this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Europe

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I hope they do make the details public, but it does look like EU bent the knee with this one.

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[–] oyzmo@lemmy.world 35 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (4 children)

So disappointed in Van der Leyen - this is weak! Steel tax remains at 50%! And EU is going to buy more military equipment from US, madness!

The only positive is that signed agreements doesn't really seem to mean anything anymore...

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago

So true. Australia has a Free Trade Agreement with the US signed in 2011 (I think?). And, America enjoys a trade deficit with us. We buy more of your shit than you buy from us. Still, Trump hit us with a 10% tariff for some goddamn reason. We've paid about a billion dollars on a down payment for Virginia Class Submarines that we will never, ever see.

It will be about a century before the world will trust the US again.

[–] Laser@feddit.org 4 points 5 days ago

So disappointed in V[o]n der Leyen

So I have to assume you're not German, because otherwise you'd have known that she's a garbage politician. She got promoted to a EU position because she was no longer tenable nationally. The reason she doesn't get flak from Germany right now is that she's from the conservative party that recently got elected.

It seems get Wikipedia pages got somewhat scrubbed because a lot of the scandals are missing. Here are some from memory:

Internet stop signs: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/ein-stoppschild-furs-reine-gewissen-4758619.html

Lost court case against weapon manufacturer H&K: https://www.lto.de/recht/nachrichten/n/lg-koblenz-8o19815-heckler-koch-g36-sturmgewehr-nicht-mangelhaft-vone,-das-n-der-leyen-verliert (actually least egregious one on the list, but still incompetent)

The consulting affair that involved cronyism while she was minister of defense: summary at https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ursula-von-der-leyen-und-die-berateraffaere-faktisches-komplettversagen-a-55458b1c-64bd-436b-acdf-75afcef0f5d3

Destroyed evidence: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/vonderleyen-handydaten-101.html

[–] bluefootedbooby@sopuli.xyz 6 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Is there anything right Van der Leyen did as the commissioner? πŸ™„

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 4 points 6 days ago

Don't ask what she did before moving to EU.

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 1 points 6 days ago

Yeah, not a fan, but she's a good representative of the EPP and all it stands for.

[–] oyzmo@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago

Yes, absolutely - and that's why I'm disappointed here. I expected her to do better, not just kneel to "emperor" Trump.

[–] hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz 7 points 6 days ago

That’s my impression also. It looks like the USA is just looking to dump their shitty old military equipment and Ursula just said yes and then felt the need to justify it with weak stand on it…

[–] SpaceShort@feddit.uk 21 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That's it. I'm going to vote for explicitly anti-American parties at the next election.

[–] SebaDC@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

We are now in a neo-liberal economy. Your wallet has more (or at least as much) power than your ballot.

[–] ReallyAngryNerd@europe.pub 15 points 6 days ago

We made a deal to give the bully half of our lunch money. Until the bully decides otherwise.

[–] Melchior@feddit.org 17 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I thought this might help:

So basically no fossil fuels and do not get sick. Things you want to do anyway, but the later is unfortunatly kind of hard.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Did not know oil was #1. Are the USA also the #1 provider of oil for the EU?

Anyhow, asssuming the 15% are higher than what it was before, this just plays into Russia's hands. Trump is such an idiot, and von der Leyen is not much better, although the EU going for this cannot be completely her responsibility.

[–] Melchior@feddit.org 6 points 6 days ago

The US is the biggest source of oil for the EU, but only has 15% market share in Q1 this year. However Russia was at 25% in Q1 of 2022. So it is certainly possible to replace it. Especially by driving less and going for EVs.

But also the EU basically not charging tariffs on US exports to the EU. This is insanely one sided and should be shut down.

[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago

This is a mistake. It shows weakness. Build trade partners elsewhere and ignore trump and the US.

[–] Essence_of_Meh@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago

This is still just a tentative deal that has to be ratified by all the countries so there's still hope.

Friendly reminder that you can use this site to find your MPs in the European Parliament. Remind them that they are there for and because of us, and let them know what you think of this kind of deal making.

If EU doesn't stop this recent festival of stupidity the European project will go nowhere fast. There's already a huge problem with the rise of euro-scepticism and these bellends just add fuel to fire. I'm tired boss.

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 6 points 6 days ago

Is the 15% in both directions?

[–] idefix@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, we need explanations here. This looks really negative

[–] sucius@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

It looks fucking weak and pathetic and the UE should have stood its ground, but apparently it's the same as with the Japan deal. The investments are just smoke, no money allocated, no dates, etc. Just an empty gesture to appease MAGAts Still, pathetic and VdL should be sacked.

[–] Kazel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 days ago

Die gehΓΆrt eingesperrt

[–] thz@lemmy.wtf 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It might not be as bad for the EU as the White House wants us to believe.

https://bsky.app/profile/jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social/post/3lv2kcg7cps2n

[–] hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz 3 points 5 days ago

Sure, if you believe a single thing coming out of the White House. I really don’t.

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