In Strasbourg, during a plenary session of the European Parliament, a debate took place on the geopolitical and economic implications of the new Trump administration in the context of transatlantic relations. ECR MEPs Adam Bielan and Jacek Ozdoba participated in the discussion.
Adam Bielan stated that a change in the U.S. administration always marks a new chapter in transatlantic relations. “And this is the moment when Europe must act clearly, pragmatically, and with determination to strengthen its transatlantic partnership and shape the next four years,” he emphasized.
“EU-U.S. relations have been the cornerstone of Western security and stability for decades. NATO has guaranteed us peace, and trade ties with the U.S. have driven prosperity,” said the Polish politician, noting that “both of these elements are at the heart of our shared strength.” The chair of the PiS delegation in the ECR Group expressed his deep disappointment with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision not to organize a transatlantic summit, which President Andrzej Duda had strongly advocated for. “In the current situation, this is a serious mistake with potentially significant consequences,” he commented.
“At a time when some EU governments are still pondering how they should respond to President Trump’s election victory, I must make it clear that Europe cannot remain passive,” said the MEP. He added that, at the same time, the EU must also prepare to invest more in its own interests. “We should strive for stronger defense coordination within the EU without duplicating NATO structures and proactively cooperate with Washington to strengthen deterrence on our eastern flank,” Adam Bielan argued, calling on the EU to use the change in the White House as an opportunity to deepen dialogue with the Trump administration.
Jacek Ozdoba stated that to have good relations, “above all, we must respect one another” and in this context, he referred to an incident in which Donald Tusk, a leading politician of the European People’s Party, aimed his fingers shaped like a gun at Donald Trump. “The former president of the European People’s Party decided to take a path that even Ursula von der Leyen herself feared,” the MEP commented. Comparing Europe and the United States to a ship, he stated that Donald Trump, “as a good captain, wants to set sail on the open sea and build good infrastructure.” “The opposite is true of Europe, because Ursula von der Leyen is a captain who is sinking her own ship,” said the Polish politician. He also referred to today’s statement by the Commission President, in which she announced that the ETS system needs to be reconsidered, and reminded listeners that it was introduced by the European People’s Party.
Jacek Ozdoba also stated that the European Parliament should review the composition of its delegations if it wishes to maintain proper relations with its allies. “If Michał Szczerba, who says ‘Donald Trump belongs in the trash,’ is a member of the EP Delegation for Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, that certainly does not bode well for our relations,” noted the MEP. According to Ozdoba, such a politician should be removed from the delegation responsible for EU-U.S. relations.
