BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe is strong enough to pursue its own interests in trade talks with the United States, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday after a meeting with fellow EU leaders. "The European Union is strong. We have every opportunity to make sure we can look after our own interests," Scholz said.

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, says Europe is strong enough to pursue its own interests in trade talks with the United States. Scholz made this statement on Monday after a meeting with fellow EU leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday that the European Union needs "less bureaucracy, more determination" to bolster its defence capacities. "Companies must be freed from all the legal rules that affect their co-operation,

The European Union wants to engage swiftly with the United States over President Donald Trump's planned tariffs, trade chief Maros Sefcovic said on Tuesday, while his boss Ursula von der Leyen stressed the bloc would protect its interests in negotiations.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to his country estate as he repeated his aim to improve relations with the European Union.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz departed on Sunday morning for Britain, where he is due to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Chequers country estate outside of London. In a one-to-one conversation and a subsequent lunch,

Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Brussels to join a gathering of European Union leaders – the first time a British prime minister has done so since Brexit. Starmer is heading over the English Channel for talks focused on defence and security co-operation and will also meet Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.