Europe should answer Donald Trump’s tariffs with tariffs and make Vladimir Putin pay for attacks, Valérie Hayer told Parliament. Responding to Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, the Renew Europe leader said the EU must stop reacting “too little and too late” and learn to wield its power.
Ms Hayer said Europe’s recent migration, climate and political crises should strengthen rather than weaken the bloc. “Europe must move forward on its path of independence and power. We need to defend a new vision, a positive vision. Pro-European radicalism is what we want,” she told Parliament.
She expressed appreciation that the EU had already adopted the Migration and Asylum Pact and the Green Deal, she said. Governments and the Commission now needed to implement them instead of weakening their provisions.
If Trump imposes tariffs, let’s collectively respond with tariffs. — Valérie Hayer (Renew/FRA)
“The Green Deal is also a competitiveness pact and an independence pact,” Ms Hayer argued. She called for a European law on climate resilience alongside greater investment in AI, green technology, biotechnology and quantum computing.
Europe must speak the language of power
With Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney present in the chamber, Ms Hayer praised him for confronting US President Donald Trump. “You showed what should be done,” she said, calling for Europe to protect its interests and “speak the language of power”.
She also told Mr Carney that “Canada is welcome in the European Union”, amid discussion about a possible new form of EU membership for Canada.
She urged governments to ratify the EU–Canada trade agreement and respond collectively to economic coercion. “If Trump imposes tariffs, let’s collectively respond with tariffs,” she said. Ms Hayer also demanded a stronger response to Russian sabotage and cyberattacks, arguing that Europe often reacted “too little and too late”.
She welcomed Ms von der Leyen’s proposals on children’s online safety and European security but demanded better enforcement of existing EU laws. “We need more Europe, and we need it more quickly,” Ms Hayer concluded.
