Hello everyone, and welcome back to our regular update from the European Democratic Party (EDP). The last time we wrote to you, we had just wrapped up our December 6th Congress in Brussels, and Donald Trump had been elected President of the United States — truly a different era. In these two months, the world has changed in ways none of us would have wished. The new President has threatened tariffs on much of the world — friends included — and made astonishing claims about territories like Greenland, Canada, and Panama. We saw a chilling speech from U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Munich, and a disturbing clash at the White House between President Zelensky and Donald Trump, with Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals used as leverage. Lately, intelligence sharing with Ukraine has been suspended, while President Trump grows closer to Putin. Those of us who value freedom, human rights, and international law can’t help but feel alarmed.
STANDING UP FOR UKRAINE — AND FOR EUROPE
We in the EDP didn’t stand by idly. We continue calling out what’s happening, openly and daily. We firmly support Ukraine and its democratically elected President Zelensky, and we applaud leaders—particularly French President Macron—who are raising their voices and suggesting ways out of this crisis. In that White House encounter (and in the one-minute video we shared on social media), President Macron effectively challenged Trump’s assertions on Ukraine, reminding us why we’re proud to be European.
TO LEAD OR TO BE LED?
Our campaign, “To Lead or To Be Led,” cuts right to the chase: will Europe determine its own destiny or allow others to decide our future? Will we rise up and take charge of our fate, or settle for being the world’s “backyard,” as powerful nations carve the globe into spheres of influence all over again? We need a Europe that’s forward-looking and competitive in defence, technology, culture, and education—building an even stronger identity that unites generations and prepares the young for tomorrow’s challenges. Achieving this also means carrying out a deep reform of our treaties, a proposition we’ve already made in our 2024 European Elections Manifesto.
BUILDING A EUROPEAN DEFENCE!
One key area where we must break with the past is European defence, especially since the global landscape has changed so much in the last month. Our President, François Bayrou—who is also the current French Prime Minister—made it clear in an interview with Le Figaro: “A European defence organisation is the only viable solution,” underscoring that Europe can no longer rely on U.S. security guarantees. Our Secretary General, Sandro Gozi, a French MEP, insists any such European defence framework should fit within the EU framework: “I believe the countries that want to move forward must do so. And they must do so within the EU treaties. In defence matters, the treaties allow three or four countries to advance within the EU. It’s called structured cooperation in defence. For security, we can create vanguard groups.” This vision is winning support across Europe’s political spectrum. EDP MEP Christophe Grudler recently led a group of over 40 European parliamentarians—many from the EDP—in publishing a statement declaring that Europe should take responsibility for its own defence, steering clear of foreign dependencies. They pointed out that increased defence spending should ensure strategic autonomy, with investment directed toward European-made equipment so critical defence capacities are not under external control.
MAINTAINING TIES WITH THE U.S.
Of course, despite these tensions with the current U.S. administration, it’s crucial to keep solid ties with our American friends, especially the Democratic leaders who merit our support. Our Secretary General Sandro Gozi visited the United States in late February with the IMCO delegation to meet both Democratic and Republican officials, stakeholders, and experts, discussing digital innovation, cybersecurity, AI, and fair competition. Along those lines, the EDP has launched a new partnership with La Voce di New York, a storied Italian-American newspaper that now serves as a hub for Europeans in the U.S. Our section, “The Voices of Europe”, aims to nurture dialogue with the United States—even though President Trump’s administration often charts a different course.
REACHING OUT ACROSS EUROPE
Meanwhile, the EDP’s outreach continues to grow. At the end of February, our team visited Dublin to meet with Independent Ireland, and we also hosted a gathering at the French Prime Minister’s official residence in Paris between EDP President François Bayrou, Secretary General Sandro Gozi, and Stefanos Kassellakis, leader of the Greek Democracy Movement—a new centrist force in Greece whose ideas align closely with ours.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME
In the midst of this global turmoil, we in the EDP remain steadfast, proposing solutions for a tomorrow’s Europe that is more sovereign and more autonomous. We need your help, starting on social media, where our visibility is expanding rapidly. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and more (find all our links here). And if you’re under 30 (or know someone who is), check out our youth engagement program, You Are Europe.
See you next time!
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