Costa urges Europe to maintain relations with US amid tensions

Moscow (ANTARA) - European Council President Antonio Costa stated that European leaders should continue efforts to maintain relations with the United States, even as President Donald Trump frequently issues harsh rhetoric.

“We must strive to preserve what we have [with the US]… and we work hard to remain calm and maintain the established relations,” Costa said at an event in Italy on Thursday.

According to a Financial Times report, Costa identified the European Union’s current priorities as maintaining trade stability, preserving cooperation in NATO, and ensuring all parties remain engaged.

In response to Trump’s criticisms of the European Union, Costa said Europe is not very active in responding via social media.

“We were born in the 1950s. We are not very good at playing social media. We choose not to respond to every post,” he said.

Previously, on 1 May, Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on imported cars and trucks from the European Union to 25 per cent, citing the bloc’s failure to meet trade commitments to the US.

On Thursday, Trump said he had spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and agreed to give the European Union until 4 July to implement part of the trade deal.

Trump warned that Washington would impose “much higher” tariffs if the deal is not fulfilled.