EU leaders will meet in Brussels this evening following US President Donald Trump’s dramatic U-turn on Greenland and tariffs.
The summit, which will be attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, is expected to discuss how to reach a “common understanding” about reacting to future problems with transatlantic relations.
Sources said it is expected the leaders will point to the “high degree of unity” among member states in the face of threats from Donald Trump over Greenland this week, when he said he would impose 10% tariffs on six EU countries which opposed the US taking over the island.
Leaders are also expected assess the EU/US relationship, which sources in Brussels described as “strong but more complex than before”.
The leaders are likely to reaffirm their support for Denmark in future discussions with the US regarding Greenland.
There is also likely to be talks about the US’s Board of Peace for Gaza, which has controversially issued an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to join.
Sources said that the proposal put forward by the US was much “broader” than had originally been anticipated.
This could give rise to legal questions regarding the Board’s compatibility with European law.
While a number of large EU countries have ruled out joining the Board of Peace, the EU is expected to leave the decision regarding whether to participate to individual member states.
Hungary has said it will join.