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Europe Today : bras de fer Merz-Trump, sommet européen en Arménie
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LIRE L’ARTICLE : http://fr.euronews.com/2026/05/04/europe-today-le-bras-de-fer-merz-trump-sintensifie-sur-le-retrait-us-sommet-en-armenie
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01:00The announcement has left the US-EU trade deal struck last summer hanging in the balance.
01:06We speak to the EU's top lawmaker on international trade, Bernd Langer.
01:11Also, 48 leaders are gathering in Armenia for a summit of the European political community,
01:18with a non-European leader, Canada's Mark Carney, in attendance for the very first time.
01:23Carney is seeking to build new alliances with like-minded partners amid a rupture with the US.
01:31But first this morning to our top story, because Europe is dealing with the fallout of US President Donald Trump's
01:38latest verbal attacks against his NATO allies.
01:42Trump signalled over the weekend he would withdraw many more than the 5,000 troops the US said it would
01:48remove from Germany on Saturday.
01:51We're going to cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000. Thank you very much.
01:56For more, I'm joined in the studio this morning by our correspondent, Seana Murray.
02:00Good morning, Seana. Great to see you.
02:02So this comes after a very public spat between Trump and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Tell us more.
02:10Yes, so there are pretty ill-fated comments from Friedrich Merz saying that the Iranians were humiliating the White House
02:16negotiators
02:16and then criticising Trump for his ill-conceived strategy in Iran.
02:20And people might say, well, that's actually a fair point because the war is not going well.
02:25Gas prices are skyrocketing. The economies, the global economy is not doing very well.
02:30Donald Trump knows this. And so this sort of added fuel to the fire.
02:34Immediately then, Donald Trump said he was studying whether how to remove troops from Europe.
02:38He announced 5,000. And then the last few days has announced that he will remove even more than 5
02:44,000.
02:44There are around 80, over 80,000 U.S. troops across Europe, about 36,500 in Germany.
02:51It has to be said that Europe has been preparing for a drawdown like this, but not in this sort
02:56of confrontational way.
02:58Now, take a listen to him over the weekend. He was also asked whether he would do the same in
03:02Italy and Spain.
03:04Why shouldn't I?
03:07Italy has not been of any help to us.
03:11And Spain has been horrible. Absolutely horrible.
03:16And Germany, I mean, he's doing a terrible job.
03:19He's got immigration problems. He's got energy problems.
03:23He's got problems of all kinds.
03:25And he's got a big problem with Ukraine because they're in that mess.
03:30And he criticized me for doing the whole thing with Iran.
03:37But I said, would you like to have a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran?
03:40He said, no, I don't.
03:42I said, well, then I guess I'm right.
03:44A lot being said there.
03:46First of all, Italy and Spain.
03:47We know that Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, has been very vocally critical of the war in Iran.
03:51But Georgia Maloney, the prime minister of Italy, was once known as the Trump whisperer.
03:56So it shows you that these relationships are transactional and very much temporary.
04:00And, you know, he's criticizing Friedrich Merz and the Germans, but at least they're allowing the U.S. military access
04:05to their bases and the use of their skies for the war in Iran.
04:09But, you know, overall, this is yet another diatribe, another confrontation between the U.S. and its allies at a
04:15very particular critical moment in Ukraine.
04:17And Shauna, in terms of this drawdown, 5,000 troops from Germany, what does that mean now for security and
04:23for NATO?
04:24Well, this is the issue because speaking to NATO sources over the last few days is they haven't been given
04:28any detail about what this will look like.
04:30Will it be a sort of a rotational issue where 3,000 troops are removed and they won't be replenished?
04:35Is it from a core group? Is it from the Air Force? They haven't got that detail.
04:38And we heard from NATO over the weekend saying that they're working with the U.S. to figure this out.
04:42We heard from Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General, this morning.
04:45He's in Armenia, the European political community, saying that European allies have heard the message from Trump loud and clear.
04:51That is true. And they have been preparing for this.
