European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will go to India for the first trip of her new term to shore up relations with the world’s largest democracy, she said Tuesday. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, von der Leyen said Europe was an increasingly attractive partner from Africa to Asia. “Hence, … Read more
“This landmark deal proves that open, rules-based trade can deliver for our prosperity and economic security,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The bilateral trading relationship is worth more than €100 billion a year — four-fifths in the form of goods and one-fifth in services. Echoing the apprehension around Trump’s tariff ideas, the German car … Read more
Red lines Resuming the free-trade talks with Washington would be a red line for France and put Paris and Berlin at odds. Still, Merz’s more critical tone toward China, which contrasts with the fealty shown by Scholz and longtime CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel, might bring Berlin closer to the position defended by Paris and the … Read more
The message behind the introduction of the rebalancing mechanism is that “environmental protection has a cost for society, but business is not required to pay for it,” the NGO said in its analysis. It warned that it risks undermining through a backdoor a flagship element of the European Green Deal and set a dangerous precedent. … Read more
The Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed to the public since a massive fire broke out in April 2019. Dozens of global leaders and high-ranking officials, including current First Lady Jill Biden and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will also be in attendance. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was also initially slated … Read more
For the French, von der Leyen’s Montevideo trip is anathema. Hatred of the Mercosur deal with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia permeates the whole political class. The French fear the accord will undermine their farmers with a tide of cheap poultry and beef from Latin America — and will whip up popular rage against … Read more
Brazilian officials held a bilateral meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Carlos Fávaro told reporters on Monday: “The deal would be very good for Brazil and the EU,” and added: “We have never been so near to finalizing this deal.” Scholz argued that delays would harm … Read more
The chancellor made the remarks while speaking Thursday night at her first Mansion House event, where she also outlined reforms to boost the City of London by allowing extra risk in the U.K. financial system, among other policy maneuvers. Donald Trump won the U.S. election in a landslide last week, and has pledged to impose … Read more
Now the balance of power has reversed. Macron has lost influence in Brussels following defeats in European and national elections, while Barnier’s government faces an immediate challenge to rein in the public debt and could be toppled by Marine Le Pen of the far right at any time. The freshly-reappointed von der Leyen is, meanwhile, … Read more
Bonfire of EU laws A similar dynamic has played out in issues ranging from workers’ rights to environmental protection. Threats to turn the U.K. into an offshore anarcho-capitalist paradise — occasionally used by British negotiators to threaten their EU counterparts — have in practice gone down no better in Bristol or Birmingham than they did … Read more
