EU trade policy successes have become rare, but yesterday the EU was once again able to celebrate one – at least a small one. Early in the morning, the EU Commission announced that it had finally adopted a “partnership for critical and strategic minerals”with Australia, after negotiations for a genuine free trade agreement failed last year. Read more about this in the News.
It is still unclear whether the next Commission will be able to achieve more success in trade agreements. Tomorrow, however, the EU trade ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the role of trade policy in the coming legislative period. As is currently the case in other Council formations, the Trade Council will discuss the findings of the Letta report.
One recommendation that, according to an EU diplomat, is falling on receptive ears is the concern that trade agreementsshould no longer be “overloaded” with too many other issues. Mixed agreements pose major problems for the EU because ratification is much more difficult. The current example is CETA, the ratification of which could soon be made impossible by the French National Assembly.
The trade ministers will also discuss the disappointing results of the WTO Ministerial Conference in February from an EU perspective. “The status quo is no longer an option”, said an EU diplomat in a plea for a reform of the WTO. However, it is currently not clear how a reform should come about.
However, the trade ministers skillfully sidestepped another potential source of bad moods. The trade dispute between the USA and China and the pending investigation into the subsidization of Chinese EVs are not on the agenda. Instead, the trade ministers prefer to wait for the Commission’s decision, which is expected in the coming weeks.
Have a great day!
Your János Allenbach-Ammann
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Feature
Middle East conflict: Why the EU is divided on the recognition of Palestine
The Palestinian ambassador to Germany, Laith Arafeh, has called on the German government in Berlin to recognize Palestine swiftly. “We hope that the German government will accelerate its efforts and join the majority of 143 states worldwide thathave recognized Palestine as a legitimate member of the international community“, he told Table.Briefings. “We would like to see Germany play a more active political role”, Arafeh said. “In order not to lose relevance, it is therefore important that the German government adapts to the speed of events and recognizes the fact that after decades of occupation, Palestine has the right to independence – and the Palestinian people to live in freedom.”
Norway, Spain and Ireland had already announced last week that they would recognize Palestine as a state – a step that was taken on Tuesday. At the Palacio de la Moncloa government headquarters in Madrid, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “This is a historic decision that has a single goal: To help the Israelis and the Palestinians achieve peace.” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed similar sentiments, describing “two states living side by side in peace and security” as the only possible political solution between Israelis and Palestinians. “You can’t have a two-state solution if you don’t recognize the existence of both states,” said Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin on Tuesday.
Berlin and Paris insist on negotiations
The German government in Berlin sees things differently – as do the majority of the 27 EU states, the USA and the UK. Just last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that, given many unresolved issues such as the Palestinian territory, “we are not there yet”. What is needed instead is “a negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians that amounts to a two-state solution”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also called for new negotiations on a two-state solution at the Franco-German Defense and Security Council on Tuesday and made it clear that he had great sympathy for the initiative from Norway, Spain and Ireland. “As a representative of France, I am fully prepared to recognize the creation of a Palestinian state.”
In a vote at the UN General Assembly two weeks ago, Germany and 24 other members abstained from voting – 143, however, voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state.
The foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Nils Schmid, defended the German government’s stance to Table.Briefings, but expressed understanding for the three EU partners who did not want to wait any longer. “Three decades after the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian side cannot be put off again for a protracted negotiation process”, said Schmid. “The time has now come for a package solution that brings Israel normalization through the Arab states – in return for which the Israeli government must recognize a Palestinian state.”
Sweden already recognized Palestine in 2014
However, Schmid pointed out that central questions of Palestinian statehood remain unresolved. For example, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has less political influence today than it did ten years ago, and corruptionis still widespread in the Palestinian administration. In addition, there is a lack of democratic legitimacy, as the last elections in the Palestinian territories took place in 2006. At that time, the Islamist Hamas emerged victorious from the ballot,but this was not recognized by either the USA or the EU.
In 2014, Sweden was the first EU member state to recognize a Palestinian state; Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania had already done so before joining the EU. At the time, Sweden hoped that this would speed upthe peace process and pave the way for a two-state solution.
Netanyahu main obstacle to two-state solution
Ten years later, Norway is now trying again: Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that recognition would not end the war in Gaza, but that it was “a key component” for a peace initiative under Arab leadership.
Almost eight months after the Hamas terror attack on Israel, the chances of a two-state solution are also so poor because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to recognize a Palestinian state. Even Saudi Arabia, which had sought to establish diplomatic relations with Israel until the start of the Gaza war, is now distancing itself from Netanyahu. The main reason is the unwillingness of Netanyahu’s government to recognize a Palestinian state side by side with Israel. With Stefan Braun
Ireland
Spain
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European elections: How a vocational school prepares first-time voters
The European elections are just a few days away. 60.9 million Germans can cast their vote on June 9, and for the first time, young people aged 16 and overcan vote. In addition to Germany, this is also the case in Austria, Belgium and Malta. However, a representative Greenpeace survey of 16 to 23-year-olds shows that many young people are not well prepared for their first election. The most important results of the survey:
Two-thirds of young voters want to vote.
However, only three-quarters know that the European elections are on June 9.
Three-quarters are also aware that young people aged 16 and over can vote. Among 16/17-year-olds, the figure is as high as 79%.
64 percent think that the EU Parliament fulfills important tasks, but four-fifths do not feel well informed about its tasks.
According to the respondents, the level of information about the parties is rather low. The AfD achieved the highest score (50 percent).
Schools are in demand when it comes to political education. Heiko Lüdemann, who has been principal of BBS I in Lüneburg for nine years, agrees. The vocational school with 2,130 students offers 23 dual vocational training courses, mainly in the fields of business and administration. Young people can also complete all school-leaving qualifications here. The student body iscorrespondingly heterogeneous. “For many, attending the BBS is a second or third chance to gain a school-leaving qualification”, explains the principal during the visit to Table.Briefings. And he also says: “Many come from families that have little interest in democracy and politics. They live in their filter bubble, don’t move out of their personal environments, they often lack ‘world knowledge’, as we call it.” Political opinion-forming and participation are alien to many.
Workshop on dealing with bar-room clichés
However, BBS I, which is also one of the top 20 schools for the German School Award 2024, wants to empower its pupils to do just that. As a “school against racism”, for example, it recently held an argumentation training course against racism and a workshop on dealing with so-called bar-room clichés. And as a European school that offers many internships abroad in the EU as part of Erasmus+, it also wants to prepare pupils for the European elections.
