Welcome to the EU-US Forum Weekly Tip Sheet, your go-to product for information about the EU-US Forum and its work, timely updates on the dangerous far-left ideas coming out of the European Union, and detailed analysis on the key players influencing European politics.
We send this out weekly to keep you apprised of the most important political and policy topics in Europe as we continue to work toward our mission of exposing the EU’s radical agenda and the threat it poses to the US and Western Civilization.
1. 🤝 EU-US FORUM LEADS ON EU-US FUTURE RELATIONS 🤝
On Tuesday, Founding Board Member Matt Mowers met with business, technology, and political leaders from the EU and the US brought together by the New Frontier Foundation, a Croatian-based think tank dedicated to promoting strategic dialog between private and public sectors in a globalized world.
The select participants discussed the future of EU-US business and trade relations as we step into the two second Administrations of Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen.
ICYMI: Read Board Member Joe Grogan’s op-ed “Bad News for Brussels Elites: Europeans are Going to Demand What Trump Delivers to Americans” in the European Conservative HERE.
2. 🌋 FRENCH POLITICAL CRISIS ERUPTS 🌋
Yesterday, the French government fell apart for the second time this year after a vote of no confidence in President Macron’s Prime Minister Michel Barnier succeeded in the National Assembly. This gives “the former Eurocrat the ignominious distinction of being the shortest-tenured prime minister in modern French history,” writes Breitbart.
Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party joined the far-Left bloc in the vote, ousting Barnier after Macron installed him just 91 days ago.
This latest crisis was spurred by the concern that Barnier’s government is “ungovernable” and “saddled by a spiraling budget deficit.”
Barnier’s inability to receive approval from the National Assembly on a budget and his efforts to force it through without a majority brought upon the vote of no confidence. This makes Barnier the shortest-serving prime minister since France’s new government formed in 1958 and the first vote of no confidence since 1962. Barnier will remain in office until a new PM is chosen.
SHOULD MACRON STEP DOWN? Le Pen hopes the vote of no confidence will finally force Macron to step down due to his failures to govern. She predicts that if he doesn’t, Macron will “sacrifice the fate of France because of his vanity” and that his resignation “can pull the country out of the rut it’s in.”
A French poll from before the vote shows that 62% of the French think that if Barnier is voted out, Macron should step down. Just days before the vote of no confidence, Macron’s approval plummeted to an abysmal 22%.
What They Are Saying:
- @visegrad24: BREAKING: The French government collapses after losing a no-confidence motion. Things are looking bad for Macron
- @Inevitablewest: The time has come. France must be returned to the French.
- @BehizyTweets: It looks like President Trump’s reelection has knocked some sense into the French. They just fired Emmanuel Macron’s Prime Minister and are now calling for Macron himself to resign. Trump’s plan to visit Paris made them realize just how bad France has gotten, and now they’re acting.
- @RosieBirchard: Another day, another EU government collapses. French parliamentarians just backed a vote of no confidence against Michel Barnier and his government. 331 lawmakers, mostly from the left and far right, voted him down. This hasn’t happened in France since the 1960s.
- NYP: French PM Michel Barnier to resign as country plunges deeper into political crisis
- European Conservative: French Government Toppled by a Huge Majority in No-Confidence Vote
- NBC: French government is toppled in no-confidence vote
- CNBC: France’s political crisis just saw the government ousted — but Paris’ problems have just begun
- The Economist: Emmanuel Macron loses another prime minister
- CNN: As France sinks into the political mire, Macron must be kicking himself
- BBC: Barnier vote: Why France’s turmoil is grave concern for Europe
3. BORDER ENFORCEMENT? WE’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN WE SEE IT
The EU Commission says illegal immigrants will be a “top priority” in their next term. This comes after Polish leaders urged the EU to work on tighter immigration laws and enforcement throughout the EU. The first draft plans are expected to be released in February. But will their plans go far enough?
Reminder: This change in priorities comes as VDL’s cabinet entered their second term with record-low support… Brussels has previously criticized member states like Poland and Hungary for protecting their own borders. Will VDL finally listen to the European voters and take the illegal immigration crisis seriously, or is this all for show? We’ll believe it when we see it.
More Immigration News:
- European Conservative: Almost Half of Vienna’s First-Graders Are Unable To Speak German
- Bloomberg: UK Net Migration Still Near Historic High Despite Tory Curbs
👎 RECORD-LOW APPROVAL FOR VDL 👎
Last week, the EU Parliament voted in von der Leyen’s second Commission, but they didn’t exactly pass with flying colors.
“The majority of Europe voted for change, and for good reasons … You represent the lack of change … The Patriots group will not support this Commission. Europe deserves better,” Patriots for Europe’s Kinga Gal said before the vote.
Only 54% of the EU Parliament voted in favor of the Commission, giving them the LOWEST support Parliament ever has for a Commission. The next closest was 7% points higher at 61% – and that Commission was infamously distrusted. (This comes after the far-left saw major losses in the recent EU elections)
From the European Conservative: “Out of the 27 members of the incoming Commission, 14 belong to the centrist EPP, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Despite its major electoral losses in June, the liberal Renew will have five commissioners, ahead of the socialist S&D with four, while the ECR and PfE groups each got one.”
Other EU News:
- POLITICO: Hungary to lose €1B in EU funds by year-end
- POLITICO: Von der Leyen is creating a task force to turn Draghi report into reality
ALSO IN THE NEWS:
- European Conservative: VOX Calls For End to Low Emission Zones in Barcelona
- European Conservative:
- POLITICO: Let’s work with farmers, not against them, says new EU agri chief
- EuroNews: Political crises in France and Germany spell more trouble for Europe’s ailing economy
- European Conservative: Right-Wing FPÖ Crushes Centre-Right in Austrian Regional Elections
- European Conservative: Irish Election Sees Lowest Turnout in More Than a Century
- POLITICO: Elon Musk blasts ‘undemocratic’ EU in ongoing feud
- European Conservative: Romanian Parliamentary Election Reveals a Deeply Fragmented Country
- POLITICO: Commission to address disinformation on TikTok, X during December plenary
- European Conservative: Global Leaders Unite in Madrid for Decade of Action on Life and Family
- EuroNews: To Trump-proof climate, the Global South must take the lead
SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: Do you have videos or stories about the impact of the EU’s disastrous policies? Send us a tip at info@eu-usforum.com