António Costa starts as president of European Council on Sunday
Former Portuguese prime minister António Costa believes Europe should be listening to what incoming president of the United States Donald Trump says.
Showing that the world has moved rapidly on from the arguments pumped incessantly during the election campaign by Democrats (that Mr Trump is unstable and the very last thing that the free world needs) Mr Costa showed that he is ready for a healthy, working relationship.
In interview with Público newspaper, the incoming president of the European Council (he takes up the position on Sunday) stressed that a “frank dialogue” with the United States should continue, and that he doesn’t separate the two main axes of negotiations: security and trade.
The former prime minister also discussed the disagreement between President Donald Trump and the European Union over sharing the burden of defence.
“Since the last North Atlantic Council, where President Trump was present, until today, there have been very significant developments – unfortunately, as a result of the war,” he pointed out. In other words, the importance of all members contributing at least 2% of GDP on defence now makes total sense.
Asked whether Donald Trump’s intention to increase tariffs on imports from Europe, Canada, Mexico, and China, will impact Europe, António Costa said that it remained to be seen.
“At a time of military war, opening a trade war is certainly pouring petrol on the fire. Secondly, no trade war promotes prosperity, either on this side of the Atlantic or on the other. Thirdly, we have to look not only at the tariffs announced for European products but also those announced for others, the collateral effect of which will also impact the European market,” he said.
According to Lusa, “António Costa considered it essential to understand the reality as a whole”.
“It’s fair, reasonable and in line with the European option to strengthen our autonomy in defence matters. We should continue to invest more in our defence, alleviating the effort that the United States makes to ensure Europe’s safety, not least because we know that the United States now has other geopolitical priorities. But for this to be possible, we must simultaneously protect our economy,” he explained, adding that he knows that negotiating with the US “will certainly be difficult, it will certainly be tough, but, as should happen between allies, it will have to be successful”.
Regarding the best strategy for dealing with Donald Trump, António Costa recalled that this is nothing new: Europe has already dealt with a Trump presidency, emphasising that he will be treated like any other leader.
The best way forwards, therefore, is for Europe to show a willingness to engage in dialogue.
“This is fundamental. Respect. I will listen to what he says and see how we can find a meeting point here that is advantageous for Europe and the United States. There are several problems on the table. We have already seen the two main ones – those to do with trade policy and those to do with security and defence. And I insist that we look at them together because they reinforce each other,” he told his interviewers. ND
Source material: LUSA