Erja (23) and Christoph (21), who are doing a dual apprenticeship as a real estate agent at the school, have noticed that interest in politics varies greatly in their class. Those who are not interested often do not go to the polls. However, Erja also says: “Disinterest often arises because young peopleare not informed.” Christoph believes that providing good information is an important prerequisite for “finding the party with which you agree the most”. Both would therefore like young people to be more empowered to form a political opinion. They themselves tend to use traditional formats for this. “Daily news, Wahl-O-Mat, radio”, Christoph lists. Social media, especially TikTok, does not play a role for him as a source of information.
Christoph does not take it for granted that politics is a compulsory subject at vocational schools. At the grammar school he previously attended, he was able to opt out of politics in sixth grade in favor of geography. According to the current ranking of political education at Bielefeld University, this is not an isolated case. “The learning times for civic education vary inexplicably across the federal states, but also between school types within a state”, the report states. According to the report, vocational schoolsperform better than grammar schools.
BBS I in Lüneburg is proof of this. It has been taking part in the Junior Election for many years. It is the largest school project on political education, in which pupils can gain their first experience of democracy through the election simulation. Before the 2024 European elections, 5,600 schools have registered for the Junior Election.
Video competition for advertising spot for the European elections
But the junior election is not the only preparation for the first-time voters. “We went through the European elections from A to Z in our politics lessons and looked at the tasks of the EU Parliament”, explains Silke Grohmann, Head of the Politics Team at BBS I. Many students were amazed when they learned how much it had to do with their own lives – for example, the issue of roaming charges.
The school has also held a video competition to motivate first-time voters to take part in the elections. The best spot, chosen by the pupils themselves, will now be shown at the start of the Junior Election, and the school is also trying to get it shown at the cinema in Lüneburg.
At the end of May, the school also held two “political party days”. Representatives of the major political parties were invited to the school forum to answer the pupils’ questions. Table.Briefings was able to guide the pupils through the day on-site. On the day of the event, the pupils were given questionnaires on four topics: Europe, democracy, environmental protection and climate change, migration and asylum policy. They were asked to question the politicians on these topics. “I’mamazed at how interested the pupilsare“, says Silke Grohmann, looking at the lively discussions at the stands.
AfD was uninvited after court ruling
What is also noticeable is that more young people are coming to stands with younger party representatives. The 22-year-old Young Socialist Hannah Koch is not surprised: “We ask ourselves very similar questions to the pupils here and share their concerns about the future.” Pascal Mennen, member of the state parliament for the Greens and a former teacher himself, adds: “Young people see themselves as political outsiders, they experience that little is done for their interests”. It is therefore important to meet them at eye level in discussions.
This is a recurring topic in the discussions: the AfD. They were originally also invited, but then uninvited. There is a note on the worksheets: The school decided to take this step following the ruling by the Münster Higher Administrative Court in mid-May, after the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. The decision was preceded by a long discussion, says the principal, “but we have to make sure that what is said at the stands is in line with the constitution”. Lüdemann is concerned about the positive attitude of many pupils towards the AfD.
Hands-on campaign on June 6 for democracy and diversity
But perhaps the students’ open criticism of the exclusion of the AfD is also evidence of the strong political work at the school: There is room for discussion. This is not a matter of course, as a survey by the Vodafone Foundation shows. According to the survey, only one in two young people aged between 14 and 20 experience school as a space for an open and respectful exchange of opinions.
This is exactly what the BBS I in Lüneburg wants to make possible. That is why the school is also taking part in the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s“#IstandUp – Schools for Democracy and Diversity” campaign on June 6. In the run-up to the European elections, the initiative under the patronage of the Federal President is calling on schools of all grades and school types to symbolically climb onto tables or chairs on the day of action to set an example for democracy and diversity. So far, more than 1,500 schools have registered for the initiative.
Politische Bildung
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News
Meseberg: What Berlin and Paris can agree on
The previous day in Dresden, Emmanuel Macron had called for the EU budget to be doubled, but this was no longer mentioned in the joint declaration at the Franco-German Ministerial Council on Tuesday at Schloss Meseberg. In the seven-page paper, Berlin and Paris merely refer to the high level of investment required in the coming years. However, the declaration remains vague on the question of financing. There is no mention of a budget increase in the declaration – the German government is putting the brakes on.
When asked about this at the press conference, Macron replied that there had already been two special budgets in the EU that had reached the volume of the normal EU budget. He mentioned the so-called Juncker Plan and the Corona Recovery Fund with a volume of €750 billion. With his speech in Dresden on Monday, he did not want to say that the EU budget itself had to be doubled.
Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agree – as before – that a large part of the investment must come from the private sector. The means to this end should be the Capital Markets Union, but there are still disagreements between Germany and France on the details. For France, greater centralization of market supervision is essential. While Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems willing to make concessions here, Minister Lindner is opposed. The compromise wording, which is difficult to understand, mentions a “more effective” role for European supervisory authorities as an example of how the convergence of capital market supervision could be ensured. However, “the interests of all member states must be taken into account”.
Public procurement to be reformed
The ministers also agreed to make greater use of public procurement “to promote green lead markets and strengthen Europe’s resilience”. This is to be achieved by revising the public procurement directives from 2014. The criteria should take greater account of innovation, environmental and resilience aspects.
On Friday, the EU industry ministers at the Competitiveness Council in Brussels also spoke out in favor of revising the awarding of contracts. By taking greater account of qualitative criteria, the price criterion should become less important. This should make it possible for public contracts to be carried out by companies that adhere to European standards.
Restraint urged with REACH
France and Germany are also calling on Brussels not to burdenthe chemical industry with new environmental protection requirements that could further restrict the sector’s competitiveness. The revision of the EU chemicals regulation (REACH) should pursue a risk-based approach “instead of banning products across the board”, according to the joint declaration.
The amendment to REACH has already been postponed by the Commission for two years and is now to be implemented by the next college. This could include a tightening of the authorization restrictions for so-called perpetual chemicals (PFAS). Although PFAS are in some cases extremely harmful to the environment, they are currently still irreplaceable in a large number of industrial and consumer goods. The chemical industry has been warning of a blanket ban for some time. Berlin and Paris are now apparently backing these warnings.
Franco-German long-range missiles
Germany and France also want to develop long-range missiles together. “France and Germany will enter into long-term, comprehensive and inclusive cooperation with partners in the field of long-range stand-off weapons”, according to a declaration adopted in Meseberg. This should also serve to strengthen the European arms industry.
