EU leaders stress 'self-discipline' efforts ahead of 'Trump's return'

The leaders of the European Union and the EU agreed on the 7th local time that "self-reliance" efforts are needed to strengthen Europe's security and competitiveness in preparation for former U.S. President Donald Trump's return to power.

Charles Michel, the permanent president of the EU summit, called for Europe to reduce its dependence on the United States at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Hungary.

"For our children, not Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, we have to decide our fate for ourselves," Michel said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also stressed that it is not the role of EU leaders to rant about the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and that "the question is whether we are willing to defend European interests and this is our priority."

"It's time to realize that we have to put in additional resources to respond to the main challenges, and this is about competitiveness and Europe's defense," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.There were also concerns about Trump's economic and trade policies, which foreshadowed

'America First'.

Finnish Prime Minister Peteri Orpo said he was worried about the trade dispute between the U.S. and Europe and said, "As it should not happen, let's persuade the U.S. to understand the risks of the trade dispute."

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden called Trump sometimes difficult to predict and has ups and downs and stressed that "we will seek dialogue but will not give up on principles."

Earlier, the EU had a big and small conflict over defense spending and steel tariffs during Trump's first term in office.

The fact that key EU member states such as Germany and France have greatly shrunk in external affairs due to the domestic situation is also a factor that increases instability in Europe.