EU discusses Greenland and trade relations with the US

The leaders of the European Union (EU) member states are gathering on the evening of January 22 in Brussels for an emergency summit, called after threats by US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on several countries on the European continent.

The summit was also confirmed after the US president on January 21 gave up on imposing tariffs, after an agreement was reached in Davos, Switzerland, on the framework of the Greenland agreement during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The European Union had initially planned to discuss a joint response to US tariff threats at the summit. European leaders are also expected to discuss a strategy for responding to possible future threats from President Trump.

The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, in his invitation to the EU heads of state and government, emphasized that he wants a discussion on the challenges in transatlantic relations, their consequences for the European Union, as well as the coordination of next steps.

The European Parliament on January 21 suspended the ratification process of the trade agreement with the United States of America, in light of tensions over Greenland.

EU leaders will discuss Greenland and trade relations with the US.

The EU aims for trade relations to be stable, predictable and secure, but if this does not happen, then it wants to have rapid countermeasures available.

According to European diplomats, the European bloc wants to clearly define how strong, stable and predictable the transatlantic trade partnership and military alliance currently is.

The focus of the discussion will undoubtedly be Greenland, and it is expected that leaders will receive more information from Denmark.

The country's Prime Minister, after confirming the agreement on the framework agreement, said that her country is ready to talk about security in the Arctic, but insists on respecting territorial integrity.

Peace Board on the agenda of the meeting of European leaders

The European Union is currently hesitant to officially participate in the new Peace Board, awaiting additional clarifications from the American side, but also analyzing whether participation in this body is permitted by the constitutions of some member states.

The European Commission initially welcomed the idea of ​​this Board, but the EU will try to take a common position on this issue as well. For some European countries, the fact that Trump has also invited the presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin, and Aleksandar Lukashenko, to the Board is problematic.

However, unanimity on this issue is no longer possible, as Bulgaria and Hungary have joined this Board. /REL