"The trade deal von der Leyen signed with Donald Trump in July was an unequal bargain, decried by right and left as a humiliation for Europe. Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine, while EU leaders were left wincing at the spectacle of Trump's red carpet welcome for Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Israel's war on Gaza continued relentlessly, killing more than 64,000 people and bringing famine to the strip,"
"Only minutes after she sat down, she was hearing equally tough responses. We are losing Europeans; we're not taking them with us. We're weak when they want protection, Valerie Hayer, leader of the centrist Renew group, told her. The summer was very painful, said Green leader Bas Eickhout. Europe has entered a world of power, yet we are still playing chess in a boxing match."
Ursula von der Leyen delivered a state of the union address in Strasbourg urging Europe to fight for its place amid an unforgiving global environment. MEPs responded with criticism that Europe is losing citizens, lacks protection, and is unprepared for a harder world. Recent months delivered harsh blows: an unequal trade deal with Donald Trump; Russia's escalated attacks on Ukraine and Trump's warm reception for Vladimir Putin; Israel's war on Gaza causing over 64,000 deaths and famine in the strip while EU governments failed to agree modest sanctions; and record forest fires consuming about 1m hectares, driven by the climate crisis. Mario Draghi warned that economics alone cannot ensure geopolitical power.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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