Mogherini: EU policy not determined in US

"The American president-elect has said clear things during the campaign and he has used different narratives in the first messages he has passed to the world leaders in the first hours after his election," Mogherini said in the DW interview. We will see what will be the definition of the policy priorities of the next president. And we will see on the basis of that where European interests and American interests coincide."

While Mogherini stressed the importance of transatlantic cooperation, she left no doubt about the priorities of European policies, should the Trump administration steer America in a different direction. "It is in our respective interests to continue to work together, but it might be that his policy priorities will lead America far away from some of the European basic principles."

Mogherini also announced plans for a concept for Europe’s future role in security and defense. "It’s not about creating an army. It’s about having a European defense and security system that works. On Monday I am going to present to the foreign and defense ministers a plan for European defense and security with very concrete actions that will create the conditions for the European Union to act as a security provider, a credible one, both for our citizens and for our partners in the world. I see that our partners in the world in these days are looking at the European Union with an interest that was not there a few weeks ago."

On the possibility of the future president's stronger ties with Russia, Mogherini made the EU’s position very clear. "Our policy on Ukraine will not change and it is not determined in Washington. We have lived in these last years a very fruitful , very constructive and excellent cooperation with Washington that has paid off for us and our partners. Our policy on the annexation of Crimea, which we consider illegal, will stay."