Would the EU still have the strength for a comparable enlargement push? On May 1, 20 years ago, it grew by ten new members to 25 states in one fell swoop. Against the backdrop of the anniversary, the Belgian Council Presidency has scheduled a two-day informal meeting of the General Council, which began on Monday with a ceremony at the Bozar Art Center in Brussels. A glance at the list of participants illustrates that the optimism of the past has evaporated. Instead of sending foreign or European affairs ministers to the birthday celebrations, quite a few member states are represented by state secretaries or their EU ambassadors.
The nine official candidate countries plus Kosovo are also taking part in a working breakfast today. According to the Belgian Council Presidency, the new format underlines the EU’s close partnership with the future members. The focus is on the issue of the rule of law, where there has recently been more regression than progress in somecandidate countries. The EU members will then discuss how the EU can make itself fit for the next enlargement steps and remain capable of acting. In a guest article for various European media, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock promotes the admission of further countries to the EU. Political and geographical gray areas in the Balkans or in the east of the EU are extremely dangerous.
A big bang like in 2004 will probably not happen again. Small Montenegro probably has the best chance of joining before the end of this decade. The EU cannot afford to be weary of enlargement. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been a matter of geopolitics. And as the images of the pro-European demonstrations in Tbilisi against Georgia’s pro-Russian government show, membership of the club as a counter-program to Vladimir Putin’s imperial plans is still attractive, at least in some candidate countries.
Have a good start to your day!
Your Stephan Israel
Feature
‘Using the stage’ – how the climate movement is preparing for the European elections
Around six weeks before the European elections on June 9, the election campaign – for example by the SPD and CSU – and the mailing of election notifications have begun in Germany. This time, the ballot paper also includes names that are otherwise more familiar from climate strikes. The “Last Generation” climate movement, for example, wants to “finally bring the resistance into Parliament”, says spokesperson Carla Hinrichs, and that is why the movement is running in the elections for the European Parliament. Lena Johnsen and Theodorr Schnarr are their lead candidates.
Their candidacy is not completely hopeless: With around 0.5 percent of the vote, they would enter the European Parliament. The Last Generation has calculated that they would need around 250,000 votes. The movement does not think that it could change anything politically in the European Parliament. Rather, it wants to “use the stage” that the election campaign and a possible entry will bring, explains spokesperson Maike Grunst in an interview with Table.Briefings. After the movement announced at the beginning of the year that it would no longer be blocking the streets, the candidacy is now a new attempt to attract attention.
From activism to Parliament – that is one way to give a climate agenda more clout. According to current polls, it does not look as if climate policy will be driven forward in a particularly progressive way by a new EU Parliament. On the contrary: many polls predict an increase in conservative parties andthus a “green backlash”. The climate movement is responding to this in very different ways:
Fridays for Future (FFF) is preparing an EU climate strike on May 31 and is trying to mobilize voters aged 16 and over for the election. Luisa Neubauer explains in a video, for example, why not voting tends to help right-wing parties.
Apart from a few smaller actions in Germany, Extinction Rebellion has been rather quiet of late. In the Netherlands, however, they managed to get the country to phase out fossil fuel subsidies last year by blockading the streets. At the beginning of the year, Extinction Rebellion announced that it would also be campaigning for the abolition of such subsidies in other places before the EU elections.
In addition, many activists from the movement are also running for a seat in the European Parliament within traditional parties. Among them are a conspicuous number of women: Lena Schilling is the lead candidate for the Greens in Austria, Carola Rackete is running as a non-party candidate for Die Linke.
Klimaliste Deutschland has also collected the necessary signatures for a candidacy and will be running on June 9.
Various candidacies as an ‘incentive‘
The 27-year-old Anna Peters, former national spokesperson for the Green Youth, also wants to make a difference in the EU Parliament. In particular, she wants to campaign for a climate-friendly financial policy. Peters is 13th on the list for the Greens and has a good chance of winning a seat. She is not an activist, but feels very close to the climate justice movement, she tells Table.Briefings. “We now need to run a very good election campaign to oppose a shift to the right“, she says. For her, this means reaching young people in particular – for example by campaigning in schools.
She does not necessarily see the fact that climate activists are running for minor parties instead of the Greens as a threat: “Isee it more as an incentive for us Greens to prove ourselves“. And: “I’m happy to see any person from the climate justice movement in politics.” There is a need for both people who promote issues from the outside through protest and those who work within the political system to advance climate protection.
Protest in Parliament
The Last Generation is currently working in a decentralized and grassroots democratic manner at round tables on its content for the election. This is rather atypical for the organization, which was previously known primarily for its hierarchical structures. “None of the other parties do what it takes”, explains Maike Grunst. The candidacy of the Last Generation does not lead to the fragmentation of the climate movement in Parliament, but makes it more colorful, more diverse and thus ultimately stronger.
At the moment, the Last Generation is mainly working on making its candidacy better known; The movement wants to reach young people with a TikTok challenge. Grunst has the feeling that the group is now receiving more attention again as a result of the election campaign. The chances of actually making it into the EU Parliament are around 50 percent, she says. The activists do not want to work together with other parties in the European Parliament; instead, they want to focus on protest in Parliament too.
