European - Frenchman - struggled, beset with difficulties (9)
I believe the answer is:
embattled
'beset with difficulties' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'european frenchman struggled' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'frenchman' becomes 'm' (abbreviation for Monsieur - like 'Mr').
'struggled' becomes 'battled' (battling is a kind of struggling).
'e'+'m'+'battled'='EMBATTLED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for embattled that I've seen before include "Beleaguered" , "Involved in conflict" , "under attack" , "Beset by difficulties" , "Under pressure, in trying circumstances" .)