By Eddy Wax and Magnus Lund Nielsen

(EurActiv) — The EU’s firm but non-escalatory response was decisive in persuading US President Donald Trumpto step back from threats over Greenland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

Leaders from across the bloc gathered in Brussels to take stock after a volatile week sparked by Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on six EU countries over their backing for Greenland’s continued status as an autonomous Danish territory. The meeting was convened by European Council President António Costa.

Speaking at a press conference, von der Leyen said the bloc’s unity and restraint had been instrumental in getting Trump to drop his threats on Wednesday.

“It was very clear in the discussion that we were successful withstanding, by being firm but non-escalatory and most importantly, very united,” the Commission president said.

Asked by Euractiv whether other factors – including diplomacy by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, domestic US politics or market volatility – had played a greater role, von der Leyen acknowledged their possible influence but insisted EU strategy was central.

“All the elements you have just mentioned may also have played a role without any question, but without firmness, non-escalatory responses, and unity in the European Union, they would not have worked,” she said.

EU capitals had been divided over how to respond to Trump’s aggressive posture on Greenland. France pushed for the immediate activation of the bloc’s anti-coercion instrument, its most powerful trade defence, while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Germany’s Friedrich Merz urged a more measured approach.

Von der Leyen suggested the EU was ready to retaliate had the tariffs been imposed on 1 February, though neither she nor Costa referred explicitly to the anti-coercion instrument – informally dubbed the “trade bazooka”.

“We are well prepared with trade countermeasures and non-tariff instruments if tariffs would have been applied,” she said.

Both leaders also urged the European Parliament to move ahead with ratification of the EU-US trade agreement, which some MEPs had threatened to suspend earlier this week.

“Our focus must now be on moving forward with implementation of that deal,” Costa said, describing the goal as the “effective stabilisation” of the €1.6 trillion transatlantic relationship.

Von der Leyen added: “A deal is a deal. That’s what we want to see from the United States. That’s what we will deliver from our side.”

Nicoletta Ionta contributed to this report.