Lost votes for climate protection
Michael Bloss, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens, on the other hand, is critical of the Last Generation’s candidacy: it seems as if the activists ” have no strategy on how to achieve more for climate protection, as with the street actions“. He sees a different motivation: “In order not to be considered a criminal organization, they are now founding a party because it offers better protection under basic law. Legitimate, but it doesn’t help climate protection in Parliament.” Using the European Parliament only for the production of videos would make a mockery of democratic institutions, he believes. And another party in the European Parliament is already responsible for jokes.
He also sees problems beyond this: “Climate protection is under incredible attack”. It is important to stick together. There is a danger that many votes for climate protection will be split between the various small parties, that the parties will then not be included and that the votes will simply not be represented. This would be detrimental to climate protection. Bloss also emphasizes that the EU Parliament needs pressure from the streets and that a lot has happened in the past five years thanks to the broad protests under FFF. However, activism is something different than fighting for majorities for climate protection and compromises in Parliament.
Climate Justice
European election 2024
Fridays for Future
Protests
Translation missing.Translation missing.
News
Von der Leyen does not categorically reject cooperation between EPP and ECR
Ursula von der Leyen, the lead candidate of the Christian Democratic party family, defended the EPP election program against criticism in the asylum chapter at the Maastricht Debate 2024 in the run-up to the European elections. “I reject the insinuation that the EPP supports the Rwanda model.” The EU is not the United Kingdom, she said. During the debate with seven other leading candidates from the European party families, the incumbent Commission President said: “We have fulfilled our international obligations in the past, we do it today and we will do it in the future.” But: “We must not let the smugglers and human traffickers dictate who comes to us.”
Nicolas Schmit, lead candidate of the socialist party family, agreed with her: “We must fight the smugglers.” The incumbent Social Affairs Commissioner also emphasized “humanity, human rights and European values.” It was also about speeding up bureaucratic procedures: “You cannot send people back once they have been there for years.”
Eickhout is eager to attack
During the hour-and-a-half-long debate, Bas Eickhout (Greens) repeatedly tried to draw von der Leyen out of her shell. “What is your position on a possible cooperation with the conservative ECR party family after the European elections?” the Green Group leader in the European Parliament wanted to know.
The background: if the EPP becomes the strongest party again and the heads of state nominate von der Leyen for a second term of office, it could be tight for her in the European Parliament elections. Von der Leyen could be dependent on votes from the ECR. She initially reacted evasively, referring to her Commission’s clear stance towards Poland under the PIS government and Hungary under Viktor Orban’s Fidesz.
Schmit rebukes von der Leyen
However, Eickhout was not satisfied with this and followed up. She first pointed out that it was up to the parliamentary group to decide on cooperation. Then von der Leyen did not categorically rule out cooperation with the ECR. “It depends very much on the composition of the next European Parliament whether my EPP Group will cooperate with the ECR.” She also emphasized the need to look at the composition of the ECR group. In response, von der Leyen received a rebuke from Schmit: “I am surprised, I would have expected a clear no here.” ECR member parties did not respect EU values in many member states.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann took part in the debate on behalf of the European Liberals. She demanded clarification from Ursula von der Leyen that the EPP would not cooperate with the far-right group, ID, of which the German AfD is currently a member. This assurance was given to her by von der Leyen. Strack-Zimmerman emphasized that the future of Europe was also at stake in Ukraine: “If Ukraine loses the war, our Europe will look different.” She called for more support to be mobilized for the country under attack: “Wake up, do more, finally start.” mgr
Europawahlen 2024
National agricultural subsidies: EU Commission considers Özdemir’s demand for more leeway
The European Commission is apparently considering raising the maximum limit for national aid in the agricultural sector that does not require approval, the so-called de minimis limit. Member states can currently pay out up to €20,000 per farm over three fiscal years as “minor” subsidies, which do not have to be approved by the Commission. At the EU Agriculture Council on Monday, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) called for the amount to be doubled and raised to €50,000. He also wants to see how much each member state is entitled to increase.
According to well-informed circles, 16 other states supported the proposal, which was discussed behind closed doors. The Commission is working on this, said EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski after the meeting, but did not comment on the schedule when asked. Almost two weeks ago, the EU heads of state and government had called on the Commission to consider raising the de minimis limit.
State aid rules are intended to prevent market distortion
Özdemir argues that more leeway for national subsidies is a practical and unbureaucratic way to support agriculture without lowering environmental standards. Furthermore, the amount has not been adjusted since 2019 and no longer takes account of the economic situation. The EU state aid rules serve to ensure a level playing field between farms in different countries within the European single market.
Belgian Minister and current Agriculture Council President David Clarinval warned before the meeting that less financially strong countries must also be listened to. “Not all countries have the financial capacity to support their farmers,” he emphasized. However, it was reported that only the Danish delegation explicitly opposed the increase in the ceiling during the talks, warning against distortions of competition.
