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Published on: 07/11/2025 - 20:03

This week we welcome Charles Michel, former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium. Climate ambitions, transatlantic relations and strengthening of defense: he comments on burning issues in European news.

Ahead of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the Twenty-Seven agreed on a target of reducing, by 2040, 90% of their greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. By 2035, these emissions must be within a range of -66.25% to -72.5% compared to 1990. An agreement snatched at the last minute, while certain countries reluctant to make the ecological transition, such as Italy or Poland, managed to obtain more flexibility. The EU position is considered too unambitious by environmental defenders.

Charles Michel, former President of the European Council from 2019 to 2024, tempers these criticisms: "The Europeans are extremely ambitious, both in terms of the objectives that must be achieved, but also in terms of solidarity with developing countries. We must support the capacities of developing countries so that they have access to technologies in order to overcome this climate challenge together."

He calls for a simplification of regulations: "I understand that the heads of state and government are exercising caution. [...] The implementation of the measures has led to a considerable increase in bureaucracy at the expense of our companies. This has handicapped the ability of our companies to innovate and deploy. I think that the Member States are also burned by the way in which the European Commission is proposing completely excessive regulation and wants to regulate absolutely everything. [...] We can completely reconcile the ambition to succeed to reduce this climate threat while simplifying our regulations."

Charles Michel believes that companies have the desire to implement better environmental practices on their own. "The precautionary principle in Europe has become a principle of generalized suspicion towards our farmers and entrepreneurs. [...] I think we have to trust them. They can develop the new technologies we need to overcome this climate challenge." According to him, these changes cannot be made through legal constraint.

“The EU has lacked vigor in defending European interests”

A year after the re-election of Donald Trump as head of the United States, relations with the Union are still tumultuous. From a commercial point of view, the additional customs duties imposed by the American Administration on European exports are judged by some to be disadvantageous for the Twenty-Seven. Charles Michel, also former Prime Minister of Belgium and from the Liberal Party, criticizes the Union's action on this point: "I see a kind of collapse in the face of the United States and it's a slap in the face."

“In recent months, it has lacked vigor in the defense of European interests. It has lacked vigor in efforts to achieve emancipation from the United States and in terms of the reforms necessary for greater competitiveness.” Despite a tightening of customs tariffs, he does not “believe that this is the end of free trade”. “It is regrettable to observe the resignation of the European Commission, which has accepted, without using the levers at our disposal, to have penalizing tariffs imposed on it,” he adds.

“Do not behave as instruments of the United States”

While the United States and China are negotiating a trade truce, particularly in terms of customs duties, Charles Michel is worried about seeing the EU "instrumentalized by the United States which uses it in [its] competition and [its] fight against China". “There are two possible options: either this competition between China and the United States escalates to the point where there is a serious conflict for which we will pay the consequences, or there is an agreement between China and the United States and we will also pay the consequences.”

He calls on European leaders to act: "I don't know what more is needed for a certain number of European leaders to understand that we must develop a European strategy based on our own interests." He therefore advocates maintaining ties with China to counter the United States: "We have major differences with China but we have a certain number of similarities on global issues, such as the climate for example. China is investing a lot in climate matters and is implementing carbon pricing. It is the same model that we have implemented at the European level. The United States does not do that." Charles Michel wants the EU to negotiate fiercely “to find compromises and not simply behave as instruments of the United States in their competition with China”.

“We need more European sovereignty”

In addition, the American president is asking Europeans to invest more in their defense and is blowing hot and cold regarding his financial and military support for Ukraine. “We need more European sovereignty. We need to invest in security and defense, in addition to the efforts necessary to consolidate our economic base,” judges the former president of the European Council.

Very critical of the Commission, he denounces the fact that it goes beyond its role in dealing with defense issues, a competence generally attributed to States: "The European Commission obviously does not have the democratic legitimacy to deal with questions of peace and security."

Charles Michel believes he predicted this deterioration in relations between Europe and the United States: "Under my responsibility as President of the European Council, frictions between the European Commission and me took place precisely in connection with what I considered at the time to be its lack of ambition in its relationship with the United States and with the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the facts today prove me right."

“It is beneficial to see European leaders very united”

As for Ukraine, Belgium refuses, as it stands, to draw on the 193 billion euros in Russian assets blocked on its territory in order to finance the Ukrainian war effort. While he reiterates that he agrees with financial, military and political support provided to the Ukrainians, Charles Michel calls for caution: "The Belgian Prime Minister is right to draw attention to a certain number of issues. When the EU takes decisions, it is important that they comply with international law. We cannot apply double standards if we want respect for international law by everyone in the world. We must start by respecting it ourselves. [...] This is going well beyond Belgium. It is the question of the euro which is also at stake. It is the confidence given to those who invest in the euro."

Multiple overflights of suspected Russian drones have recently taken place in European airspace. An approach which aims, according to the former President of the Council, "to test the solidity of the EU and the transatlantic alliance". “It is beneficial to see European leaders very united. This is something that makes me optimistic. [...] The transatlantic alliance is today being called into question by the United States.” On this subject also, Charles Michel deplores the Commission's decisions: "They are in a kind of denial and are taking too long to resist the way the United States treats us."

"The subject for our generation is how to pass on to our children a European continent which is stable, prosperous and which offers opportunities. For this, there are courageous decisions to be taken today and not the day after tomorrow", he concludes.

Program prepared by Agnès Le Cossec, Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Oihana Almandoz.

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