So Kallas, Ribera and Costa all out to counter or explain von der Leyen's comments yesterday
Reminder - she asked if the order “with all of its well-intentioned attempts at consensus and compromise – is more a help or a hindrance to our credibility as a geopolitical actor”
Ribera:
"To me it's key to defend and underline that international law is a key element of building the European project and European security. It's not just for the Europeans... large majority of countries around the world think it's the best thing we've done since end of WW2"
Ribera:
"That's what we have understood as the basis for the European project for decades. What I identify in the type of approach she was trying to stress is maybe we need to also pay attention to many other aspects of external action of the EU."
EU competition + climate chief Ribera - Spain's commissioner in Brussels - on her boss VDL's comments about on rules-based order
"It is fair to say that maybe it was not the most adequate manner to express herself - but yes she is fully committed to the international order"
I'm sorry but what point are you trying to make here? Of course I know who QG is
Remember well, but you said Chinese don't recognise former leaders - they have made personality cult of some
Surely Cameron pandering to the right of the tory party and beyond swerved more blame than the German Chancellor
You should head to Tiananmen Square some time :)
Literally on the same morning Merkel got her prize:
The European Union made a “strategic mistake” in turning its back on nuclear energy, Ursula von der Leyen said in thinly-veiled criticism of Germany’s decision to close its reactors.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Kept thinking of this when the Commission was presenting its ports strategy last week - why do they think Greece was forced to sell Piraeus to Cosco?
Interesting timing - in a week in which European anxiety over energy prices shoots up, European Parliament names Angela Merkel among the first laureates of the European Order of Merit
Does the EU Commission leader realise? Hard to observe it yesterday if so
So a vastly different speech to what we heard from von der Leyen yesterday.
After VDL says EU must decide if rules are a "help or hindrance" to the bloc, Costa says EU must ensure they survive.
Costa also with pointed critique of US & Israeli action in Iran (& US in general)
Freedom cannot be achieved through bombs:
"But freedom and human rights cannot be achieved through bombs. Only international law upholds them. Protecting civilians, ensuring nuclear safety and respecting international law is crucial. We must avoid further escalation."
Maximum restraint:
"EU calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint & return to the negotiating table, stands with the long-suffering people of Iran. We support their right to live in peace & determine their own future, human rights and freedoms must be fully respected.
Costa blames Iran, but says unilateral response must stop
"Iran is responsible for the root causes, but unilateralism can never be the path forward. Attacks by Iran and its proxies, like Hezbollah, against its neighbours – including Cyprus, an EU member state – must stop"
Costa: violations of international law must not be accepted
"Violations of international law must not be accepted – in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, in Gaza or the Middle East. Human rights violations must not be tolerated – in Iran, in Sudan, or in Afghanistan"
Costa:
"First, we must defend the rules-based international order. We must uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, as outlined in our Treaties."
Costa: US challenges rules-based order!
"This multipolar world requires multilateral solutions. Not spheres of influence, where power politics replace law. We know the new reality: Russia violates peace, China disrupts trade, US challenges the international rules-based order"
Costa:
"It is in our interest to ensure that the world remains rules-based and cooperative. It is in our interest to avoid further world fragmentation. This is the best way to help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace. It is essential for Europe’s security and prosperity"
European Council President Antonio Costa now speaking to the same EU ambassadors addressed by VDL yesterday.
Starkly different message to VDL:
"We must defend the rules-based international order. We must uphold the principles enshrined in the UN Charter"
Exports to the US -11% and imports from US -26.7%
Asean exports up 29.4%, LatAm up 16.4%, Africa up nearly 50%
So the US exports are being rerouted but also seems like so much more. Overall exports with biggest jump in 4 years
Total exports jumped 21.8 per cent from a year earlier – the biggest gain in four years – to US$656.58 billion in the combined figures for January and February released by customs authorities on Tuesday.
By @sunyue_luna
www.scmp.com/economy...
For imports, a slightly better picture for Europe
China's imports from the EU +11.7%
from Germany + 4.9%
from Netherlands -5.1%
from France +28.2%
from Italy +10.6%
Jeez - these numbers for Europe are absolutely bonkers
China's trade data for the first 2 months of the year.
Exports to the EU up 27.8%
Exports to Germany up 31.3%
Exports to Netherlands up 17.9%
Exports to France up 31.9%
Exports to Italy up 36.4%
Trump: U.S. NAVY WILL ESCORT SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WHEN TIME TIME COMES
Reuters: Iran's Revolutionary Guards said any Arab or European country that expels the ambassadors of Israel and the US from its territory will have full authority and freedom to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
“The Commission must comply with the strictest observance of subsidiarity,” Barrot said on stage at an EU ambassadors’ conference in Brussels, pointing to the EU’s treaties.
The European Commission should not exceed its official mandate by usurping the foreign policy role of the EU’s diplomatic service, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told EU ambassadors on Monday, at a conference attended by Ursula von der Leyen.
www.euractiv.com/news/frances...
My pleasure