Germany has not yet utilized the maximum amount
The German government has not made use of the total amount permitted in recent years. In 2022, it was around €22 million, just under 46 percent of the maximum amount, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL). However: “An increasing number of funding programs are being granted as part of a de minimis aid measure,” explains a spokesperson. The increase in the limit is necessary to take account of this trend and to be able to react to crises in a targeted manner.
The Commission also wants to give the member states more leeway for national agricultural subsidies in other areas. At the beginning of April, it proposedextending the so-called temporary crisis framework in line with a request from the heads of state and government. This makes it temporarily easier for EU countries to support farmers with aid programs in the event of market distortions in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This involves sums that exceed the de minimis limit and must be approved by the Commission. jd
Bauernproteste
Cep study: turning the internal market into a safe space
According to the Centre for European Policy (Cep), the new EU Commission should make the European single market even more of a “geopolitical safe space.” Further measures are needed to improve the protection of local companies from disrupted supply chains for critical raw materials and technologies as well as from coercive economic measures by third countries, write Cep researchers Matthias Kullas and Anja Hoffmann in a new study published today.
It is also crucial to protect companies from competitive disadvantages caused by subsidies from countries such as China. The EU institutions have already introduced new instruments in all three fields of action in the past legislative period. However, the effectiveness of the Critical Raw Materials Act or the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA) to protect supply chains, for example, must be evaluated and improved if necessary.
According to Kullas and Hoffmann, the EU also needs stricter instruments to protect domestic manufacturers against strategically subsidized competitors, particularly from China, for example, in the case of electric vehicles or windturbines. In addition to political pressure on Beijing and the search for allies, this includes faster subsidy control procedures. The study is part of an eight-partseries in which Cep researchers provide an outlook on the upcoming legislative period after the European elections. tho
EU-Binnenmarkt
Debt reform can enter into force
In the future, new rules will apply in the European Union for member states’ national debt and budget deficits. The Council of Ministers in Luxembourg finalized reform plans for the Stability and Growth Pact on Monday, as confirmed by EU diplomats. The European Parliament had already approved the reform plans last week.
Confirmation by the Council of the European Union was the last necessary step for the reform. Among other things, the set of rules prescribes upper debt limits for the states. In the future, clearminimumrequirements will apply to how highly indebted countries reduce their debt ratios. At the same time, the individual situation of countries is to be given greater consideration when setting EU targets. dpa
Finanzpolitik
Xi travels to France, Hungary, Serbia
China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping will visit France, Hungary and Serbia at the beginning of May. He will visit the countries from May 5 to 10 at the invitation of the respective presidents, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced in Beijing on Monday.
There had already been rumors about the trip beforehand. The meeting in France follows Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip to China in mid-April. According to the French Élysée Palace, Xi and his wife will be received in France on May 6 and 7. They are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.
Anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy
Unlike in 2019, Xi’s European tour will then continue eastwards. On May 7 and 8, he will visit the Balkan country of Serbia at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic, according to the state news agency Tanjug. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy by NATO in the capital Belgrade on May 7, 1999. Three Chinese journalists were killed at the time. Nato spoke of an accident, while Beijing assumed that the attack was deliberate.
From Serbia, Xi will travel on to Hungary, where he will be a guest from May 8 to 10, according to the state news agency MTI. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Silk Road. The People’s Republic has built a 350-kilometre rail link between Hungary and Serbia. dpa
EU-Außenpolitik
The DMA has set its sights on Apple’s iPad
Apple Inc’s iPad has been added to Big Tech’s list of products and services affected by tough new EU rules aimed at stopping abuse of competition before it takes hold. This gives Apple six months to ensure its tablet ecosystem complies with a series of preventative measures under the DMA.
The company’s iOS mobile operating system, App Store and Safaribrowser are already affected by the Act. However, Apple has taken legal action against the designation of certain services before the EU court in Luxembourg. The hearings are due to take place later this year.
The EU’s decision to include the iPad within the scope of the DMA will ensure that fairness and competitionare maintained, according to Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. An investigation had shown that “iPadOS is an important gateway that many companies rely on to reach their customers,” even though it does not meet all the thresholds. red
Apple
Digital Markets Act
Start of the free trade agreement with New Zealand
The German economy has high hopes for the free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand, which comes into force on May 1. “For the internationally closely networked German economy, the new EU-New Zealand trade agreement is a ray of hope in an increasingly difficult foreign trade environment,” said Volker Treier, Head of Foreign Trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). Companies worldwide are suffering from protectionism, which is placing ever greater obstacles in the way of foreign trade. The new agreement could help to counteract this. “It removes trade barriers in areas such as customs duties, public procurement, the protection of intellectual property and non-tariff trade barriers.”
The EU and New Zealand agreed on the trade agreement in mid-2022. Tariffs on EU exports – such as clothing, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, cars, wine and confectionery – are to be abolished. In turn, the EU wants to increase its import volumes for beef from New Zealand, which is particularly controversial in France. The quotas for lamb, butter and cheese will also be increased. rtr
Freihandelsabkommen
Öffentliche Beschaffung
Heads
The key players on the EU scene – companies
Leonhard Birnbaum
The CEO of Eon is one of the most influential energy lobbyists in Brussels. The chemical engineer took over the presidency of Eurelectric at the end of 2022. Since then, Eon’s main business has become much more central to Europe’s energy policy: the distribution grids to which most wind turbines and solar plants are connected. His most important goals are permanently simpler approvals for grid expansion and a better return in the regulated business.