04:53So Germans and other countries have bolstered their forces for the last year or so.
04:58So they're well prepared for this. They don't know. I mean, 5,000 is manageable.
05:01But the question is how many more. But crucial to this, Marad, is that even in the last year, I
05:06spoke to a NATO diplomat.
05:07He said, we're preparing for withdrawal of troops.
05:10But the worst case scenario would be if it happens out of the blue, without collaboration with NATO.
05:15And also if it comes after a phone call with Putin, which is exactly what happened here, almost a self
05:20-fulfilling prophecy.
05:21So it's, you know, Europeans are again sort of in a very, very difficult position with Trump.
05:27OK, Shauna, thank you so much for that update and for bringing us up to speed.
05:32Now we're moving on because on Friday, President Trump also said he would hike tariffs on EU cars and trucks
05:39to 25 percent.
05:41It's left the trade deal struck between the EU and the U.S. last summer hanging in the balance once
05:48again.
05:48That deal had set a baseline tariff of 15 percent on most EU goods, including cars, while completely removing EU
05:57tariffs on U.S. industrial goods.
06:00For more, we're joined live now by the Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, Bernd Langer.
06:06Mr. Langer, really good to have you with us this morning.
06:09Can you tell us first, is this announcement, do you think, a political manoeuvre from Trump, directed specifically perhaps at
06:18Germany?
06:20Yes, good morning.
06:21And I think you are quite right.
06:23This is a political decision.
06:26He is really angry against Germany.
06:30We just heard it.
06:32And I'm convinced that in this context, he also targeting specifically German car manufacturers.
06:42And this will perhaps lead to an extra tariff volume from around 15 billion.
06:49So, that's really, and of course, there are no legal or no economic reasons for that.
06:57This is really politically against Germany.
07:00And I think the big question now, Mr. Langer, is how should the EU respond to this?
07:05Is it time to move from appeasement to retaliation?
07:09That's really the question we will discuss on Wednesday.
07:12So, it's totally clear.
07:14We saw a lot of breaches, a lot of breaking of the deal of Scotland by the United States.
07:21Even some weeks after, we saw that more than 400 products were lifted from 15 to 50 percent because they
07:29are containing steel and aluminium.
07:32There's now on the 2nd of April, where also these products are still in average tariff by 26 percent.
07:40And we saw the Greenland exercise, and we saw that the Supreme Court decided the legal basis was illegal.
07:48So, I guess now we will reflect and make an assessment about this one year of breaking by the United
07:55States.
07:56I'm not sure that we can really go on.
07:59And of course, we have a toolbox of possible reaction, and we will discuss it quite intensively, and we will
08:07be serious.
08:07You mentioned a toolbox.
08:10We know that there is this kind of trade bazooka, the anti-coercion instrument.
08:15Will that be on the table as one of the options?
08:19We have the toolbox, and of course, all tools are in.
08:23But in this case, of course, we will look also to other elements like countermeasures, like counter tariffs or export
08:34restrictions.
08:34So, I guess all options are on the table.
08:39But as you said, Mr. Lange, we have been here before.
08:42There could be more to come.
08:44So far, the EU has not had the political courage, some would say, to introduce, for example, retaliatory tariffs.
08:52Do you think that now the time has come and that this will happen?
08:57I'm sure that the mood in the European Union has changed, specifically after this Greenland exercise.
09:04And if you read the statement by the Commission yesterday, it was much more clear.
09:10And also, there was a mentioning of a reaction, and all options are open.
09:18So, there's a change inside the attitude of the European Union after this long story of unpredictable reaction in the
09:28United States.
09:29Anna, Mr. Lange, you've been urging EU governments to attach more conditions to the Scotland deal agreed last year,
09:36including making EU preferential tariffs conditional on the US, respecting its side of the deal.
09:41Germany has been pushing against that.
09:44Do you think they could now get on board?
09:48In the Council, indeed, there are different positions.
