Europe Must Be More Assertive With US, Adopt "Pragmatic Federalism"

ROME, May 14 (ANSA) -- Former European Central Bank President and Italian premier Mario Draghi said Thursday that the European Union should be more assertive with President Donald Trump's United States and it should adopt "pragmatic federalism" to be more decisive as he received the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen.

"The partner we still depend on has become more confrontational and unpredictable," Draghi said.

"Europe has sought negotiation and compromise. For the most part, it hasn't worked."

A posture designed to de-escalate is, instead, inviting further escalation. 

BERNAMA-ANSA