Trump against Europe: Aurore Lalucq calls on the EU to break free from American dependency.

In “Trump vs Europe”, MEP Aurore Lalucq defends a bold European sovereignty in the face of the return of the American president to power and geopolitical fractures. A compelling essay that sheds light on the current dynamics.

Aurore Lalucq sees Donald Trump’s return to the White House as a harsh wake-up call for European vulnerabilities, but also as an opportunity for Europeans to break free from their inertia. In her essay “Trump vs Europe: How to Remain Free?”, published by Les Petits Matins, the French MEP makes a case for a Europe capable of independently defending its economic, industrial, and strategic interests.

A concise and impactful text, intentionally direct, which resonates with the prevailing tensions since the re-election of the American president in November 2024.

Economist by training, president of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic Affairs, and co-chair of Place Publique, Aurore Lalucq argues that the European Union risks falling into a prolonged state of dependency under the influence of Donald Trump. She highlights vulnerabilities in various strategic sectors, such as energy dependence, dominance of American digital giants, fragility of industrial supply chains, and heavy reliance on the United States for defense.

In response to these challenges, she advocates for a form of European “economic mobilization” akin to Mario Draghi’s approach. Her book advocates for industrial planning in critical sectors, a European preference in public markets, and a more assertive use of the Union’s trade tools. She also suggests greater mobilization of European financial instruments to invest in defense capabilities.

This discourse on sovereignty is accompanied by a broader political commitment. Recently, Aurore Lalucq has expressed support for French judge Nicolas Guillou of the International Criminal Court, who faced sanctions from the United States for issuing an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu. She denounces what she views as political pressure incompatible with European judicial independence, aligning with the core theme of her work: defending a Europe capable of resisting the power dynamics imposed by major players.

While acknowledging internal divisions within the Union and the political challenges of her proposals, “Trump vs Europe” aims to bring the discussion of strategic autonomy back to the center of the European debate.

“Trump vs Europe: How to Remain Free?”, by Aurore Lalucq. Editions Les Petits Matins. 136 pages, 14 euros.