “to show teeth” and “give appropriate answers” when it is attacked on trade by the US or other countries, leveraging its network of partnerships and alliances, its economic potential, and its strong industry.
“Trump obviously has a huge problem with other continents, including Europe. And he wants to show that Europe is weak. It’s up to us Europeans to show the Europeans that Europe isn’t weak”, she said.
Bricmont also stated that Europeans have to “take their own fate into their hands”, by massively investing in clean industries and green transition, ahead of a crucial EU leaders’ summit on Thursday focused on competitiveness.
“I don’t see the investments today. Investing in our industry, but also in our green industry, is highly needed at the EU level. Otherwise, we will be the old continent”, Bricmont said.
Other countries are investing in clean technologies while Europe “is now giving up on its climate and ecological transition”, a “condition for our competitiveness,” she concluded.