Sopna Sury
As Chief Operating Officer Hydrogen, the economist heads the hydrogen business of RWE’s generation division. In Brussels, she is driving forward the hydrogen economy at Hydrogen Europe. As Chairwoman of the Executive Board, she is the most important voice alongside CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis.
Thomas Steg
He is a top lobbyist with many years of experience in federal politics. A native of Lower Saxony, he was deputy spokesman for the German government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and also for Angela Merkel when she took over. The trained journalist then went to VW, where he has been the chief lobbyist for years. He has served under several CEOs.
Jörg Howe
The trained TV journalist, whose North German origins are not only evident in his language, came to Swabia as the spokesman for the then Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche. Howe oversaw the image of the company with the three-pointed star from 2008, during the difficult times of the emissions scandal and until 2021. After Zetsche’s departure, Howe moved to the commercial vehicle division, which was spun off from the car manufacturer in 2021 and is now the second DAX-listed company from Stuttgart. He started out as Chief Representative but has since returned to his role as Group spokesperson with excellent contacts to politicians and journalists.
Jonas Andrulis
When people in Germany think of artificial intelligence, they think of Aleph Alpha and its founder Jonas Andrulis. The Heidelberg-based AI company is also playing in the premier league in Europe. Andrulis has set out to improve the world with AI. The industrial engineer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has returned to Baden from Silicon Valley, where he worked for Apple for a few years.
Markus Kamieth
The new CEO of BASF has big shoes to fill. As the successor to Martin Brudermüller, the Dinslaken native still has to find his position in Brussels. His predecessor currently still holds key positions at Europe’s influential chemical association Cefic. However, Kamieth is already very familiar with the threat of European industrial sectors moving away: He worked for BASF for many years as a manager in the USA and Hong Kong.
Benedikt Kuttenkeuler
The head of the Siemens representative office came to Brussels back in the days of the Juncker Commission. The lawyer heads a twelve-strong team that is involved in every important piece of the internal market, climate and digital legislation. He is well connected through the German Economic Council, where he is a member of the Brussels board.
Timotheus Höttges
Tim Höttges has been at the helm of Deutsche Telekom since 2014. He has almost doubled the company’s global turnover from €60 billion in 2013 to €112 billion (2023). As Europe’s largest telecommunications group, Deutsche Telekom has an important role in the expansion of gigabit networks. However, Deutsche Telekom earns the money for network expansion primarily in the USA.
Oliver Zipse
The BMW boss is a trained mathematician and mechanical engineer. He has spent his entire professional life with the Bavarian car manufacturer. He joined as a trainee in 1991 and became CEO in 2019. Zipse was honorary president of the European umbrella organization ACEA when the phase-out of the combustion engine was being negotiated in Brussels. Zipse is taking a special path with BMW in that the Munich-based company is pushing ahead with electric vehicles but has not forgotten about fuel cells and synthetic fuels. BMW stands for technological openness in the drive revolution.
Verena Pausder
She is one of the best-known personalities in the German start-up scene and has also headed the start-up association since 2023. She is committed to the future viability of Germany as a business location, which starts with education and does not end with digitalization. In her book “Das Neue Land,” she sets out her ideas on how to make societies fit for the future.
Heads
Dessert
You shall have no Giorgia beside me
It had long been clear that she would enter the ring herself. Nevertheless, Giorgia Meloni’s announcement of her candidacy for the European elections at the beginning of June was still a cause of surprise even in Italy. “Just write Giorgia on the ballot paper,” she said at a meeting of her Fratelli d’Italia party in Pescara on Sunday. “I will always be her, and I am one of you, one of the people,” the Prime Minister called out to her supporters. Her speech was also played out on her social media accounts with great publicity and perfect lighting.
Important to know: In Italy, candidates are not on the ballot paper in the European elections. Citizens have to write down the name of their preferred candidate by hand in the polling booth. Their head of government now wants to make this as easy as possible. No formalities, no distance – Giorgia is simply Giorgia. The majority of citizens who speak to her simply continue to call her by her first name, says Meloni, er Giorgia. “That makes me proud and is very important to me.” She will not change her “difficult role” as Prime Minister (she prefers the masculine term).
Is there another Giorgia among the brothers?
Certain formalities must be observed when voting. Italian electoral law states that citizens should only express their preference by stating their surname or first name plus surname. However, in practice, voting considers how the candidate appears on the list.
