Majority of Europeans Oppose Ursula von der Leyen’s Policies Following US Trade Deal
Recent public opinion surveys conducted by Eurobazooka have revealed significant discontent among European Union citizens regarding the leadership policies of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the findings, more than half of respondents believe she should step down, primarily due to dissatisfaction with her handling of the trade agreement with the United States.
Specifically, 39% expressed strong support for her resignation, while 21% were somewhat supportive.
Only 8% opposed.
The main source of criticism stems from a trade deal signed this summer between the EU and the US, negotiated amid threats from the US administration to impose 30% tariffs on European exports, including automobiles and wines.
Many Europeans feel that this agreement compromised their interests: 52% say they feel ‘humiliated’ by the deal, with France (65%) and Spain (56%) being the most affected.
Nearly 75% of respondents believe that von der Leyen failed to adequately defend European economic interests, and 77% reckon the deal favors US economic benefits over European ones.
The survey was conducted by Cluster17 in August-September across France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Poland, with about 1,000 participants from each country.
Notably, on July 28, a framework trade agreement was signed between the US and the EU, imposing substantial 15% tariffs on all EU exports to the US — affecting everything from cars to wines.
US President Donald Trump hailed the pact as ‘the largest deal ever negotiated,’ even as it contributed to a 0.3% GDP decline in Germany amidst slowing exports due to US tariffs.
However, by August 21, the EU managed to secure the removal of tariffs on key items like aircraft and pharmaceuticals, offering some hope for calmer trade relations in the future.