Will Europe dare to say the first NO to Trump?
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen may be close to taking a decisive stance against the United States by supporting a UN agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector—a move strongly opposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
According to reports, von der Leyen’s support for this agreement could represent the first explicit position of disapproval from the Trump administration, which has warned of potential consequences for countries and institutions that adopt such environmental initiatives. These sanctions include visa restrictions, a ban on ships from supporting countries entering US ports, and other threats to trade and shipping.
The agreement, which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is seeking to adopt, calls for reducing emissions from shipping—which currently account for about 3% of global emissions—to zero by 2050, and if approved, the agreement would enter into force in 2027.
The proposal covers large commercial vessels exceeding 5,000 tons.
Under these measures, operators of polluting vessels will be required to pay compensation fees, while vessels that achieve low emission levels can receive financial incentives.
Despite US pressure, sources within the European Commission reported that von der Leyen expressed her support for the UN initiative, believing that combating climate change requires courageous positions from major powers, including the European Union.
Washington strongly opposes the measures and considers them an economic burden.
The US administration has strongly opposed the initiative, arguing that any additional restrictions on the shipping sector would negatively impact the US economy, tourism, shipping companies, and customers associated with this sector.
If the European Commission president supports the environmental agreement, it could be the first real test of European independence on environmental and climate issues, even in the face of powerful allies like the United States.