Both governments agreed on the “central importance of nuclear deterrence for the security of Europe and NATO”, it said. This also applies to the deterrent role of the French strategic nuclear forces. There is an awareness that the deterrence and defense system is based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities, supplemented by space and cyber capabilities. jaa/luk/rtr
Deutsch-Französische Beziehungen
Why pressure is mounting on Berlin to allow Ukraine to strike back at Russia
Ukraine’s right to self-defense also includes attacks on legitimate military targets in Russia, emphasized Jens Stoltenberg at the meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on Tuesday. The NATO Secretary General thus increased the pressure on Germany and other allies, who have so far prohibited Ukraine from using Western weapons for counter-attacks on military logistics or airfields in Russia.
Now is the time to reconsider these restrictions, said Stoltenberg. The fiercest fighting was taking place in the Kharkiv region, on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Part of this border is also the front line. It was difficult for the Ukrainian armed forces to defend themselves if they could not attack military targets such as artillery positions on the other side of the border.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell confirmed that the Western restrictions on the use of the weapons had also been discussed behind closed doors. Some defense ministers had said that they would consider lifting the restrictions, said Borrell. “One and a half to two” member states were ready to take this step. However, the number would certainly change in the coming days.
Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and colleagues from other eastern EU and NATO states rejected the warnings of a risk of escalation: he hoped that all countries supplying weapons would refrain from imposing restrictions. It was not “normal” that Ukraine should not attack positions from which it was being attacked. Speaking for the Netherlands, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that her country had never ruled out using them against targets in Russia: “I hope that other countries will change their position”. The Ukrainians fought with one hand tied behind their backs.
Macron: ‘Only military units, no civilian targets’
Francealso supports attacks on military units in Russia. President Emmanuel Macron said at the Franco-German Defense and Security Council that it was the Russian side that had changed its strategy and was attacking Ukraine from bases deep in Russian territory. However, only military units and not civilian targets needed to be attacked. “If we approach this in a very targeted manner, it should be possible”, said Macron.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz replied to the question of how he assessed this: “Ukraine has every opportunity under international law to defend itself. It has been attacked.” Scholz rejected the claim that Kyiv had been restricted at this point. “That has never happened – and never will.”
Borrell emphasized that the EU could not force any member state to lift the restrictions on weapons. However, it is legitimate under international law tosupply Ukraine with weapons for military targetsin Russia. Russia could currently attack Ukraine from a protected area, so to speak.
Washington would also have to rethink its stance
The question is whether Ukraine will be allowed to use the F-16 fighter jets for attacks in Russia if European allies such as the Netherlands or Denmark deliver the first US-made aircraft, possibly before the summer. Washington also has a say here and the USA, like Germany, has been reluctant to date.
Belgium’s head of government Alexander De Croo announced on Tuesday at a reception for President Volodymyr Selensky in Brussels that his country would provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028. The first aircraft are due to arrive this year. However, De Croo also emphasized that the fighter jets may only be used for missions on Ukrainian territory.
Efforts to supply Ukraine with additional air defense systems were also discussed at the meeting of defense ministers. Ukraine has announced a need for seven additional Patriot systems to protect larger cities and civilian infrastructure. Germany is the only ally to have supplied an additional system to date. Patriot systems are in short supply in Europe, said Dutch Defense Minister Ollongren. She was in talks with partners to see who could at least supply individual components. The aim is to be able to jointly assemble and deliver an entire Patriot system. According to Ollongren, this is only possible together. sti/stb
Verteidigungspolitik
Georgia adopts law on the control of civil society
Despite weeks of mass protests and criticism from Brussels, the Georgian parliament has finally passeda law to tighten controls on civil society. On Tuesday, 84 of the 150 members of parliament voted in favor of the law. The parliament thus also overruled a veto by pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili.
The ruling Georgian Dream party is thus tightening the accountability of non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. It justifies this with greater transparency. The debate in parliament on Tuesday was again characterized by fierce accusations from the government and the opposition.
Opposition MP Anna Zitlidze accused the political leadership of pursuing a “thoughtless policy” that would block Georgia’s path to the EU and cause many problems for the country. Parliamentary leader Shalva Papuashvili in turn accused the opposition MPs of acting not in the national interest, but in the interest of other countries.
Borrell criticizes regression
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell expressly regretted the adoption of the law. He said it violated fundamental EU values and represented a step backward on Georgia’s path to accession. “We urge the Georgian authorities to reverse this trend and return resolutely to the EU path“, said Borrell.
Thousands of people once again gathered in front of parliament to protest against the law. The police were also present with a large contingent. The demonstrators insulted representatives of Georgian Dream as “traitors” and “Russians”. In their opinion, the regulation is intended to silence critical organizations. They see parallels with the law passed in Russia against so-called foreign agents. This has been used by the Kremlin for years to suppress the opposition and independent media. dpa/tho
Netherlands: Who Wilders will make head of government
The former head of the secret service and anti-terrorism agency, Dick Schoof (67), is to become the new head of government of the Netherlands. This was announced by the four future coalition parties in The Hague on Tuesday. Schoof, who has no party affiliation, is currently the highest civil servant in the Ministry of Justice. He is to lead the most right-wing government in the country’s history and succeed current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is to become NATO Secretary General.
Schoof explained that he wanted to work to restore citizens’ trust in the state. “I want to be Prime Minister of all Dutch people.” He also reiterated that he is non-partisan and does not want to lead the government as a representative of the radical right-wing populist Geert Wilders. Wilders spoke of a good choice. “He stands above the parties and has our trust.” Schoof also has extensive experience.
New head of government used to be a Social Democrat
To make the coalition possible, Wilders renounced the office of head of government and some of his most controversial demands, such as the ban on mosques. Half of the cabinet is to consist of non-professional politicians. It is expected that the Dutch king will be able to swear in the new government in around four weeks.
Schoof has not made any political appearances to date, but was a member of the Social Democratic Party until a few years ago. He is considered an expert on security and migration – two key issues for the right-wing coalition partners. Schoof was head of the intelligence and security service AIVD, coordinator in the fight against terrorism, and also director of the Immigration Service. dpa
Niederlande
Investing in AI: Why the EU Court of Auditors gives the Commission a bad report card
The European Court of Auditors has given the Commission a fair to poorrating for its performance in building a competitive ecosystem for artificial intelligence. Despite considerable efforts and investments, the EU is unable to keep pace with leading global players, the auditors state in a recent report. They criticize that the measures taken by the Commission and the member states have only hada limited impact on the development of the AI ecosystem.
