EU leaders dodge Trump's peace board over constitutional hurdles
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz say they would have joined Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” but constitutional provisions in Italy and Germany prevent participation, a stance intended to avoid offending the U.S. president. They floated possible alternatives while EU leaders discussed Trump’s plan amid tensions over tariffs and Trump threats, reaffirming the UN as the primary multilateral forum. Only Hungary and Bulgaria have joined Trump’s initiative, reflecting widespread EU caution about the governance structure and invites to other regimes.