The news site Politico Europe is being harsh when describing the situation in the EU's relationship with the US. The acceptance of tariffs and the crawling for President Trump is compared to how the old Qing dynasty in China was forced to give in to the UK and other European great powers in the 19th century – something that took more than a century for the Chinese to recover from.
"Europe's century of humiliation could have just begun," Politico now exclaims.
The next step may be that the EU is forced to ease its data legislation in order not to clash with the US.
Lack of confidence is coming
Among the critics of the EU not acting tougher are heavyweights such as former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi and former EU Commissioner and WTO chief Pascal Lamy.
In the EU Parliament, tough days await EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when she will hold her annual major speech on the state of the union next week.
Right now, signatures are being collected for two votes of no confidence against von der Leyen this autumn. The Left is outraged over the EU's handling of the situation in Gaza, while the far-right wants to stop the trade agreement with the Mercosur countries in South America.
Criticism is also heard from the center.
The world is upside down and the EU is standing by. It must be stopped, urges French Valérie Hayer, group leader for the liberal RE, on her way to a parliamentary meeting.
Concern for Ukraine
The EU leadership is defending itself primarily by saying that Russia's war in Ukraine means that the EU must have a good relationship with the US – apparently regardless of the cost.
I understand the frustration that many Europeans feel... But we must be honest... Security, especially with a war at our doorstep, is an existential issue, explained Council President António Costa in a speech in Slovenia on Monday.
From the governments of the EU countries, it is relatively quiet. As long as the criticism is primarily directed at common leaders such as von der Leyen or Costa and NATO chief Mark Rutte, many presidents and prime ministers seem to prefer to keep a low profile.
Important elections
The EU's inability may come to strengthen EU-critical voices in upcoming elections in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands this autumn.
Many of the critics, on the other hand, are urging more EU rather than less, to strengthen Europe.
Dismantling European cooperation to return to national sovereignty would only make us even more vulnerable to the great powers' will, warned Mario Draghi recently in a passionate speech in Rimini.
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Fact: Important dates for Europe
TT
Here are some major events for the EU and Europe this autumn:
8 September: The French government is expected to fall in a vote of confidence
10 September: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold her annual major speech on the state of the union
28 September: Parliamentary elections in Moldova. Seen as a struggle between European and Russian influence
1-2 October: Summit meetings in Copenhagen for both the EU and the broader European association EPC
3-4 October: Parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, with the possibility of EU-skeptical Andrej Babis returning as prime minister
28 October: Parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, with Geert Wilders' EU-critical PVV as the largest party