In the Fratelli d’Italia electoral list, the candidate who ranks first in all five constituencies in the country is listed as “Giorgia Meloni called Giorgia.” This should make everything legally clear, according to party circles. However, others have doubts as to whether Meloni can actually simply pass as Giorgia. In an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, constitutional lawyer Gaetano Azzariti asks: “What if there is another Giorgia in the Fratelli? Will they now ban all Giorgias in the party?” Almut Siefert
Would the EU still have the strength for a comparable enlargement push? On May 1, 20 years ago, it grew by ten new members to 25 states in one fell swoop. Against the backdrop of the anniversary, the Belgian Council Presidency has scheduled a two-day informal meeting of the General Council, which began on Monday with a ceremony at the Bozar Art Center in Brussels. A glance at the list of participants illustrates that the optimism of the past has evaporated. Instead of sending foreign or European affairs ministers to the birthday celebrations, quite a few member states are represented by state secretaries or their EU ambassadors.
The nine official candidate countries plus Kosovo are also taking part in a working breakfast today. According to the Belgian Council Presidency, the new format underlines the EU’s close partnership with the future members. The focus is on the issue of the rule of law, where there has recently been more regression than progress in somecandidate countries. The EU members will then discuss how the EU can make itself fit for the next enlargement steps and remain capable of acting. In a guest article for various European media, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock promotes the admission of further countries to the EU. Political and geographical gray areas in the Balkans or in the east of the EU are extremely dangerous.
A big bang like in 2004 will probably not happen again. Small Montenegro probably has the best chance of joining before the end of this decade. The EU cannot afford to be weary of enlargement. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been a matter of geopolitics. And as the images of the pro-European demonstrations in Tbilisi against Georgia’s pro-Russian government show, membership of the club as a counter-program to Vladimir Putin’s imperial plans is still attractive, at least in some candidate countries.
Have a good start to your day!
Your Stephan Israel
Feature
‘Using the stage’ – how the climate movement is preparing for the European elections
Around six weeks before the European elections on June 9, the election campaign – for example by the SPD and CSU – and the mailing of election notifications have begun in Germany. This time, the ballot paper also includes names that are otherwise more familiar from climate strikes. The “Last Generation” climate movement, for example, wants to “finally bring the resistance into Parliament”, says spokesperson Carla Hinrichs, and that is why the movement is running in the elections for the European Parliament. Lena Johnsen and Theodorr Schnarr are their lead candidates.
Their candidacy is not completely hopeless: With around 0.5 percent of the vote, they would enter the European Parliament. The Last Generation has calculated that they would need around 250,000 votes. The movement does not think that it could change anything politically in the European Parliament. Rather, it wants to “use the stage” that the election campaign and a possible entry will bring, explains spokesperson Maike Grunst in an interview with Table.Briefings. After the movement announced at the beginning of the year that it would no longer be blocking the streets, the candidacy is now a new attempt to attract attention.
From activism to Parliament – that is one way to give a climate agenda more clout. According to current polls, it does not look as if climate policy will be driven forward in a particularly progressive way by a new EU Parliament. On the contrary: many polls predict an increase in conservative parties andthus a “green backlash”. The climate movement is responding to this in very different ways:
Fridays for Future (FFF) is preparing an EU climate strike on May 31 and is trying to mobilize voters aged 16 and over for the election. Luisa Neubauer explains in a video, for example, why not voting tends to help right-wing parties.
Apart from a few smaller actions in Germany, Extinction Rebellion has been rather quiet of late. In the Netherlands, however, they managed to get the country to phase out fossil fuel subsidies last year by blockading the streets. At the beginning of the year, Extinction Rebellion announced that it would also be campaigning for the abolition of such subsidies in other places before the EU elections.
In addition, many activists from the movement are also running for a seat in the European Parliament within traditional parties. Among them are a conspicuous number of women: Lena Schilling is the lead candidate for the Greens in Austria, Carola Rackete is running as a non-party candidate for Die Linke.
Klimaliste Deutschland has also collected the necessary signatures for a candidacy and will be running on June 9.
Various candidacies as an ‘incentive‘
The 27-year-old Anna Peters, former national spokesperson for the Green Youth, also wants to make a difference in the EU Parliament. In particular, she wants to campaign for a climate-friendly financial policy. Peters is 13th on the list for the Greens and has a good chance of winning a seat. She is not an activist, but feels very close to the climate justice movement, she tells Table.Briefings. “We now need to run a very good election campaign to oppose a shift to the right“, she says. For her, this means reaching young people in particular – for example by campaigning in schools.
She does not necessarily see the fact that climate activists are running for minor parties instead of the Greens as a threat: “Isee it more as an incentive for us Greens to prove ourselves“. And: “I’m happy to see any person from the climate justice movement in politics.” There is a need for both people who promote issues from the outside through protest and those who work within the political system to advance climate protection.
Protest in Parliament
The Last Generation is currently working in a decentralized and grassroots democratic manner at round tables on its content for the election. This is rather atypical for the organization, which was previously known primarily for its hierarchical structures. “None of the other parties do what it takes”, explains Maike Grunst. The candidacy of the Last Generation does not lead to the fragmentation of the climate movement in Parliament, but makes it more colorful, more diverse and thus ultimately stronger.
At the moment, the Last Generation is mainly working on making its candidacy better known; The movement wants to reach young people with a TikTok challenge. Grunst has the feeling that the group is now receiving more attention again as a result of the election campaign. The chances of actually making it into the EU Parliament are around 50 percent, she says. The activists do not want to work together with other parties in the European Parliament; instead, they want to focus on protest in Parliament too.
