‘We need to stand on our own two feet’ Merkel calls for UNITED Europe to stand without USA
ANGELA Merkel has called for more European Union integration and unity as relations with the USA and Donald Trump continue to freeze.
By SIOBHAN MCFADYEN
Express.co.uk
Fri, Feb 3, 2017
The German Chancellor vowed to unite Europe to try and forge its place in the world after Brexit while the new US President continued his tirade against the bloc.
Speaking in Malta where the leaders of the EU’s 28 EU members states are meeting for a summit, Mrs Merkel said she plans to define the EU’s role in global politics.
And she said she is going to “manage” her relationship with Trump despite his lukewarm reception to her policies, many of which are failing.
She said: “Europe has its fate in its own hands.
“I believe the stronger we define our role in the world the better we can manage our transatlantic relationships that’s why for me its is more important to discuss Europe today and not other parts of the world.”
The new U.S. president’s comments have been hard on the EU: he praised Brexit and criticised the bloc’s refugee and monetary policies.
In response, Merkel told CNBC: “Europe will need to stand on our own two feet” as we may have some policy differences.
She added: “We have to clearly nurture the values in our foreign policy that we consider to be important.
“We also have to bear our vested interest in mind, that’s what others have to do. It’s what the President of the United States is doing.
“There will be invariably areas where we are linked with common interest. I don’t think International terrorism can be fought on one’s own, globally. That has to be done together. And then there will be tasks where, well maybe, in the future where we will need to stand on our own two feet.”
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