We are in a much better position on Greenland than we were 24 hours ago. said Ursula von der Leyen.
She so referred to the decision of US president Donald Trump to waive the planned duties to any European countries whose leaders explicitly supported Greenland within Denmark's borders. According to von der Leyen, the consistent attitude of the European Union towards Trump's force has produced results and should proceed in the future.
Europe is to be ready
As she added, the EU has conducted intensive dialog with the United States at various levels, acting decisively but without exacerbating tensions. At the same time, the Union was well prepared for the possible introduction of duties, with both trade tools and non-target measures to respond.
But we besides talked about the fact that it became clear that we request to work more and more for an independent Europe – she noted.
The Head of the EC pointed out that the Union's precedence remains to strengthen its economical capacity and to grow its safety facilities. In her opinion, a strong and coherent interior marketplace that drives the European economy plays a key function in this. At the same time, she stressed the request to intensify the EU's presence in global markets. She recalled that the Union already has the largest trade network in the world, covering more than 70 free trade agreements, but she argued that it should be further developed in order to diversify supply chains more effectively through fresh markets.
American military bases
As reported Financial TimesDonald Trump had a conversation with NATO Secretary General on Wednesday during the planet economical Forum in Davos. First, the president of the United States withdrew from the proposition of utilizing military force to take over Greenland, and then – after talking to Mark Rutte – withdrew from his plans to introduce duties to the European states which most powerfully opposed American claims against the island.
The diary besides states that Trump and the NATO chief discussed the 1951 Treaty, which regulates the presence of US troops in Greenland, wondering how it could more effectively safeguard the position of American military bases in this territory.