09:51Some are more outspoken.
09:53Some are really trying to de-escalate.
09:57Germany, unfortunately, was more in the camp of the second.
10:01Now, I guess, also here is a change.
10:04And we will have also a discussion with the Council on Wednesday.
10:08And after that, I can give you a concrete answer what we will do.
10:12Okay.
10:13Thank you so much, Mr. Lange.
10:14That's all we have time for.
10:16I'm afraid we will be following those discussions on Wednesday, as you mentioned.
10:22Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade,
10:26Moving on now, the European political community, a forum considered the brainchild of France's Emmanuel Macron,
10:33is meeting for a summit in Armenia today.
10:35Around 48 leaders are expected to attend, including for the very first time a non-European, Canada's Marc Kani.
10:42As our reporter, Jakob Yanis, explains.
10:47Marc Kani has arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, heading to the European Political Community Summit,
10:53as he spearheads efforts to create a middle-powers alliance.
10:56This Canadian prime minister, holding both Canadian and British passports,
11:01represents a unique bridge between the Anglo world and a Europe increasingly wary of American isolationism.
11:07And this forum could offer Canada a vital opening to build new European ties.
11:13But could the world's most European, non-European country actually become the 28th EU member state?
11:21Almost 60% of Canadians now support joining the bloc,
11:25with over 80% prioritizing stronger economic ties as a buffer against US political turmoil.
11:31And the latest surveys show most Germans and Spaniards back Canadian accession,
11:36while in Poland, France and Italy, proponents significantly outweighed those in opposition.
11:42And hey, Ottawa is no geopolitical lightweight.
11:46Canada's population is around 41 million, which is roughly 10% of the current EU bloc.
11:52And while being a founding NATO member, it remains outside the European Economic Area.
11:57However, and that's interesting, its GDP per capita remains significantly higher than the EU average.
12:05So, if Ottawa ever entered the Union, it would be a wealthy net contributor.
12:10Alright, but despite the public enthusiasm, the Brussels bubble has just issued a polite reality check.
12:16Enlargement Commissioner Marta Koss recently confirmed that while Canada is a state,
12:21it fails the European state requirement of Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union.
12:28And unlike Ukraine or Turkey, Canada lacks the geographic and ancient cultural connections
12:34necessary to satisfy current treaties without a total legal overhaul.
12:39However, this relationship could evolve toward a bespoke model mirroring Norway or Switzerland,
12:45a close family bond that provides deep integration into the single market and security programs.
12:51while stopping just short of a formal marriage.
12:54If Europe wants to become more independent, yes, indeed, we need partners like Canada.
13:01And for that, Canadians could one day say yes.
13:05Huh, or we, as both English and French, are Canada's official languages.
13:14Now, as Armenia hosts the 8th European Political Community Summit today,
13:20it's also seeking closer ties with European nations amid a rift with its traditional ally, Moscow.
13:26For more on the significance of this, I'm joined by our Ukraine correspondent, Sasha Vakulina.
13:31Good morning, Sasha.
13:33Tell us how significant this is, Armenia hosting the EPC for the first time.
13:37It is absolutely unprecedented, Tamara, for anybody who's been following the region and the developments there for years, I would
13:44say.
13:45Now, there's some of the scenes on Monday morning where it used to be absolutely unimaginable,
13:50like NATO Secretary General Mark Ruter arriving to the EPS in Yerevan and there and shaking hands with Armenia's Prime
14:00Minister,
14:00Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia, the country that for decades had been seen as Russia's closest ally,
14:07the country that still has some standing treaties with Moscow and is officially considered Moscow ally.
14:13Now, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister, he tweeted prior to the meeting and he said about the importance of Armenia hosting
14:19it.
14:19And he said, I'm looking forward to discussions with European partners on the vital topics,
14:23including democratic resilience, regional stability and connectivity.
14:28Now, this, of course, also reflects a lot of Yerevan's intentions voiced last year about them trying to go on
14:36the European path
14:37and finally join the European Union.
