In Europe, as in much of the rest of the world including large parts of
the United States, Donald Trump’s election conjured up a plethora of
doomsday scenarios. It was quickly assumed, for example, that the US
would pull out of the COP21 Paris Agreement. Bolstering EU defence
capabilities was suddenly proclaimed an urgent priority in light of the
uncertain continued commitment the new US administration could be
expected to show towards NATO. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) was also declared dead and parallels with Brexit were
drawn. And finally there were fears that the migration crisis would be
exacerbated by Trump’s pledge to block Syrian (Muslim) refugees from
entering the US, including from Europe.
Now, two months after Trump’s election, it is time for Europe to recover from its initial state of shock and assess the possible implications of a Trump presidency on EU policy priorities. Trump’s election might have profound effects on the US, and indeed the world, but it is not likely to dramatically alter the EU’s international priorities (and may even, as recently argued by Daniel Gros, have a positive impact on the European Monetary Union). Looking at areas such as trade, climate change, the refugee crisis, Brexit and defence, the fact of the matter is that, at least as things now appear to stand, Trump’s election should have only a marginal impact on the EU’s policy priorities. To demonstrate why, we consider in turn each of these five important policy areas.
TTIP - Climate policy - Refugee crisis - Brexit- Security and defense
Given the role that the EU plays on the international scene, no US presidential election will leave the EU, and indeed the world, unaffected. However, the fundamental international challenges Europe faces and thus the priorities of the EU in the areas we have analysed predated his election – and are likely to only be marginally influenced by his administration. Many of these challenges, such as climate change, trade, the refugee crisis and security, are likely to remain after his departure.
For complete details click here: EUROPP – Will Trump matter for the EU’s policy priorities?
Now, two months after Trump’s election, it is time for Europe to recover from its initial state of shock and assess the possible implications of a Trump presidency on EU policy priorities. Trump’s election might have profound effects on the US, and indeed the world, but it is not likely to dramatically alter the EU’s international priorities (and may even, as recently argued by Daniel Gros, have a positive impact on the European Monetary Union). Looking at areas such as trade, climate change, the refugee crisis, Brexit and defence, the fact of the matter is that, at least as things now appear to stand, Trump’s election should have only a marginal impact on the EU’s policy priorities. To demonstrate why, we consider in turn each of these five important policy areas.
TTIP - Climate policy - Refugee crisis - Brexit- Security and defense
Given the role that the EU plays on the international scene, no US presidential election will leave the EU, and indeed the world, unaffected. However, the fundamental international challenges Europe faces and thus the priorities of the EU in the areas we have analysed predated his election – and are likely to only be marginally influenced by his administration. Many of these challenges, such as climate change, trade, the refugee crisis and security, are likely to remain after his departure.
For complete details click here: EUROPP – Will Trump matter for the EU’s policy priorities?
