At a Friday lunchtime discussion on how to deal with the unpredictable new man in the White House, EU leaders voiced “concern” over actions taken by Trump and also over some of the “attitudes” shown by his administration, according to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who hosted the summit.
It was a sign of how deeply unsettled and unfamiliar the previously rock-solid relationship between the U.S. and its European allies has become that Muscat felt compelled to note, “There was no sense of anti-Americanism.”
“We had a very open discussion with regards to the developments in our transatlantic partnership, developments in the United States,” Muscat, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said at a news conference with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
“Obviously there was concern amongst the EU 28 on some decisions that are being taken by the new U.S. administration, and also some attitudes that are being adopted,” Muscat said.
It was a clear reference to Trump’s immigration policies, which he imposed unilaterally and without alerting European allies, and despite the fact that he had met with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May hours earlier.
Noting there was no hostility toward Trump or the U.S., Muscat said, “There was a sense we need to engage.” But he added, “We cannot stay silent where principles are involved.”
While officials tried to keep the tone light, and Tusk even joked that he has a new nickname — “our Donald” — there was no disguising how shaken the Europeans seem to be after the first two weeks of Trump’s shock-and-awe presidency.
While officials tried to keep the tone light, and Tusk even joked that he has a new nickname — “our Donald” — there was no disguising how shaken the Europeans seem to be after the first two weeks of Trump’s shock-and-awe presidency.
his could change your life from day one - ProBiotic capsules, 2 a day with food
No comments:
Post a Comment