14:39But in a bigger picture, this fact that Yerevan is indeed hosting the EPS and then tomorrow the EU-Armenia
14:46summit
14:46cements the fact and this U-turn in Armenia's foreign policy, which we have been observing since a couple of
14:54years,
14:54but specifically since Armenia and Azerbaijan found this treaty and the peace agreement
14:59and put an end to decades of bloody conflict in Karabakh.
15:03Yes, really fascinating, Sasha, but also the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also at the EPC summit today.
15:10How significant is that?
15:12I would say that, you know, same as with Mark Rutte arriving to Yerevan, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
15:17the scene of Volodymyr Zelenskyy arriving to Yerevan, that's sort of another nightmare
15:20that is definitely very closely watched in Moscow.
15:24Now, this is Zelenskyy's first ever visit to Armenia.
15:27And he was rather cautious commenting on it when he tweeted and he said,
15:34many meetings ahead, the key priority is more security and coordination for all of us.
15:40Now, he's, of course, talking about more and better security deals and cooperation between Ukraine
15:44and other, not only European countries, but the fact that he is visiting indeed the country,
15:50where there is still a Russian military base, is very important.
15:53And, of course, also this visit comes just a week after he visited Azerbaijan as well,
15:59discussing security deals.
16:00OK, Sasha, thank you so much.
16:02And we'll, of course, keep an eye out on the EPC in Armenia today
16:05and as well as that EU Armenia summit taking place tomorrow.
16:09But moving on now, last week, a coalition of European mayors
16:14met with European Council President Antonio Kosta
16:17to discuss the housing crisis gripping many parts of Europe.
16:21Bishu is back on the agenda this week with the Commission and Parliament
16:25co-hosting a high-level meeting on the housing crisis tomorrow.
16:29Our correspondent, Angela Skugins, caught up with the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri,
16:35and started by asking him why Brussels should dedicate political capital to tackling the crisis.
16:41This is an issue of social justice, an issue of inclusion.
16:45It's also an issue of competitiveness growth because labour mobility is key.
16:51And if workers have difficulty to move to cities, to big cities,
16:57that also affects our economic growth.
17:00So it's a priority, it's an emergency.
17:03And this is the reason why we created this alliance of mayors for affordable housing.
17:09We elaborated proposals, very concrete proposals, not just slogans.
17:14And we are here to present them to the European Commission.
17:17You say that it's an emergency.
17:19Do you think the European Commission is taking you seriously?
17:22They did because this commission has introduced a very important new element,
17:28which is a commission dedicated to housing because they are listening to us.
17:33But of course, now is the time to move from listening to deliver results.
17:38Could you argue that the short-term rentals are causing the most issue?
17:43What are the other points that are causing contention here?
17:47The short rentals are a component of this tension.
17:50Not the only one.
17:51That's very important because the main problem is that public housing policies have been put in the,
17:59you know, out of the, of the, of the policy tool of Europe and Italy for a lot of time.
18:06So we, let's go back to the re-founding of a European nation state after World War II
18:13and with a welfare state, European social model.
18:16This is composed in four pillars, health, public health, education, pensions and housing.
18:24Now, the fourth part of this, you know, social model policy tool is, is out.
18:32There is not anymore.
18:33So we don't have public housing policy significant of significant magnitude.
18:38And so that, that, that's the reason.
18:40So we need first to recreate a robust pillar of public housing, public policies.
18:46Then, of course, we have also to address the tension that short-term rentals create on housing markets,
18:54especially in very touristic cities.
18:58The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, speaking to our correspondent, Angela Scugins there.
19:03But that's it from us for today.
19:06Thank you so much for tuning in.
19:07If you have comments or questions for us, remember, you can email us at europetoday at euronews.com.
19:14We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:17See you then.
19:49We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:52We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:54We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:56We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:57We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:59We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
19:59We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
20:00We'll be back at the same time tomorrow.
20:02Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
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