Tusk tells Europeans ‘hold your heads excessive’ however warns ‘time of consolation is over’ – Europe dwell | Europe

In a passage instantly responding to Donald Trump’s feedback on what he sees as Europe’s insufficient monetary contribution to shared safety (see 10:19), Poland’s Tusk paraphrases the memorable quote from John F Kennedy’s inaugural handle in 1961 as he says:

Don’t ask what America can do for Europe and its safety; ask what ourselves we will do for our safety.

Each the tone and the message look like similar to that of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who warned in Davos that Europe wanted to step up its sport and cease counting on the US (under and in yesterday’s weblog).

Tusk additionally appears to be a glass half full particular person as he tries to place a optimistic spin on Trump’s phrases:

The brand new president of the US says that Europe must share our take of accountability for our safety. Solely an ally can want one other ally to get stronger. It’s not what an opponent of Europe would say.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has been talking within the European Parliament, delivering a wide-ranging speech on the way forward for the EU, with some sturdy quotes about what he sees as each opportunites and challenges for the bloc.

Poland has taken over the EU’s rotating presidency on 1 January, and Tusk, former president of the European Council, desires to make use of his expertise to assist the bloc in these unsure occasions.

We’re coping with an lively battle on our borders. We now have to take care of technological progress, which is typically uncontrolled. All of this results in this sense of lack of certainty on the a part of numerous our residents.

However objectively talking, Europe shouldn’t be fearful about its future. … Crucial phrases right here right now ought to be addressed on to Europeans: hold your heads excessive.

It’s true that what is occurring round us … is an entire new set of challenges for Europe. However Europe was created precisely to face such challenges.

His speech has at occasions a Love Truly-esque vibe about it as Tusk insists that Europe has no motive to really feel inferior to or afraid of modifications within the US administration.

He goes on to speak about how Europe ought to take pleasure in its achievements and being “the birthplace of the best discoverers, inventors, strategists,” name-checking Alexander the Nice, the Vikings, and Columbus (and considerably on-the-nose reminding everybody that we found America).

However as he turns to options, he picks up extra severe language once more:

Now the occasion is over. The time of consolation is over.

Catch-up: German reactions to Musk’s gesture

Kate Connolly

A lot was stated during the last 48 hours about Elon Musk’s obvious use of a salute banned for its Nazi hyperlinks in Germany.

Do you surprise what the Germans make of it? The Guardian’s Kate Connolly appeared into this and it’s sophisticated. Some say it was an unambiguous Nazi salute however others are not sure and say focus ought to be on Musk’s said help for far-right.

Right here is her report.

For a fast replace with the newest on Ukraine warfare, test our explainer under.

Talking in a single day, Donald Trump addressed this subject too, saying it “sounds probably” that the US would impose sanctions on Russia in the event that they refuse to participate in negotiations on the warfare in Ukraine.

However then he additionally raised his longstanding grievance about European allies not contributing sufficient financially.

We’re speaking to Zelenskyy, we’re going to be speaking to President Putin very quickly, and we’ll see the way it all occurs. …

One factor I do really feel is that the European Union ought to be paying much more than they’re paying.

Underneath Biden, we have been in there for 200bn {dollars} extra. Now, it have an effect on them greater than it impacts us. We now have an ocean in between. Slightly factor in between known as an ocean. The European Union ought to equalise. We’re in there for 200bn {dollars} greater than the European Union.

What are we, silly? I assume the reply is sure. They need to assume so.

1:11

These new EU issues come on the again of Trump’s feedback in a single day that he would hit the European Union with tariffs citing the necessity to handle commerce imbalances and explaining the transfer in his distinctive fashion:

They deal with us very, very badly. In order that they’re going to be in for tariffs. It’s the one manner you’re going to get again. It’s the one manner you’re going to get equity.

A day earlier, he accused the bloc of not importing sufficient American merchandise, saying he would “straighten that out” by imposing duties or by urging for extra oil and gasoline purchases.

European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen has been talking within the European Parliament in the previous couple of minutes, with some new feedback warning about “the change coming in world politics.”

We’re solely three weeks into 2025, and however a glimpse is already there of a change that’s coming to world politics. We now have entered a brand new period of harsh geostrategic competitors. …

The foundations of engagement are altering. Some in Europe could not like this new actuality, however we should take care of it. Our values don’t change, however to defend them, some issues should change. And first, we’ve got to work to do at dwelling.

I ponder who might she probably be fascinated with?

• Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz maintain a press convention in Paris (round lunchtime)

• European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen is talking on the European Parliament in Strasbourg now, and will probably be adopted by Polish prime minister Donald Tusk (10:30 CET)

• Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez speaks on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos (15:45 CET)

• Micheál Martin is anticipated to change into Eire’s new prime minister

Far more to return, I’m certain.

Morning opening: Scholz travels to Paris for Macron assembly

Jakub Krupa

Guten tag, bonjour, and good morning. It’s Wednesday, 22 January 2025.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz is travelling to Paris this morning to satisfy French president Emmanuel Macron in what would as soon as be seen as absolutely the energy assembly on the high of European politics.

This time, it’s completely different – to the purpose that the German weekly Der Spiegel known as it a gathering of two lame geese.

As Scholz struggles to get his message throughout and trails within the polls forward of subsequent month’s parliamentary elections and Macron struggles to take care of a near-permanent political disaster domestically, the celebrations of the 62nd anniversary of the Élysée Treaty are more likely to be considerably muted.

Nonetheless there’s loads to speak about: tips on how to finest take care of the small matter of Donald Trump, the warfare in Ukraine, and all kinds of questions on Europe’s place and competitiveness in a dynamically altering world.

What makes issues worse, although, is that the 2 don’t appear to notably get alongside personally. And they aren’t alone on this.

A consultant ballot of 1203 French adults, printed final week, exhibits that for the primary time, a slender majority of the French—51%—truly don’t like Germany that a lot, even when they assume Franco-German relations are typically good.

Two-thirds say they have no idea Germany notably properly. When requested about their main associations with the nation, they level to the significance of labor, the nation’s financial energy, and, erm, budgetary self-discipline, all talked about by over 80% of respondents. Not notably inspiring.

In a very stinging (and, frankly, fairly hilarious given the German Embassy in France commissioned the ballot) response, the French stated that it’s all good and properly that Germans have a terrific schooling system, a powerful financial system, and galvanizing tradition, noting the significance of the Franco-German Arte TV channel, however it’s… the German language that they see as a specific legal responsibility (67%).

Politically, you may see how a lot has modified over the previous couple of years: in 2020, 53% cited France and Germany because the joint main power for European integration. 4 years later, it was a mere 18%. Ouch.

However some took the ends in good stride. In its morning e-newsletter, the German enterprise each day Handelsblatt noticed that 40% of the French additionally related Germans with conceitedness.

“Coming from them, it’s certainly a praise?” it quipped.

Welcome to our dwell protection of European politics. It’s Jakub Krupa right here.

If in case you have any feedback or solutions, electronic mail me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com. I’m additionally on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.