Hat up in Slovenia, the twenty-seven mentioned the strengthening of Europe’s role on the international scene.
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They had not seen each other since June and had a lot of things to say after the precipitious withdrawal of the American forces of Kabul, at the end of August, or the conclusion, without prior notification, of a strategic alliance in the Indo-Pacific between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom (Aukus) in mid-September.
Tuesday, October 5, the Heads of State and European Government had the opportunity, during a dinner at the Château de Bdo, in Slovenia, on the eve of a summit dedicated to the relation with the countries of the Western Balkans, to come back to these episodes. And to have “a strategic discussion on the role of the Union on the international scene”, as indicated by the Chairman of the Council, Charles Michel. The transatlantic relationship, which recent events damaged even before it had time to redo a health after the Trump years, has been at the heart of the discussions.
The partners of France were curious to hear what Emmanuel Macron, very reassembled after the Aukus affair had to say. They showed their solidarity with Paris, “with a lot of sympathy”, according to Prime Minister Dutch, Mark Rutte, but they were not all ready to sustain their distances with regard to Washington and to give up a transatlantic partnership , which remains fundamental for Poland, the Baltic or Scandinavian countries, as well as for Germany.
“A partner among others”
The French president wanted to avoid the division, while calling his partners again at the “lucidity”. He mentioned “choices that were made in Washington” who are not “signals of consideration for France and Europe”. He continued: “We have [with the United States] a story that is greater than us. I have a confidence nourished by history, but we have the needs of clarification, re-engagement to be able to move forward.”
Monday, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, had spoken on the phone with Joe Biden, at the request of the latter. Apparently eager to giving pledges after the failure of this summer, the US president described the EU of “fundamental partner”, according to the White House.
In this context, the twenty-seven “have led the lessons of recent crises,” said Charles Michel in his oral findings. And they did not rip out as to the place to grant the American partner. “Everyone is more or less agreed that the United States is a partner among others, and that we need to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy,” says a European source.
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