European power in tricky situation, trying to hold this? (6)
I believe the answer is:
empire
'trying to hold this?' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'european power in tricky situation' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'power' becomes 'p'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'tricky situation' becomes 'mire' (a mire is a tricky or complex situation).
'p' put inside 'mire' is 'mpire'.
'e'+'mpire'='EMPIRE'
(Other definitions for empire that I've seen before include "Large group of states" , "Over which 23 down rules" , "Large realm" , "Group of states under the same sovereign" , "Wide dominion" .)