The European Union is better off with U.S. President Donald Trump in power, it seems. His criticism of the EU and its policies has made it a stronger and more united force.
Calling the EU protectionistic and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement has brought the EU countries closer together. In years past, the countries were not always on the same page, rarely unified, but Trump has changed this.
The European Union unifies
Determined more than ever to reach its goals, the EU countries are working closely together to go against some of Trump's policies, which go against the beliefs of most countries in Europe.
Trump may have underestimated the power of a Unified Europe, which the fundamental philosophy of the European Union.
The U.S., as big and powerful as it is, cannot compete on its own with the force of European countries that are determined to stay true to their economic, defense and Climate Change objectives.
While the U.K. is still planning to leave the EU, the rest of the countries have become more aligned and election victories for pro-EU, non-nationalists, most notably in France, the Netherlands, and Austria, has further strengthened this unification.
Less concern of a eurozone break-up
The European Union's image is now more positive than it has been in years. According to Oxford Economics, only 19% of businesses think the eurozone is in danger of breaking up, down from 28% three months ago.
This optimism is also due to a drop in the concern over nationalism.
The EU and Japan announced a major trade deal to remove tariffs on some exports.
This exemplifies the belief that the EU wants free trade and agreements to open up Europe, rather than close. It strongly believes this to be in the best interest of businesses and workers.
Challenges remain for the EU
Some challenges remain, with the popularity of Trudeau and Macron, many European countries want a young, energetic, new generation leader for their country.
Spain, Italy, and Greece continue to struggle with refugees. Italy, in particular, has seen an increase of 20% in the refugees landing on their soil.
Turkey remains a threat, with power-hungry president Erdogan purposely criticizing Europe in the knowledge that it boosts his popularity at home.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's antics are not helping the EU either, as his ongoing provocations attempt to destabilize the region.
It seems the European Union has momentum but will have to deal successfully with many major issues before it will be the powerhouse of trade, defense and climate change that it wishes to be.
