The European Union will have a "pragmatic" attitude towards the new administration of Donald Trump but "always" stand ready to defend its strategic interests against any unjustified measure, Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in a speech that set the tone for how Brussels intends to engage with Washington in the next four years.

The President of the European Commission defends an adaptation of the EU to the new environment "within our values" but taking advantage of "opportunities wherever they arise" without excluding China,