Brussels & Copenhagen, 18 February 2025

Key Points

• The EU must stay united and decisively reject any proposal by the new US administration to buy and annex sovereign states and other territories of the world as if those were real estate properties.
• The EU must strengthen its role as the de facto leader of the free world, remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights and rule of law globally to build peace in the world and not allow autocratic regimes to fill the vacuum left by the US.
• We demand that the EU and US continue promoting trade and economic cooperation instead of trade wars and tariffs which will harm all of us. Trade war must be avoided while the EU should also protect its economic interests against US protectionism.
• Europe must clearly commit to continued respect for the core principles of international law, inviolability of borders of a state and its sovereignty, right of peoples to determine their future, and the values of democracy, rule of law and freedom.

The return to office of Donald Trump as US president has, as expected, led to significant changes in US foreign policy. After of world leaders met at the Munich Security Conference this past weekend we, the Young European Federalists – JEF Europe and Europæisk Ungdom – JEF Denmark, cannot accept violations or threats to violate core norms of international law, including the right to self-determination of all peoples and equal sovereignty of states. 

Attempts to buy pieces of property within a city like New York may work for a real estate mogul, but after the recent outbursts by the US president regarding Greenland, Canada, the Panama Canal and the Gaza Strip we must be clear: President Trump, countries are not pieces of property you can just buy up! Peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved or negotiated without Ukraine and any process that does not meet this standard, will not result in a lasting peace.

The EU must stand united and clearly object to any such proposal. No EU country should agree to side deals with the new US administration to guarantee the best possible long-term protection of the EU core values and the interests of all of its citizens.

Recalling our 2024 resolution on reimagining EU-US relations, we remind that US-EU relations are based on mutual values and goals, and based on our shared commitment to a rules-based world order as the guarantee of a peaceful and fairer world, demand that all countries respect the right of people to independently to choose their path and individuals build peaceful and safe lives. Borders of countries cannot be redrawn on a whim or following desires of men in power – our history should have taught us this.

We demand that the EU and US continue promoting trade and economic cooperation instead of trade wars which will harm all of us. The threats of tariffs against Denmark following Trump’s demand to acquire Greenland, as well as decisions to impose them against the EU and other allies, are measures which we cannot accept. We call on the EU and US to reopen the negotiations on a new value-based trade and investment agreement with a strong commitment to EU standards and environmental sustainability. Trade war must be avoided while the EU should also protect its economic interests against US protectionism.

“While the words spoken are loud, actions speak even louder. Turning away from the international community and throwing around ridiculous proposals like buying Greenland to pander to one’s supporters will have a disastrous impact on US relations with the rest of the world. Losing your allies’ trust will leave you all alone and weak – clearly opposite of the motto of the US president. The EU must continue cooperation across the Atlantic while also strengthening our capabilities and strategic autonomy”, states Kati Systä, Executive Board Member of JEF Europe. 

USAID freeze: US taking a bow and leaving an empty space for autocrats to run wild – the EU must step in! 

The rapid and sudden push to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and freeze all of their programmes has shocked the world and left an open void for autocrats to fill. The closure of healthcare programmes will be devastating for some of the most poverty-stricken areas of our planet. The cessation of funding for NGOs and independent media in Eastern Europe will have a grave impact on their work to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights. The recent suggestion by Elon Musk to close media organisations like Radio Free Europe and Voice of America will only worsen the situation. These decisions will impact international organisations working on crucial development projects which aim to improve living standards globally.  In 2023, USAID had provided $62.4 billion in aid to 130 countries according to the OECD which amounts to 47% of the global funding for aid (https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/official-development-assistance-oda.html). 

A complete closure of vital initiatives like USAID and Radio Free Europe would weaken the US as a global actor and result in them losing the title of the leader of the free world. This would also open the door for more human suffering, worsening health conditions in the developing world and the weakening of democracy globally. The EU must step in to fill the gap and work to continue the vital humanitarian aid across the globe.

“The US has a right to choose its path but Europe cannot sit back and watch as the world succumbs to the whims of dictators while global cooperation is side-lined. USAID played a vital role in supporting independent civil society and media in young democracies of Eastern Europe and its closure will directly impact democracy and the rule of law in the region. The EU must seize the moment and fill the gaps left by the new US administration. It is high time Europe takes the lead on defending democracy, freedom and human rights across the globe, the future of the free world depends on it.”, notes JEF Europe’s Vice President, Martin B. Penov.

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organisation has more than 10,000 activists organised in over 300 national, regional and local sections in 38 countries. 

JEF Denmark is Danish national section of JEF Europe.

Contact

Kati Systä

JEF Europe Executive Board Member

kati.systa@jef.eu 

Read more

10 November 2024 Reimagining the partnership with the US https://jef.eu/resolution/1115/ 

14 April 2024 Building a World Federation and Democratic International Institutions: https://jef.eu/resolution/building-a-world-federation-and-democratic-international-institutions/ 

13 November 2022 Towards a strong future-oriented relationship with Africa https://jef.eu/resolution/towards-a-strong-future-oriented-relationship-with-africa/ 

19 March 2023 For a Free, Fair and Sustainable Trade Policy https://jef.eu/resolution/for-a-free-fair-and-sustainable-trade-policy/ 

 

Pictures: Unsplash, original picture of Donald Trump by GAGE Skidmore, CC  BY-SA-2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/