“Extensive and targeted investment in AI will have a decisive impact on economic growth in the EU in the coming years”, says Mihails Kozlovs. He is the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the audit. In the race for AI, there is a risk that the winner takes all in the end. “To achieve the ambitious EU goals, the European Commission and the EU countries must join forces more effectively, act faster, and make better use of the EU’s potential“, says Kozlovs. Only then can this major technological revolution be successfully mastered.
Europe lags behind in AI investments
Since 2018, the EU has been pursuing ambitious plans to promote AI technologies in order to take on a global leadership role. These plans were intended to increase investment in AI and adapt the regulatory environment. However, investment has fallen short of expectations. According to the report, the Commission and member states have not coordinatedtheir actionseffectively, as the Commission lacks the necessary governance tools and up-to-date targets.
Delayed infrastructure projects are a significant problem. Many projects that were intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not yet fully operational. “The implementation of infrastructure and capital support for SMEs for the introduction of AI technologies took time so that no significant results had been achieved at the time of the audit”, the auditors criticize.
The investment gap has more than doubled
Compared to other regions of the world, Europe is clearly lagging behind. “While EU AI investment increased steadily over the 2018-2020 period and exceeded the EU’s AI targets, the gap between the United States and the EU in AI investment more than doubled between 2018 and 2020″, the report states. Specifically, the gap grewto €10.5 billion in 2020.
The Court of Auditors also criticizes the inadequate monitoring and use of research results. It found that the Commission only carried out partial checks to ensure that the results of research and innovation (R&I) funded from the EU budget in the field of AI were marketed or otherwise used.
Commission to better evaluate and coordinate measures
To address these shortcomings, the Court recommends that the Commission reassessthe EU investment target for AI and reach clear agreements with member states on how they can contribute to achieving the target. The Commission should evaluate whether specific instruments are needed to provide capital support to innovative SMEs and ensure that AI infrastructure is deployed in a coordinated manner.
In addition, the auditors call for the definition of specific performance targets and indicators as well as their regular monitoring. The Commission must take stronger measures to promote the use of the results of EU-funded AI research and systematically monitor the results after the projects have been completed.
The bottom line is that the EU needs to rethinkits strategies for promoting AI technologies and implement them more effectively to be successful in global competition. The recently adopted AI Act could help to establish the EU as an attractive location for AI development. However, it is still too early to assess this, said Kozlovs. vis
Digitalpolitik
KMU
DSA: Where the Commission sees initial successes
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is having a positive impact – at least that’s how the EU Commission sees it. One example: Meta has reactivatedits Crowdtangle analysis tool and even introduced new functions ahead of the European elections. However, the elections in the USA will not benefit from this, as it will no longer be available after Aug. 14.
On April 30, the Commission initiated formal proceedings against Meta under the DSA, among other things due to the discontinuation and planned abolition of Crowdtangle. The analysis tool allows researchers, journalists and civil society to track which posts on Facebook or Instagram were particularly successful. It is also used to monitor elections. The Commission criticized the fact that the tool was to be discontinued just before the European elections without an adequate replacement.
One dashboard per country
Meta has now extended the term and implemented new features in Crowdtangle: 27 new dashboards, one for each member state, to allow third parties real-time monitoring of civil discourse and electoral processes. “We welcome this announcement because, under the DSA, Very Large Online Platforms and search engines must assess and mitigate risks posed by their services, including those related to the protection of electoral processes”, a Commission spokesperson said in Brussels on Tuesday.
The Commission now wants to monitorthe effective introduction of these new measures and functions. The formal procedures are still ongoing. The integrity of the European elections is currently one of the Commission’s priorities under the DSA.
This development would not have happened without the DSA, said Prabhat Agarwal, Head of Unit at DG Connect, at the Republica digital trade fair in Berlin. He observed a “very positive dynamic of the DSA“. Many people within the platforms who wanted to do the right thing at a working level saw themselves strengthened by the DSA. They now have the opportunity to suggest internal improvements. The discussions that the Commission has with many platforms about the implementation of the DSA are often fruitful. The DSA monitoring team at the Commission now has 125 employees, 25 of whom have a technical background.
Delegated acts coming soon
In parallel, the team is still working on two delegated acts on the DSA, which are due to be published in the coming weeks. This also involves the uniform legal framework for transparency reports. Initially, companies were able to design their transparency reports themselves. The Commission wants to put the new legal framework up for discussion once again. The DSA offers scientists, for example, far-reaching access to internal data. According to the Commission, it is the only legal instrument in the world that grants such access.
Overall, however, the Commission would like to see greater support from civil society for monitoring. However, the financing of these activities is a difficult question. Under the DSA, the supervised companies finance their own monitoring. They pay a fee for this. However, the Commission may only use this fee for its own organization and not pass it on to third parties.
The work surrounding the DSA will not decrease: Before the summer break, the Commission will also designate the Chinese internet retailer Temu as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). vis
Europawahlen 2024
IMF: Why climate action strengthens Europe’s energy security
Higher CO2 prices, stricter energy efficiency regulations and accelerated approval procedures for renewable energies are improving Europe’s energy security. A new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concludes that Europe’s commitment to climate action has had a positive impact on the continent’s energy independence.
Long before Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, Europe “came to rely increasingly on imported energy from ever fewer suppliers.” The IMF analyzed that economic resilience to energy disruptions had been deteriorating for 13 years.
Europe’s climate legislation, the Fit for 55 package, reverses this decades-long deterioration in energy security. If the targets are met, energy security will improve by eight percent by 2030. If the climate action measures were also continued beyond 2030 as planned, this would result in further improvements, the authors write. luk
Climate & Environment
Climate policy
Financial policy
Finanzpolitik
Hydrogen: EU Commission approves €1.4 billion in funding
Germany and six other EU countries have been granted €1.4 billion to support the hydrogen industry in the fight against climate change. The EU Commission approved the state aid on Tuesday, as the authority announced. Among others, Airbus and BMW are the only car manufacturers to participate in the projects. In addition to Germany, Estonia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain are also involved in the so-called project of common European interest (IPCEI).
