EU leaders welcome lowered temperature with US — for now – POLITICO

European leaders held emergency discussions in Brussels on Thursday to hash out the future of the transatlantic relationship.

While U.S. President Donald Trump backed down from his most belligerent threats about seizing Greenland from Denmark, that did little to calm governments’ nerves about America’s posture toward Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said four main themes came up at the summit:

— “Unequivocal” solidarity with Denmark and Greenland;
— Standing with the six member countries Trump threatened to hit with tariffs;
— “Firm, but non-escalatory” engagement with Washington;
— And setting out the EU’s “trade countermeasures and non-tariff instruments” to respond to Trump, should he pull the trigger on tariffs.

The punitive trade measures discussed in recent days were largely put on ice, and European Council President António Costa said they want to move ahead with the EU-U.S. trade deal, signed in July. But the transatlantic crisis over Greenland has “left a mark,” one senior European government official said.

Our crack team of reporters brought you all the updates late into the night. Read how it all unfolded here.