The European parliament has urged the European Union to block Donald Trump's likely choice of ambassador to the EU. In an unprecedented move, the main political parties in the European parliament have described Ted Malloch, Trump's likely pick for the role as ambassador to the European Union, as hostile and malevolent. If Malloch is rejected by the EU, the move could precipitate a huge diplomatic row between the USA and the EU.
Malloch openly states he wants to bring down the EU
Ted Malloch, a successful businessman who vehemently supported Britain's departure from the European Union, has been interviewed by Donald Trump for the position and, given Trump's anti-EU sentiment, is likely to be appointed by the President of the United States.
When Malloch was questioned by the BBC on the subject of the European Union, he stated: 'I have had a previous career in a diplomatic position where I was part of the team that helped bring down the soviet union. I think that there is another union that needs taming'.
'A history of denigrating statements'
In the same interview, Malloch confirmed Trump, who also supported Britain's departure from the EU was not a supporter of the EU, stating the President perceives it as 'supranational and undemocratic'. Manfred Weber and Guy Verhofstadt stated that Malloch possessed a 'malevolence towards the values that the European Union holds dear'. Verhofstadt and Weber, in a letter seen by the Guardian, state that Malloch has a history of making 'denigrating statements' about the EU.
If Malloch is appointed, he could undermine crucial transatlantic relations.
Similarly, a letter from Gianni Pittella, the leader of the Socialist and Democrats group, branded Malloch's statements as 'outrageously shocking'. Pittella continued: 'Malloch openly stated that he wishes to see the fall of the European Union by comparing it to the Soviet Union. We believe that ignoring Malloch's stance on the European Union would undermine our relationship with the USA and could be a precursor to the spread of populism in Europe'.