The funding that has now been approved is earmarked for a total of 13 different projects. It is also expected that €3.3 billion of private investment will be mobilized for the projects. For example, the aim is to develop high-performance fuel cell technologies with sufficient output to power ships and trains. Another project is reportedly concerned with developing lightweight and stable hydrogen tanks that can be used safely in aircraft. The Commission expects a total of around 3,600 jobs to be created directly as a result of the projects and more to be created indirectly.
On Tuesday, the EU Commission also approved a further IPCEI, which, among other things, can be used to fund the discovery of new drugsfor rare diseases with up to €1 billion. Companies from six EU countries, including France, Spain and Italy, are involved in the projects. dpa
Beihilfen
Critical raw materials: How the EU and Australia want to cooperate
The EU and Australia signed a declaration of intent for a bilateral raw materials partnership on Tuesday. This concerns critical and strategic raw materials in which the EU wants to diversify its imports. Australia has significant deposits of raw materials declared strategically important by the EU in the Critical Raw Materials Act, such as lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt. The partnership covers the entire value chain of these minerals, from exploration to mining, processing and recycling.
The EU and Australia are pursuing three main objectives with the declaration of intent:
Integrate and network sustainable and resilient raw material value chains; jointly facilitate projects, for example through joint ventures;
collaborate on research and development, for example to minimize the ecological footprint;
promote high environmental, social and governance standards and practices, including worker safety.
In addition, both partners also want to examine joint cooperation with other countries in which they have common interests. The focus here will be on reducing environmental impacts and promoting local communities. Over the next six months, Australia and the EU intend to develop a concrete roadmap for the bilateral partnership.
Christine Singer: From the farmers’ association to the EU Parliament
Christine Singer, top candidate of the Free Voters for the European elections.
She is still a state farmer of the Bavarian Farmers’ Association and a district councilor in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but it is highly likely that she will soon be sitting in the European Parliament: Christine Singer is number one on the list of the Free Voters and therefore has a good chance of winning a seat in Strasbourg. The 58-year-old farmer does not see a conflict of interest in moving directly from the state board of the farmers’ association to the MEPs’ bench. “Anyone who knows me knows that I think outside the box, that I’m someone who talks to everyone”, she says.
She has gained valuable experience from her work at the farmers’ association because it is also about seeking dialogue between different stakeholders. “Engaging in dialogue, helping to shape the framework conditions and initiating the right things from a practitioner’s perspective – that’s what motivates me”, emphasizes Singer. The practitioner’s perspective – for her, this means above all less regulation, or in her words: less “bureaucratic madness”.
Deforestation ordinance an example of ‘impractical’ regulation
The EU deforestation regulation is a prime example of this. “The idea is right: We want to protect the primeval forests”, says Singer. But there are many problems with the design. For example, the fact that German companies are alsoexpected to fully comply with the new reporting obligations, which are considered impractical, from their implementation next year, even though the German Forest Act already effectively prevents deforestation. “I have recently visited many medium-sized companies who say: We can’t implement this”, reports Singer.
The Bavarian welcomes the fact that making things easier for the sector has become a political priority in the wake of the farmers’ protests: “I think politicians have realized that we can’t go on like this.” In the future, too, EU policy must ensure that laws are tailored to everyday life. Singer cannot understandcriticism from environmentalists that the concessions to agriculture would reduce sustainability standards: “These are precisely the people who don’t have feasibility in mind.”
Stricter trade rules to protect local businesses
She argues that if the pain threshold of small and medium-sized businesses were to be exceeded through excessive regulation, they would be forced out of the market and food would instead be imported from countries with lower standards. “I can’t even express what a high value it is that we can supply ourselves with food” – this should not be put at risk, warns Singer. The independent voter therefore supports the demand for mirror clauses in international trade.
“Trade agreements with third countries must meet the EU’s quality and process standards for ecological, social and economic reasons”, she states as one of her three core concerns on the party website. It is a popular demand in agricultural policy circles, but the scope for this under trade law is limited.
Close to the Union in terms of content
In line with her background, Singer would like to join the Agriculture Committee in Parliament. She would replace her party colleague Ulrike Müller, who is leaving the EU Parliament after two terms and is said to have ambitions in Bavarian politics. A fairly equivalent replacement: Both are from Bavaria, trained housekeepers and part of a farm themselves.
Singer could therefore become the only German representative of the liberal Renew group on the Agriculture Committee. The FDP is also a member of Renew on the German side, but none of its MEPs currently sit on the committee. In terms of content, the Free Voters are close to the CDU/CSU parties when it comes to agricultural policy issues. At the latest since EPP leader and CSU top candidate Manfred Weber declared his party to be the farmers’ party, both have been working in a similar field.
‘Networking is a matter close to our hearts’
“In Bavaria, we can see that the CSU and the Free Voters are courting agriculture“, admits Singer. But because group discipline plays a much smaller role in the EU Parliament than in the Bundestag, it depends on each individual MEP – and the Free Voters often tip the scales. The Renew Group has often been caught between two stools in recent years when the EPP drummed up opposition to environmental rules defended by the Greens and left-wing parties. Unlike their liberal group colleagues in France, for example, the Free Voters – like the FDP – usually voted with the Conservatives.
Ultimately, however, it is all about making your voice heard as a “farmer representative” in the European Parliament, regardless of party, networking and convincing stakeholders from other areas. Singer is convinced that she has precisely this ability – also thanks to her experience with rural women. “Networking is a matter close to the hearts of rural women: Getting together and addressing precisely the issues that are pressing.” jd
EU trade policy successes have become rare, but yesterday the EU was once again able to celebrate one – at least a small one. Early in the morning, the EU Commission announced that it had finally adopted a “partnership for critical and strategic minerals”with Australia, after negotiations for a genuine free trade agreement failed last year. Read more about this in the News.
It is still unclear whether the next Commission will be able to achieve more success in trade agreements. Tomorrow, however, the EU trade ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the role of trade policy in the coming legislative period. As is currently the case in other Council formations, the Trade Council will discuss the findings of the Letta report.
One recommendation that, according to an EU diplomat, is falling on receptive ears is the concern that trade agreementsshould no longer be “overloaded” with too many other issues. Mixed agreements pose major problems for the EU because ratification is much more difficult. The current example is CETA, the ratification of which could soon be made impossible by the French National Assembly.
The trade ministers will also discuss the disappointing results of the WTO Ministerial Conference in February from an EU perspective. “The status quo is no longer an option”, said an EU diplomat in a plea for a reform of the WTO. However, it is currently not clear how a reform should come about.