Lost votes for climate protection
Michael Bloss, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens, on the other hand, is critical of the Last Generation’s candidacy: it seems as if the activists ” have no strategy on how to achieve more for climate protection, as with the street actions“. He sees a different motivation: “In order not to be considered a criminal organization, they are now founding a party because it offers better protection under basic law. Legitimate, but it doesn’t help climate protection in Parliament.” Using the European Parliament only for the production of videos would make a mockery of democratic institutions, he believes. And another party in the European Parliament is already responsible for jokes.
He also sees problems beyond this: “Climate protection is under incredible attack”. It is important to stick together. There is a danger that many votes for climate protection will be split between the various small parties, that the parties will then not be included and that the votes will simply not be represented. This would be detrimental to climate protection. Bloss also emphasizes that the EU Parliament needs pressure from the streets and that a lot has happened in the past five years thanks to the broad protests under FFF. However, activism is something different than fighting for majorities for climate protection and compromises in Parliament.
Climate Justice
European election 2024
Fridays for Future
Protests
Translation missing.Translation missing.
News
Von der Leyen does not categorically reject cooperation between EPP and ECR
Ursula von der Leyen, the lead candidate of the Christian Democratic party family, defended the EPP election program against criticism in the asylum chapter at the Maastricht Debate 2024 in the run-up to the European elections. “I reject the insinuation that the EPP supports the Rwanda model.” The EU is not the United Kingdom, she said. During the debate with seven other leading candidates from the European party families, the incumbent Commission President said: “We have fulfilled our international obligations in the past, we do it today and we will do it in the future.” But: “We must not let the smugglers and human traffickers dictate who comes to us.”
Nicolas Schmit, lead candidate of the socialist party family, agreed with her: “We must fight the smugglers.” The incumbent Social Affairs Commissioner also emphasized “humanity, human rights and European values.” It was also about speeding up bureaucratic procedures: “You cannot send people back once they have been there for years.”
Eickhout is eager to attack
During the hour-and-a-half-long debate, Bas Eickhout (Greens) repeatedly tried to draw von der Leyen out of her shell. “What is your position on a possible cooperation with the conservative ECR party family after the European elections?” the Green Group leader in the European Parliament wanted to know.
The background: if the EPP becomes the strongest party again and the heads of state nominate von der Leyen for a second term of office, it could be tight for her in the European Parliament elections. Von der Leyen could be dependent on votes from the ECR. She initially reacted evasively, referring to her Commission’s clear stance towards Poland under the PIS government and Hungary under Viktor Orban’s Fidesz.
Schmit rebukes von der Leyen
However, Eickhout was not satisfied with this and followed up. She first pointed out that it was up to the parliamentary group to decide on cooperation. Then von der Leyen did not categorically rule out cooperation with the ECR. “It depends very much on the composition of the next European Parliament whether my EPP Group will cooperate with the ECR.” She also emphasized the need to look at the composition of the ECR group. In response, von der Leyen received a rebuke from Schmit: “I am surprised, I would have expected a clear no here.” ECR member parties did not respect EU values in many member states.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann took part in the debate on behalf of the European Liberals. She demanded clarification from Ursula von der Leyen that the EPP would not cooperate with the far-right group, ID, of which the German AfD is currently a member. This assurance was given to her by von der Leyen. Strack-Zimmerman emphasized that the future of Europe was also at stake in Ukraine: “If Ukraine loses the war, our Europe will look different.” She called for more support to be mobilized for the country under attack: “Wake up, do more, finally start.” mgr
Europawahlen 2024
National agricultural subsidies: EU Commission considers Özdemir’s demand for more leeway
The European Commission is apparently considering raising the maximum limit for national aid in the agricultural sector that does not require approval, the so-called de minimis limit. Member states can currently pay out up to €20,000 per farm over three fiscal years as “minor” subsidies, which do not have to be approved by the Commission. At the EU Agriculture Council on Monday, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) called for the amount to be doubled and raised to €50,000. He also wants to see how much each member state is entitled to increase.
According to well-informed circles, 16 other states supported the proposal, which was discussed behind closed doors. The Commission is working on this, said EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski after the meeting, but did not comment on the schedule when asked. Almost two weeks ago, the EU heads of state and government had called on the Commission to consider raising the de minimis limit.
State aid rules are intended to prevent market distortion
Özdemir argues that more leeway for national subsidies is a practical and unbureaucratic way to support agriculture without lowering environmental standards. Furthermore, the amount has not been adjusted since 2019 and no longer takes account of the economic situation. The EU state aid rules serve to ensure a level playing field between farms in different countries within the European single market.
Belgian Minister and current Agriculture Council President David Clarinval warned before the meeting that less financially strong countries must also be listened to. “Not all countries have the financial capacity to support their farmers,” he emphasized. However, it was reported that only the Danish delegation explicitly opposed the increase in the ceiling during the talks, warning against distortions of competition.
