European Commission President declares importance of strengthening EU power, calling for 'fair trade over tariffs, partnership over isolation, and sustainability over exploitation'
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a speech outlining the EU's position and strategy at
Press corner | European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/da/speech_26_150
Speaking at the Davos Forum, Leyen said, 'Now more than ever, Europe needs to be willing to take ownership of its power, whether it be capital or energy.' The theme of the 2026 Davos Forum is 'A Spirit of Dialogue,' and Leyen said that the spirit of dialogue will be even more important in a world that is more divided and conflicting than ever before.
Leyen also used the phrase 'an independent Europe' in 2025, but said that the phrase has even greater meaning in light of the dramatic changes taking place in the world. 'If the changes happening in the world are permanent, then Europe must also change permanently. Now is the time to seize this opportunity and build a new, independent Europe,' she declared.
As an example of 'European independence,' Leyen cited the signing of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement between the EU and South American trade blocs in January 2026 after nearly 25 years of negotiations. This trade agreement will create the world's largest free trade area between the EU and South America. Furthermore, Leyen said that it has sent a powerful message to the world that the EU is serious about 'fair trade over tariffs,' 'partnership over isolation,' 'sustainability over exploitation,' and 'economic risk reduction and supply chain diversification.'
Leyen stated that Europe possesses the resources, skills, and innovation necessary to attract investment, and that it is important to focus on the essentials in order to bring these assets together and make the most of them. He stated that the three essentials are 'the creation of an appropriate and predictable regulatory environment,' 'the need for large, deep, and liquid capital markets,' and 'interconnected and affordable energy markets.' He said that achieving these will enable Europe to gain independence and compete in intensifying international competition.
The speech also addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion of sovereignty over the Danish territory of Greenland. Leyen stated that the United States and Europe share the same goal of addressing Arctic security, and that Arctic security can only be achieved through cooperation. 'That's why additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The EU and the United States agreed on a trade agreement in July 2025. In politics and business, an agreement is an agreement. When friends shake hands, it means something.' She also stated that she is working to establish principles for supporting Arctic security. Following his meeting at Davos, President Trump announced that he would cancel the additional tariffs scheduled to take effect on eight European countries on January 21, 2026.
Leyen also emphasized that 'European independence' does not mean 'decoupling from the United States.' She said that 'European independence' means strengthening autonomy on the premise of cooperation, and emphasized the importance of promoting dialogue with friendly countries, partners, and, if necessary, adversaries.
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