🟡 The Brief – Trump’s plan for Europe

By Georgi Gotev

Populist politicians in the EU are enthusiastic about Donald Trump’s remarkable victory in the US elections and the dream of a “conservative revolution” sweeping the continent. But do they realise he will count on them to promote his interests against Europe?

Trump won big, securing the popular vote, with Republicans winning control of the US Senate. If they prevail, they will dictate the agenda in Washington, helping Trump appoint conservative judges and over 50,000 people in key positions while gradually dismantling the “checks and balances”.

For his voters, Donald Trump is the god-sent messiah who understands their needs and concerns, believing he will solve their problems.

Conversely, those who voted against him did so because they feared for US democracy. Many suspect Trump has had a lot of time to devise his plan for America and the rest of the world. Now, he has no brakes.

We know what Trump’s plan for Europe is because we have memory. Years ago, agent provocateur Steve Bannon attempted to bring Trumpism to Brussels, even by establishing EU headquarters and targeting the 2019 European elections.

From the outset, Trump’s obvious aim was to divide Europe and thus weaken it as a geopolitical and economic competitor. Have we forgotten that Trump called the EU “a foe”?

Read our latest news on the Parliamentary hearings on the new commissioners:

To navigate the MEP grilling, Hoekstra embraces limits on his power. Several times, he sidestepped firm policy commitments, arguing it could undermine the Parliament’s future work on the files.

European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pressures socialist MEPs to rubber-stamp Hungary’s commissioner-designate Olivér Várhelyi, contacting individual MEPs.

Kubilius urges a boost in defence spending, not over Trump, but the real threat Putin. The first-ever commissioner-designate for defence called on member states to boost military spending.

The Trump fall out on European politics:

Transatlantic ties malaise looms large over EU leaders’ talks in Budapest. “We’re relatively calm and focused, and we have time until January to prepare to the maximum,” one EU diplomat told Euractiv.

The next steps for the German government as the breakdown leaves Europe in limbo. The ruling coalition collapse raises questions about the new European dynamic that had been unleashed by the victory of Donald Trump.

Trump win ‘bad news’ for EU, warns foundation linked to Spanish centre-right. He represents populism marinated in protectionist, isolationist approaches, they say.

ECR official calls Meloni Trump’s ‘natural interlocutor’ in Europe. He said Trump could even consider Meloni’s idea of remote migrant processing centres.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski is confident that his country will lead EU policymaking, with Trump in power.

In other news:

EU anti-deforestation rules: Can the EPP get them reopened? The EPP’s 15 proposed amendments, obtained by Euractiv, may need support from the Parliament’s right wing to pass.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris targets 29 November for a general election. He intends to seek dissolution on Friday (8 November).

The UK signs new agreements on people smuggling with Western Balkan countries.

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer is no longer Slovakia’s most popular party. But has hit back saying that polls cannot be trusted.

EU Agriculture Commissioner calls for a separate CAP budget during his Bucharest trip. He said farmers, “need to be sure that they will get the money without conditions."