EU leaders have criticised Donald Trump over protectionism and his celebration of the Brexit vote, while giving a mixed reception to British prime minister Theresa May’s efforts to bind the new US president to Europe.
Speaking at a summit of EU leaders in Malta, German chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU wanted “to go further down the road to more free-trade agreements”, contrasting that position with Mr Trump’s decision to pull out of Pacific and transatlantic trade deals.
Meanwhile François Hollande, French president, told Mr Trump to stay out of internal EU politics, after the US leader appeared to delight in the idea that the Brexit result might lead to the break-up of the bloc.