Costa recommends "nerves of steel" in relations with the US

The President of the European Council, António Costa, recommended this Monday that the European Union have “nerves of steel” in its relationship with Donald Trump’s United States, but warned that the European bloc is prepared to respond, “if it is attacked”.

“We must keep our nerves of steel and continue with the policy we have had of maintaining our dialogue with the United States on an institutional basis. We cannot respond to every tweet , we cannot respond to every decision that is taken”, argued António Costa , during a conversation with the former Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, at the conference “Europe and Transatlantic Relations”, organized in Lisbon by the Now channel.

Costa recalled that many decisions made by the US President “are reversed or suspended or postponed in the following days”, and therefore urged that “the dialogue be continued in a constructive manner”.

“We have heard unpleasant things, yes,” acknowledged the former prime minister, who insisted on the need for Europe to focus on “the unique partnership” it has developed “over 200 years with the US.”

If the EU “is attacked, subject to discriminatory measures”, he warned, “it will have to respond and the European Commission is prepared, particularly in trade matters”, but seeking to “avoid an escalation”.

Costa also argued that Europe “does not have to be trapped between two blocs, but has a great opportunity and a duty to develop a network of partnerships on a global scale”, giving examples of Brazil, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Nigeria.

Actors who, he stressed, “look at Europe with greater interest, due to two essential values: predictability and trust”.