However, the trade ministers skillfully sidestepped another potential source of bad moods. The trade dispute between the USA and China and the pending investigation into the subsidization of Chinese EVs are not on the agenda. Instead, the trade ministers prefer to wait for the Commission’s decision, which is expected in the coming weeks.
Have a great day!
Your János Allenbach-Ammann
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Feature
Middle East conflict: Why the EU is divided on the recognition of Palestine
The Palestinian ambassador to Germany, Laith Arafeh, has called on the German government in Berlin to recognize Palestine swiftly. “We hope that the German government will accelerate its efforts and join the majority of 143 states worldwide thathave recognized Palestine as a legitimate member of the international community“, he told Table.Briefings. “We would like to see Germany play a more active political role”, Arafeh said. “In order not to lose relevance, it is therefore important that the German government adapts to the speed of events and recognizes the fact that after decades of occupation, Palestine has the right to independence – and the Palestinian people to live in freedom.”
Norway, Spain and Ireland had already announced last week that they would recognize Palestine as a state – a step that was taken on Tuesday. At the Palacio de la Moncloa government headquarters in Madrid, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “This is a historic decision that has a single goal: To help the Israelis and the Palestinians achieve peace.” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed similar sentiments, describing “two states living side by side in peace and security” as the only possible political solution between Israelis and Palestinians. “You can’t have a two-state solution if you don’t recognize the existence of both states,” said Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin on Tuesday.
Berlin and Paris insist on negotiations
The German government in Berlin sees things differently – as do the majority of the 27 EU states, the USA and the UK. Just last week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that, given many unresolved issues such as the Palestinian territory, “we are not there yet”. What is needed instead is “a negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians that amounts to a two-state solution”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also called for new negotiations on a two-state solution at the Franco-German Defense and Security Council on Tuesday and made it clear that he had great sympathy for the initiative from Norway, Spain and Ireland. “As a representative of France, I am fully prepared to recognize the creation of a Palestinian state.”
In a vote at the UN General Assembly two weeks ago, Germany and 24 other members abstained from voting – 143, however, voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state.
The foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Nils Schmid, defended the German government’s stance to Table.Briefings, but expressed understanding for the three EU partners who did not want to wait any longer. “Three decades after the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian side cannot be put off again for a protracted negotiation process”, said Schmid. “The time has now come for a package solution that brings Israel normalization through the Arab states – in return for which the Israeli government must recognize a Palestinian state.”
Sweden already recognized Palestine in 2014
However, Schmid pointed out that central questions of Palestinian statehood remain unresolved. For example, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has less political influence today than it did ten years ago, and corruptionis still widespread in the Palestinian administration. In addition, there is a lack of democratic legitimacy, as the last elections in the Palestinian territories took place in 2006. At that time, the Islamist Hamas emerged victorious from the ballot,but this was not recognized by either the USA or the EU.
In 2014, Sweden was the first EU member state to recognize a Palestinian state; Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania had already done so before joining the EU. At the time, Sweden hoped that this would speed upthe peace process and pave the way for a two-state solution.
Netanyahu main obstacle to two-state solution
Ten years later, Norway is now trying again: Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that recognition would not end the war in Gaza, but that it was “a key component” for a peace initiative under Arab leadership.
Almost eight months after the Hamas terror attack on Israel, the chances of a two-state solution are also so poor because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to recognize a Palestinian state. Even Saudi Arabia, which had sought to establish diplomatic relations with Israel until the start of the Gaza war, is now distancing itself from Netanyahu. The main reason is the unwillingness of Netanyahu’s government to recognize a Palestinian state side by side with Israel. With Stefan Braun
Ireland
Spain
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European elections: How a vocational school prepares first-time voters
The European elections are just a few days away. 60.9 million Germans can cast their vote on June 9, and for the first time, young people aged 16 and overcan vote. In addition to Germany, this is also the case in Austria, Belgium and Malta. However, a representative Greenpeace survey of 16 to 23-year-olds shows that many young people are not well prepared for their first election. The most important results of the survey:
Two-thirds of young voters want to vote.
However, only three-quarters know that the European elections are on June 9.
Three-quarters are also aware that young people aged 16 and over can vote. Among 16/17-year-olds, the figure is as high as 79%.
64 percent think that the EU Parliament fulfills important tasks, but four-fifths do not feel well informed about its tasks.
According to the respondents, the level of information about the parties is rather low. The AfD achieved the highest score (50 percent).
Schools are in demand when it comes to political education. Heiko Lüdemann, who has been principal of BBS I in Lüneburg for nine years, agrees. The vocational school with 2,130 students offers 23 dual vocational training courses, mainly in the fields of business and administration. Young people can also complete all school-leaving qualifications here. The student body iscorrespondingly heterogeneous. “For many, attending the BBS is a second or third chance to gain a school-leaving qualification”, explains the principal during the visit to Table.Briefings. And he also says: “Many come from families that have little interest in democracy and politics. They live in their filter bubble, don’t move out of their personal environments, they often lack ‘world knowledge’, as we call it.” Political opinion-forming and participation are alien to many.
Workshop on dealing with bar-room clichés
However, BBS I, which is also one of the top 20 schools for the German School Award 2024, wants to empower its pupils to do just that. As a “school against racism”, for example, it recently held an argumentation training course against racism and a workshop on dealing with so-called bar-room clichés. And as a European school that offers many internships abroad in the EU as part of Erasmus+, it also wants to prepare pupils for the European elections.
Erja (23) and Christoph (21), who are doing a dual apprenticeship as a real estate agent at the school, have noticed that interest in politics varies greatly in their class. Those who are not interested often do not go to the polls. However, Erja also says: “Disinterest often arises because young peopleare not informed.” Christoph believes that providing good information is an important prerequisite for “finding the party with which you agree the most”. Both would therefore like young people to be more empowered to form a political opinion. They themselves tend to use traditional formats for this. “Daily news, Wahl-O-Mat, radio”, Christoph lists. Social media, especially TikTok, does not play a role for him as a source of information.
Christoph does not take it for granted that politics is a compulsory subject at vocational schools. At the grammar school he previously attended, he was able to opt out of politics in sixth grade in favor of geography. According to the current ranking of political education at Bielefeld University, this is not an isolated case. “The learning times for civic education vary inexplicably across the federal states, but also between school types within a state”, the report states. According to the report, vocational schoolsperform better than grammar schools.
