EU leaders do not flaunt responsiveness after Biden’s step back

US President Joe Biden’s step back found a lukewarm response among EU leaders. The outgoing president gave up on his nomination for a second mandate shortly before the formal endorsement by the Democratic delegates could start and the nomination for the top post could be officialized in the Convention taking place in August.

In a speech to address the nation, Biden said that his choice was made “to save the US democracy” without explicitly mentioning the reasons behind it. The pressures of his party comrades based on the drop of consent in opinion polls and the risk of disappointing financial support for the electoral campaign prevailed on Biden’s ambitions.

Most EU leaders have tended not to follow up on Biden’s announcement. The EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell express its will to not interfere in the process. “I am sure it will be quite an important difference for the transatlantic relations, depending on who is there, but it is for the United States’ citizens to decide and I do not think it is our role to express preferences for one or the other”, he told journalist before chairing the EU Foreign Affairs Council last Monday.

“We worked very well with President Biden, we had a very positive relationship. If he decided to withdraw because he thinks another candidate may have more strength to win the election for the Democrats, we respect the decision,” he added by speaking in Italian.

Borrell then wished “the best to the Democratic candidate” who will replace Biden and probably be Kamala Harris, who backed him up as Vice-President in the last term.

The shuffling of cards does not disrupt the French government, as French minister Stéphane Séjourné stressed that no big change in the US election undermines EU interests. Non ci sarà alcun cambiamento. L’Europa difenderà i suoi interessi. “We will confront any US administration since it is in the interest of the Europeans, but also the interest of world stability “, Séjourné said. “Whoever the President will be, Italy will remain a privileged interlocutor”, stressed Italian Prime Minister Antonio Tajani in a similar reaction to his French homologue.

German minister Annalena Baerbock praised President Biden for putting his country’s interests above his own. Biden’s political action was commended for the commitment “in transatlantic relations, not only during his presidential term” but “throughout his political life.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid tribute to President Biden, saying he made “democracy stronger”. “You have made many difficult decisions thanks to which Poland, America and the world are safer and democracy stronger,” the Polish leader reacted on X. “I know you were driven by the same motivations when you announced your final decision. Probably the most difficult of your life”, he added.

No public reaction followed from the European Union institution’s top leaders. Some commissioners made public outings based on their points of view. Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, called President Biden’s choice “a statesmanlike decision for the good of his country. “The hallmark of leadership is to know when to step aside”, commented EU Commissioner for Cohesion policy, Elisa Ferreira.