Germany has not yet utilized the maximum amount
The German government has not made use of the total amount permitted in recent years. In 2022, it was around €22 million, just under 46 percent of the maximum amount, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL). However: “An increasing number of funding programs are being granted as part of a de minimis aid measure,” explains a spokesperson. The increase in the limit is necessary to take account of this trend and to be able to react to crises in a targeted manner.
The Commission also wants to give the member states more leeway for national agricultural subsidies in other areas. At the beginning of April, it proposedextending the so-called temporary crisis framework in line with a request from the heads of state and government. This makes it temporarily easier for EU countries to support farmers with aid programs in the event of market distortions in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This involves sums that exceed the de minimis limit and must be approved by the Commission. jd
Bauernproteste
Cep study: turning the internal market into a safe space
According to the Centre for European Policy (Cep), the new EU Commission should make the European single market even more of a “geopolitical safe space.” Further measures are needed to improve the protection of local companies from disrupted supply chains for critical raw materials and technologies as well as from coercive economic measures by third countries, write Cep researchers Matthias Kullas and Anja Hoffmann in a new study published today.
It is also crucial to protect companies from competitive disadvantages caused by subsidies from countries such as China. The EU institutions have already introduced new instruments in all three fields of action in the past legislative period. However, the effectiveness of the Critical Raw Materials Act or the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA) to protect supply chains, for example, must be evaluated and improved if necessary.
According to Kullas and Hoffmann, the EU also needs stricter instruments to protect domestic manufacturers against strategically subsidized competitors, particularly from China, for example, in the case of electric vehicles or windturbines. In addition to political pressure on Beijing and the search for allies, this includes faster subsidy control procedures. The study is part of an eight-partseries in which Cep researchers provide an outlook on the upcoming legislative period after the European elections. tho
EU-Binnenmarkt
Debt reform can enter into force
In the future, new rules will apply in the European Union for member states’ national debt and budget deficits. The Council of Ministers in Luxembourg finalized reform plans for the Stability and Growth Pact on Monday, as confirmed by EU diplomats. The European Parliament had already approved the reform plans last week.
Confirmation by the Council of the European Union was the last necessary step for the reform. Among other things, the set of rules prescribes upper debt limits for the states. In the future, clearminimumrequirements will apply to how highly indebted countries reduce their debt ratios. At the same time, the individual situation of countries is to be given greater consideration when setting EU targets. dpa
Finanzpolitik
Xi travels to France, Hungary, Serbia
China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping will visit France, Hungary and Serbia at the beginning of May. He will visit the countries from May 5 to 10 at the invitation of the respective presidents, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced in Beijing on Monday.
There had already been rumors about the trip beforehand. The meeting in France follows Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip to China in mid-April. According to the French Élysée Palace, Xi and his wife will be received in France on May 6 and 7. They are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.
Anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy
Unlike in 2019, Xi’s European tour will then continue eastwards. On May 7 and 8, he will visit the Balkan country of Serbia at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic, according to the state news agency Tanjug. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy by NATO in the capital Belgrade on May 7, 1999. Three Chinese journalists were killed at the time. Nato spoke of an accident, while Beijing assumed that the attack was deliberate.
From Serbia, Xi will travel on to Hungary, where he will be a guest from May 8 to 10, according to the state news agency MTI. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Silk Road. The People’s Republic has built a 350-kilometre rail link between Hungary and Serbia. dpa
EU-Außenpolitik
The DMA has set its sights on Apple’s iPad
Apple Inc’s iPad has been added to Big Tech’s list of products and services affected by tough new EU rules aimed at stopping abuse of competition before it takes hold. This gives Apple six months to ensure its tablet ecosystem complies with a series of preventative measures under the DMA.
The company’s iOS mobile operating system, App Store and Safaribrowser are already affected by the Act. However, Apple has taken legal action against the designation of certain services before the EU court in Luxembourg. The hearings are due to take place later this year.
The EU’s decision to include the iPad within the scope of the DMA will ensure that fairness and competitionare maintained, according to Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. An investigation had shown that “iPadOS is an important gateway that many companies rely on to reach their customers,” even though it does not meet all the thresholds. red
Apple
Digital Markets Act
Start of the free trade agreement with New Zealand
The German economy has high hopes for the free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand, which comes into force on May 1. “For the internationally closely networked German economy, the new EU-New Zealand trade agreement is a ray of hope in an increasingly difficult foreign trade environment,” said Volker Treier, Head of Foreign Trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). Companies worldwide are suffering from protectionism, which is placing ever greater obstacles in the way of foreign trade. The new agreement could help to counteract this. “It removes trade barriers in areas such as customs duties, public procurement, the protection of intellectual property and non-tariff trade barriers.”
The EU and New Zealand agreed on the trade agreement in mid-2022. Tariffs on EU exports – such as clothing, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, cars, wine and confectionery – are to be abolished. In turn, the EU wants to increase its import volumes for beef from New Zealand, which is particularly controversial in France. The quotas for lamb, butter and cheese will also be increased. rtr
Freihandelsabkommen
Öffentliche Beschaffung
Heads
The key players on the EU scene – companies
Leonhard Birnbaum
The CEO of Eon is one of the most influential energy lobbyists in Brussels. The chemical engineer took over the presidency of Eurelectric at the end of 2022. Since then, Eon’s main business has become much more central to Europe’s energy policy: the distribution grids to which most wind turbines and solar plants are connected. His most important goals are permanently simpler approvals for grid expansion and a better return in the regulated business.
