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A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 1 February

EU chief sees Trump announcements as threats

RAF CASERT NATO alliance linking North
Associated Press America and Europe, and
BRUSSELS (AP) — The lead- hopes for a major trans-
er of the European Union Atlantic trade deal have
put longtime ally the Unit- already taken a deep dive
ed States in a “threat” cat- amid worries of U.S. protec-
egory on Tuesday, insist- tionism.
ing that President Donald “We should remind our
Trump is contributing to American friends of their
the “highly unpredictable” own motto: United we
outlook for the bloc. stand, divided we fall,” Tusk
In a letter to 27 EU leaders said in the letter and also
before Friday’s summit in told a news conference in
Malta, EU President Donald Tallinn, Estonia, after meet-
Tusk mentioned the Trump ing with the three Baltic
administration as part of an prime ministers before the
external “threat” together Malta summit.
with China, Russia, radical Britain wasn’t part of the
Islam, war and terror. letter since it is poised to
Echoing statements from leave the EU and is only
many European capitals, scheduled to attend part
he said that those global of the leaders’ meeting in
challenges, “as well as La Valletta.
worrying declarations by The decision to leave was
the new American admin- European Union Council President Donald Tusk speaks to media reporters in Brussels. Tusk put the biggest setback for
istration, all make our fu- longtime ally the United States in a “threat” category on Tuesday, insisting that President Donald the EU in decades, and
ture highly unpredictable.” Trump is contributing to the “highly unpredictable” outlook for the bloc. Trump didn’t endear him-
He said that “particularly (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) self with many EU leaders
the change in Washington last 70 years of American War I, and it marked the with Europe. Tensions have by saying that Brexit “will
puts the European Union in foreign policy.” beginning of the American risen though since Trump be a tremendous asset
a difficult situation; with the This year marks the centen- century as well as the en- was elected U.S. president. and not a tremendous li-
new administration seem- nial of the U.S. entry in World during trans-Atlantic bond Trump has questioned the ability.”
ing to put into question the Tusk wrote to the leaders
Many UK lawmakers signal they’ll back Brexit bill that “in politics, the argu-
ment of dignity must not
be overused,” before add-
JILL LAWLESS May’s effort to start the pro- to speak in a debate that ple. ing that “today we must
Associated Press cess of leaving the 28-na- began at lunchtime and But many pro-EU legisla- stand up very clearly for
LONDON (AP) — Dozens of tion bloc without a parlia- looked set to stretch on tors agreed to back the bill our dignity, the dignity of
British lawmakers said Tues- mentary vote. until midnight. A majority with reservations, express- a united Europe — regard-
day that they will vote to The government argues from both the governing ing fears that Britain will be less of whether we are talk-
authorize the start of Euro- that British voters decided Conservatives and the op- poorer and more isolated ing to Russia, China, the
pean Union exit talks — sig- to leave the EU in a June 23 position said they would re- outside the bloc’s single U.S. or Turkey.”
naling likely victory for the referendum, and no further spect the voters’ decision market of half a billion peo- And Tusk further insisted
government on the vote authorization is needed. and back the bill. ple. “You can’t go back that any disintegration
it had fought in court to Brexit Secretary David Da- Anti-EU legislators did so on your word because wouldn’t be beneficial to
avoid. vis said legislators had to with enthusiasm. Pro-Brex- you don’t agree with the the restored nation states,
The House of Commons answer a simple question: it Conservative Bill Cash result,” said pro-EU Conser- but instead lead to “their
began a two-day debate “Do we trust the people or said the vote to leave vative Anna Soubry. “But real and factual depen-
on a bill that lets Prime Min- not?” “It’s not a bill about the EU was a “peaceful I want to say this: I believe dence on the great super-
ister Theresa May trigger whether the U.K. should revolution” on a par with history will not be kind to powers: the United States,
two years of divorce nego- leave the union or indeed votes for women and the this Parliament nor indeed Russia and China.”
tiations, as the government about how it should do so,” working class. the government I was so In France, Belgium and
races to meet a self-im- he said. “It is simply about Fellow Conservative John proud to serve in.” the Netherlands, lead-
posed March 31 deadline Parliament empowering Redwood said Brexit would The main opposition La- ers weighed in, criticizing
to begin the process. the government to imple- transform Britain’s legisla- bour Party said it would try Trump’s decision to tem-
The government was ment a decision already ture from a “puppet Par- to amend the bill to give porary halt to all refugee
forced to introduce legisla- made — a point of no re- liament” overshadowed lawmakers final approval admissions, as well as immi-
tion after a Supreme Court turn already passed.” by Brussels, to a Parliament of a settlement with the EU, gration from seven Muslim-
ruling last week torpedoed Scores of lawmakers stood “made great by the peo- but not block it.q majority nations.q