The Biggest Threat to Europe

Donald Trump , the U.S. president-elect, has long nursed well-known grievances about the European Union .

He has pointed to the large bilateral trade deficit between the United States and the EU as proof that the Europeans are not playing by the rules and are taking advantage of American naivety.

There is an ongoing debate in Europe about how best to handle the incoming Trump administration.

Some argue that Trump should be, in effect, bought off; others say Europe must prepare for tit-for-tat retaliation.

Both Letta and Draghi have proposed the creation of a savings and investment union.

Europe will need to invest an additional 800 billion euros a year ( about $820 billion ) to restore the continent’s industrial prowess, they say.

Successful implementation of the reports would change the nature of European integration both economically and politically.

The new appointment of Kaja Kallas , former Estonia prime minister, is good news for Europe .

For Europeans to implement the Letta and Draghi recommendations, it will be necessary for EU member states to line up alongside EU institutions.

Many of the leaders that are ideologically close to Trump are also the most Euroskeptic and reluctant to transfer more of their sovereign powers to Brussels .