Merkel says Europe needs to take on more responsibility

In this photo taken with reflections in windows of the visitors tribune German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech on Europe ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (The Associated Press)

prev next

In this photo taken with reflection in windows of the visitors tribune, German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech on Europe ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the German Parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (The Associated Press)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech on Europe ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (The Associated Press)

BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel has told the German Parliament that because of the changing trans-Atlantic relationship, Europe must take on more responsibility and continue to stick to its open trade policy.

Merkel, who is flying to the United States early next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, said Thursday that "even if in parts of the world we see protectionist and nationalist approaches on the rise, Europe may never isolate, seal itself off or withdraw."

The chancellor, who didn't explicitly name Trump in her speech, also said that beyond keeping its openness toward the rest of the world, Europe needs to be especially open-minded when it comes to trade policy.

Trump has vowed to take a tougher line in forging deals and slapping tariffs on nations that are deemed to exploit the United States.