Marta Gichko10:31, 10.01.25

A quick review of such decisions ahead of Trump’s inauguration highlights the EU’s vulnerability to Trump’s potential actions.

EU officials are reviewing hundreds of executive orders and sanctions imposed by US President Joe Biden amid concerns that Donald Trump will reverse them, potentially damaging external relations and trade, the Financial Times reports.

EU officials are concerned that Trump could reverse Biden’s decisions without considering the impact on international partners. European Commission officials have already begun reviewing orders related to sanctions against Russia, trade and cybersecurity to assess the potential risks to the bloc.

A quick review of such decisions ahead of Trump’s inauguration highlights the EU’s vulnerability to potential action by Trump, who has repeatedly threatened radical measures against US allies.

History has shown that Trump is actively reversing the policies of previous administrations. In 2017, he reversed the thaw with Cuba, withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, and in 2018 ended the US participation in the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under the Obama administration. These actions dealt a significant blow to transatlantic cooperation, and Brussels fears a repeat of them.

Of particular concern is the possibility of lifting sanctions against Russia imposed because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU believes that maintaining these sanctions is critical, even if Trump decides to use them as a tool in possible negotiations with Moscow.

In response to possible changes, an internal team of experts was created in the summer of 2024 to analyze the possible consequences of a second Trump term. Key topics include potential trade conflicts, declining support for Ukraine, and changes in Washington’s policy on European defense and security.

EU officials acknowledge that executive orders are a fragile element of American policy, given that a new president has the power to revoke them at any time. So Brussels is seeking to develop strategies to help minimize the negative impact on European allies.

It is not just the specific decisions that are worrying, but the general unpredictability of a possible second Trump presidency. Trump’s recent statements, in particular regarding the possible use of tariff pressure on Denmark to buy Greenland or the proposal to incorporate Canada into the United States, are heightening fears about his foreign policy course.

“The biggest problem is that Trump might decide to change everything simply because Biden did,” said one European official. The EU is keen to avoid destabilisation and preserve the gains made in recent years.

(C)UNIAN 2025