France’s President Francois Hollande said on Friday that Donald Trump’s presidency represents a “challenge” for Europe, AFP reported.
At a press conference following a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hollande claimed that the new administration in the United States poses challenges to Europe’s “trade rules” and its “ability to resolve conflicts around the world.” Still, he pointed out that since Trump “was chosen by Americans to be their president,” Europe has to “speak” to him.
Hollande pointed out that Europe is also under threats from within the continent due to “the rise of extremism” in European countries. “Facing the internal threat of populism, one should address the people, and tell them that their interests, values, their future are connected with what we decide here, in Europe and for Europe,” the French president noted. Merkel agreed with Hollande and stated that European countries need to work together to protect the European Union and the “values of liberal democracies.”
One of the main topics of the meeting between the two leaders was the future of the European Union following Brexit. The United Kingdom government is hoping to trigger Article 50 by March and thus officially begin its departure from the bloc. The UK is the first country since the establishment of the EU to seek termination of its membership.
Image: EPA / CLEMENS BILAN
