European Union ministers meet to discuss Trump’s policy pledges

Speaking at a conference at Harvard University Pierre Moscovici, European commissioner for economic and financial affairs, said Trump’s win was a “political wake-up call” that demonstrates a decline of democratic values and a rise of populist ideas in both the US and Europe.

Britain too said it would not be sending Boris Johnson, with a Foreign Office spokesman saying “we do not see the need for an additional meeting” to discuss the results of “an act of democracy”. “It should defend its interests and its strategic role in the world”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said as he arrived for a special session of the EU’s 56 foreign and defence ministers in Brussels.

The EU’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the bloc’s foreign and defense ministers will decide on Monday to boost their common defense and security capabilities.

The 16-page plan lists tasks and aims, many of which risk remaining abstract without an increase in funding.

Mr. Trump during the election campaign suggested at some points the USA might not unconditionally defend all North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, a position that would upend European security.

The EU action plan has been a year in the making, conceived after last year’s Paris attacks left Europeans feeling vulnerable, the BBC’s Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports. Proposals for a European military headquarters were scaled back to focus on civilian missions.

“Going it alone is not an option”.

The discussions of Europe’s defense have become more active following the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.

European Union foreign ministers have said they expect a “very strong partnership” with the United States, following an informal meeting to discuss Donald Trump’s election victory. It is not about a European army. “It is not about creating a new European Union shape-style headquarter. and it is not about competition or duplication with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”, said Mogherini.

United Kingdom defence secretary Michael Fallon criticised the EU’s proposals, saying the bloc should concentrate on increasing defence spending.

European Union ministers also agreed to consider setting up “permanent structured co-operation” in defence matters, a possibility under the Lisbon Treaty.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told European Union defense ministers in Brussels on Tuesday that “a strong NATO is important for Europe but it’s also important for the United States”.

“I guess it’s only normal for a country that has chose to leave not to be so interested in our discussion on the future of our relations”, she said. Johnson was one of the main campaigners for the successful “Leave” vote in the referendum for the UK΄s withdrawal from the European Union in June. “I personally think it’s a good thing if other European countries do show more of their responsibilities and spend a bit more on defence”.

But the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation chief noted Tuesday that the two sides were on the same page, saying Trump’s call for the allies to increase defense spending was exactly what they were already doing.