Sopna Sury
As Chief Operating Officer Hydrogen, the economist heads the hydrogen business of RWE’s generation division. In Brussels, she is driving forward the hydrogen economy at Hydrogen Europe. As Chairwoman of the Executive Board, she is the most important voice alongside CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis.
Thomas Steg
He is a top lobbyist with many years of experience in federal politics. A native of Lower Saxony, he was deputy spokesman for the German government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and also for Angela Merkel when she took over. The trained journalist then went to VW, where he has been the chief lobbyist for years. He has served under several CEOs.
Jörg Howe
The trained TV journalist, whose North German origins are not only evident in his language, came to Swabia as the spokesman for the then Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche. Howe oversaw the image of the company with the three-pointed star from 2008, during the difficult times of the emissions scandal and until 2021. After Zetsche’s departure, Howe moved to the commercial vehicle division, which was spun off from the car manufacturer in 2021 and is now the second DAX-listed company from Stuttgart. He started out as Chief Representative but has since returned to his role as Group spokesperson with excellent contacts to politicians and journalists.
Jonas Andrulis
When people in Germany think of artificial intelligence, they think of Aleph Alpha and its founder Jonas Andrulis. The Heidelberg-based AI company is also playing in the premier league in Europe. Andrulis has set out to improve the world with AI. The industrial engineer from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has returned to Baden from Silicon Valley, where he worked for Apple for a few years.
Markus Kamieth
The new CEO of BASF has big shoes to fill. As the successor to Martin Brudermüller, the Dinslaken native still has to find his position in Brussels. His predecessor currently still holds key positions at Europe’s influential chemical association Cefic. However, Kamieth is already very familiar with the threat of European industrial sectors moving away: He worked for BASF for many years as a manager in the USA and Hong Kong.
Benedikt Kuttenkeuler
The head of the Siemens representative office came to Brussels back in the days of the Juncker Commission. The lawyer heads a twelve-strong team that is involved in every important piece of the internal market, climate and digital legislation. He is well connected through the German Economic Council, where he is a member of the Brussels board.
Timotheus Höttges
Tim Höttges has been at the helm of Deutsche Telekom since 2014. He has almost doubled the company’s global turnover from €60 billion in 2013 to €112 billion (2023). As Europe’s largest telecommunications group, Deutsche Telekom has an important role in the expansion of gigabit networks. However, Deutsche Telekom earns the money for network expansion primarily in the USA.
Oliver Zipse
The BMW boss is a trained mathematician and mechanical engineer. He has spent his entire professional life with the Bavarian car manufacturer. He joined as a trainee in 1991 and became CEO in 2019. Zipse was honorary president of the European umbrella organization ACEA when the phase-out of the combustion engine was being negotiated in Brussels. Zipse is taking a special path with BMW in that the Munich-based company is pushing ahead with electric vehicles but has not forgotten about fuel cells and synthetic fuels. BMW stands for technological openness in the drive revolution.
Verena Pausder
She is one of the best-known personalities in the German start-up scene and has also headed the start-up association since 2023. She is committed to the future viability of Germany as a business location, which starts with education and does not end with digitalization. In her book “Das Neue Land,” she sets out her ideas on how to make societies fit for the future.
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Dessert
You shall have no Giorgia beside me
It had long been clear that she would enter the ring herself. Nevertheless, Giorgia Meloni’s announcement of her candidacy for the European elections at the beginning of June was still a cause of surprise even in Italy. “Just write Giorgia on the ballot paper,” she said at a meeting of her Fratelli d’Italia party in Pescara on Sunday. “I will always be her, and I am one of you, one of the people,” the Prime Minister called out to her supporters. Her speech was also played out on her social media accounts with great publicity and perfect lighting.
Important to know: In Italy, candidates are not on the ballot paper in the European elections. Citizens have to write down the name of their preferred candidate by hand in the polling booth. Their head of government now wants to make this as easy as possible. No formalities, no distance – Giorgia is simply Giorgia. The majority of citizens who speak to her simply continue to call her by her first name, says Meloni, er Giorgia. “That makes me proud and is very important to me.” She will not change her “difficult role” as Prime Minister (she prefers the masculine term).
Is there another Giorgia among the brothers?
Certain formalities must be observed when voting. Italian electoral law states that citizens should only express their preference by stating their surname or first name plus surname. However, in practice, voting considers how the candidate appears on the list.
In the Fratelli d’Italia electoral list, the candidate who ranks first in all five constituencies in the country is listed as “Giorgia Meloni called Giorgia.” This should make everything legally clear, according to party circles. However, others have doubts as to whether Meloni can actually simply pass as Giorgia. In an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, constitutional lawyer Gaetano Azzariti asks: “What if there is another Giorgia in the Fratelli? Will they now ban all Giorgias in the party?” Almut Siefert