BBS I in Lüneburg is proof of this. It has been taking part in the Junior Election for many years. It is the largest school project on political education, in which pupils can gain their first experience of democracy through the election simulation. Before the 2024 European elections, 5,600 schools have registered for the Junior Election.
Video competition for advertising spot for the European elections
But the junior election is not the only preparation for the first-time voters. “We went through the European elections from A to Z in our politics lessons and looked at the tasks of the EU Parliament”, explains Silke Grohmann, Head of the Politics Team at BBS I. Many students were amazed when they learned how much it had to do with their own lives – for example, the issue of roaming charges.
The school has also held a video competition to motivate first-time voters to take part in the elections. The best spot, chosen by the pupils themselves, will now be shown at the start of the Junior Election, and the school is also trying to get it shown at the cinema in Lüneburg.
At the end of May, the school also held two “political party days”. Representatives of the major political parties were invited to the school forum to answer the pupils’ questions. Table.Briefings was able to guide the pupils through the day on-site. On the day of the event, the pupils were given questionnaires on four topics: Europe, democracy, environmental protection and climate change, migration and asylum policy. They were asked to question the politicians on these topics. “I’mamazed at how interested the pupilsare“, says Silke Grohmann, looking at the lively discussions at the stands.
AfD was uninvited after court ruling
What is also noticeable is that more young people are coming to stands with younger party representatives. The 22-year-old Young Socialist Hannah Koch is not surprised: “We ask ourselves very similar questions to the pupils here and share their concerns about the future.” Pascal Mennen, member of the state parliament for the Greens and a former teacher himself, adds: “Young people see themselves as political outsiders, they experience that little is done for their interests”. It is therefore important to meet them at eye level in discussions.
This is a recurring topic in the discussions: the AfD. They were originally also invited, but then uninvited. There is a note on the worksheets: The school decided to take this step following the ruling by the Münster Higher Administrative Court in mid-May, after the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. The decision was preceded by a long discussion, says the principal, “but we have to make sure that what is said at the stands is in line with the constitution”. Lüdemann is concerned about the positive attitude of many pupils towards the AfD.
Hands-on campaign on June 6 for democracy and diversity
But perhaps the students’ open criticism of the exclusion of the AfD is also evidence of the strong political work at the school: There is room for discussion. This is not a matter of course, as a survey by the Vodafone Foundation shows. According to the survey, only one in two young people aged between 14 and 20 experience school as a space for an open and respectful exchange of opinions.
This is exactly what the BBS I in Lüneburg wants to make possible. That is why the school is also taking part in the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s“#IstandUp – Schools for Democracy and Diversity” campaign on June 6. In the run-up to the European elections, the initiative under the patronage of the Federal President is calling on schools of all grades and school types to symbolically climb onto tables or chairs on the day of action to set an example for democracy and diversity. So far, more than 1,500 schools have registered for the initiative.
Politische Bildung
Translation missing.
News
Meseberg: What Berlin and Paris can agree on
The previous day in Dresden, Emmanuel Macron had called for the EU budget to be doubled, but this was no longer mentioned in the joint declaration at the Franco-German Ministerial Council on Tuesday at Schloss Meseberg. In the seven-page paper, Berlin and Paris merely refer to the high level of investment required in the coming years. However, the declaration remains vague on the question of financing. There is no mention of a budget increase in the declaration – the German government is putting the brakes on.
When asked about this at the press conference, Macron replied that there had already been two special budgets in the EU that had reached the volume of the normal EU budget. He mentioned the so-called Juncker Plan and the Corona Recovery Fund with a volume of €750 billion. With his speech in Dresden on Monday, he did not want to say that the EU budget itself had to be doubled.
Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agree – as before – that a large part of the investment must come from the private sector. The means to this end should be the Capital Markets Union, but there are still disagreements between Germany and France on the details. For France, greater centralization of market supervision is essential. While Chancellor Olaf Scholz seems willing to make concessions here, Minister Lindner is opposed. The compromise wording, which is difficult to understand, mentions a “more effective” role for European supervisory authorities as an example of how the convergence of capital market supervision could be ensured. However, “the interests of all member states must be taken into account”.
Public procurement to be reformed
The ministers also agreed to make greater use of public procurement “to promote green lead markets and strengthen Europe’s resilience”. This is to be achieved by revising the public procurement directives from 2014. The criteria should take greater account of innovation, environmental and resilience aspects.
On Friday, the EU industry ministers at the Competitiveness Council in Brussels also spoke out in favor of revising the awarding of contracts. By taking greater account of qualitative criteria, the price criterion should become less important. This should make it possible for public contracts to be carried out by companies that adhere to European standards.
Restraint urged with REACH
France and Germany are also calling on Brussels not to burdenthe chemical industry with new environmental protection requirements that could further restrict the sector’s competitiveness. The revision of the EU chemicals regulation (REACH) should pursue a risk-based approach “instead of banning products across the board”, according to the joint declaration.
The amendment to REACH has already been postponed by the Commission for two years and is now to be implemented by the next college. This could include a tightening of the authorization restrictions for so-called perpetual chemicals (PFAS). Although PFAS are in some cases extremely harmful to the environment, they are currently still irreplaceable in a large number of industrial and consumer goods. The chemical industry has been warning of a blanket ban for some time. Berlin and Paris are now apparently backing these warnings.
Franco-German long-range missiles
Germany and France also want to develop long-range missiles together. “France and Germany will enter into long-term, comprehensive and inclusive cooperation with partners in the field of long-range stand-off weapons”, according to a declaration adopted in Meseberg. This should also serve to strengthen the European arms industry.
Both governments agreed on the “central importance of nuclear deterrence for the security of Europe and NATO”, it said. This also applies to the deterrent role of the French strategic nuclear forces. There is an awareness that the deterrence and defense system is based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities, supplemented by space and cyber capabilities. jaa/luk/rtr
Deutsch-Französische Beziehungen
Why pressure is mounting on Berlin to allow Ukraine to strike back at Russia
Ukraine’s right to self-defense also includes attacks on legitimate military targets in Russia, emphasized Jens Stoltenberg at the meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on Tuesday. The NATO Secretary General thus increased the pressure on Germany and other allies, who have so far prohibited Ukraine from using Western weapons for counter-attacks on military logistics or airfields in Russia.
