EU leaders to hold informal meeting in Brussels today

The press service of the European Council stated this on its website, Ukrinform's correspondent reports.

"EU leaders will discuss recent developments in transatlantic relations and their implications for the EU and coordinate on the way forward," the statement said.

Despite a sharp change in rhetoric by U.S. President Donald Trump, who yesterday said he would not impose additional tariffs on previously designated European countries and promised not to use force to establish control over Greenland, the main topic of the informal summit has not changed, the spokesperson for European Council President Antonio Costa told Ukrinform.

Speaking before a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on January 21, Costa outlined key points that, in his view, are widely supported by member states ahead of the informal meeting.

These include unity around the principles of international law, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty; unity in full support and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland; a shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO; as well as concerns that further tariffs would undermine relations and be incompatible with the EU-US trade agreement.

Costa also stressed that the EU has the strength and the tools to defend itself.

"We stand ready to defend ourselves, our member states, our citizens, our companies, against any form of coercion," he stated.

In addition, the EU wants to continue constructive cooperation with the United States on all issues of common interest, the press service said.

As Ukrinform reported, following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Donald Trump announced that framework agreements had been reached for a future deal on Greenland and canceled tariffs against a number of countries that do not support the island's accession to the United States.

Photo: www.nato.int