The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, announced on Sunday that the leaders of the European Union countries will meet in the coming days to discuss US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose special tariffs against countries opposing his intention to take control of Greenland, LETA reported, citing AFP and DPA.
“Given the importance of recent events and in order to coordinate further actions, I have decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in the coming days,” Costa announced on social media.
He noted that after consultations with member states, he concluded that the tension surrounding Greenland threatens transatlantic relations, and Trump’s threats are incompatible with the trade agreement between the EU and the US.
Costa added that the EU is ready to defend itself against pressure. At the same time, the bloc seeks to continue constructive cooperation with the US.
He emphasized that there are common transatlantic security interests in the Arctic that need to be ensured within the framework of NATO cooperation.
According to EU representatives, the summit may take place on Thursday.
As previously reported, Trump stated that due to disagreements over Greenland, a 10% customs duty will be imposed on imports from eight EU countries starting February 1.
The new tariffs will affect all imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. If an agreement on the sale of Greenland to the US is not reached, the duty will increase to 25% in June.
Meanwhile, The Financial Times reports that the EU is considering retaliatory measures against the US. Among them are tariffs amounting to 93 billion euros on imports from the United States, as well as restrictions for American companies operating in the European market.
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