Now is the time to reconsider these restrictions, said Stoltenberg. The fiercest fighting was taking place in the Kharkiv region, on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Part of this border is also the front line. It was difficult for the Ukrainian armed forces to defend themselves if they could not attack military targets such as artillery positions on the other side of the border.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell confirmed that the Western restrictions on the use of the weapons had also been discussed behind closed doors. Some defense ministers had said that they would consider lifting the restrictions, said Borrell. “One and a half to two” member states were ready to take this step. However, the number would certainly change in the coming days.
Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and colleagues from other eastern EU and NATO states rejected the warnings of a risk of escalation: he hoped that all countries supplying weapons would refrain from imposing restrictions. It was not “normal” that Ukraine should not attack positions from which it was being attacked. Speaking for the Netherlands, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that her country had never ruled out using them against targets in Russia: “I hope that other countries will change their position”. The Ukrainians fought with one hand tied behind their backs.
Macron: ‘Only military units, no civilian targets’
Francealso supports attacks on military units in Russia. President Emmanuel Macron said at the Franco-German Defense and Security Council that it was the Russian side that had changed its strategy and was attacking Ukraine from bases deep in Russian territory. However, only military units and not civilian targets needed to be attacked. “If we approach this in a very targeted manner, it should be possible”, said Macron.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz replied to the question of how he assessed this: “Ukraine has every opportunity under international law to defend itself. It has been attacked.” Scholz rejected the claim that Kyiv had been restricted at this point. “That has never happened – and never will.”
Borrell emphasized that the EU could not force any member state to lift the restrictions on weapons. However, it is legitimate under international law tosupply Ukraine with weapons for military targetsin Russia. Russia could currently attack Ukraine from a protected area, so to speak.
Washington would also have to rethink its stance
The question is whether Ukraine will be allowed to use the F-16 fighter jets for attacks in Russia if European allies such as the Netherlands or Denmark deliver the first US-made aircraft, possibly before the summer. Washington also has a say here and the USA, like Germany, has been reluctant to date.
Belgium’s head of government Alexander De Croo announced on Tuesday at a reception for President Volodymyr Selensky in Brussels that his country would provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028. The first aircraft are due to arrive this year. However, De Croo also emphasized that the fighter jets may only be used for missions on Ukrainian territory.
Efforts to supply Ukraine with additional air defense systems were also discussed at the meeting of defense ministers. Ukraine has announced a need for seven additional Patriot systems to protect larger cities and civilian infrastructure. Germany is the only ally to have supplied an additional system to date. Patriot systems are in short supply in Europe, said Dutch Defense Minister Ollongren. She was in talks with partners to see who could at least supply individual components. The aim is to be able to jointly assemble and deliver an entire Patriot system. According to Ollongren, this is only possible together. sti/stb
Verteidigungspolitik
Georgia adopts law on the control of civil society
Despite weeks of mass protests and criticism from Brussels, the Georgian parliament has finally passeda law to tighten controls on civil society. On Tuesday, 84 of the 150 members of parliament voted in favor of the law. The parliament thus also overruled a veto by pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili.
The ruling Georgian Dream party is thus tightening the accountability of non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. It justifies this with greater transparency. The debate in parliament on Tuesday was again characterized by fierce accusations from the government and the opposition.
Opposition MP Anna Zitlidze accused the political leadership of pursuing a “thoughtless policy” that would block Georgia’s path to the EU and cause many problems for the country. Parliamentary leader Shalva Papuashvili in turn accused the opposition MPs of acting not in the national interest, but in the interest of other countries.
Borrell criticizes regression
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell expressly regretted the adoption of the law. He said it violated fundamental EU values and represented a step backward on Georgia’s path to accession. “We urge the Georgian authorities to reverse this trend and return resolutely to the EU path“, said Borrell.
Thousands of people once again gathered in front of parliament to protest against the law. The police were also present with a large contingent. The demonstrators insulted representatives of Georgian Dream as “traitors” and “Russians”. In their opinion, the regulation is intended to silence critical organizations. They see parallels with the law passed in Russia against so-called foreign agents. This has been used by the Kremlin for years to suppress the opposition and independent media. dpa/tho
Netherlands: Who Wilders will make head of government
The former head of the secret service and anti-terrorism agency, Dick Schoof (67), is to become the new head of government of the Netherlands. This was announced by the four future coalition parties in The Hague on Tuesday. Schoof, who has no party affiliation, is currently the highest civil servant in the Ministry of Justice. He is to lead the most right-wing government in the country’s history and succeed current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is to become NATO Secretary General.
Schoof explained that he wanted to work to restore citizens’ trust in the state. “I want to be Prime Minister of all Dutch people.” He also reiterated that he is non-partisan and does not want to lead the government as a representative of the radical right-wing populist Geert Wilders. Wilders spoke of a good choice. “He stands above the parties and has our trust.” Schoof also has extensive experience.
New head of government used to be a Social Democrat
To make the coalition possible, Wilders renounced the office of head of government and some of his most controversial demands, such as the ban on mosques. Half of the cabinet is to consist of non-professional politicians. It is expected that the Dutch king will be able to swear in the new government in around four weeks.
Schoof has not made any political appearances to date, but was a member of the Social Democratic Party until a few years ago. He is considered an expert on security and migration – two key issues for the right-wing coalition partners. Schoof was head of the intelligence and security service AIVD, coordinator in the fight against terrorism, and also director of the Immigration Service. dpa
Niederlande
Investing in AI: Why the EU Court of Auditors gives the Commission a bad report card
The European Court of Auditors has given the Commission a fair to poorrating for its performance in building a competitive ecosystem for artificial intelligence. Despite considerable efforts and investments, the EU is unable to keep pace with leading global players, the auditors state in a recent report. They criticize that the measures taken by the Commission and the member states have only hada limited impact on the development of the AI ecosystem.
“Extensive and targeted investment in AI will have a decisive impact on economic growth in the EU in the coming years”, says Mihails Kozlovs. He is the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the audit. In the race for AI, there is a risk that the winner takes all in the end. “To achieve the ambitious EU goals, the European Commission and the EU countries must join forces more effectively, act faster, and make better use of the EU’s potential“, says Kozlovs. Only then can this major technological revolution be successfully mastered.
Europe lags behind in AI investments
Since 2018, the EU has been pursuing ambitious plans to promote AI technologies in order to take on a global leadership role. These plans were intended to increase investment in AI and adapt the regulatory environment. However, investment has fallen short of expectations. According to the report, the Commission and member states have not coordinatedtheir actionseffectively, as the Commission lacks the necessary governance tools and up-to-date targets.
Delayed infrastructure projects are a significant problem. Many projects that were intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not yet fully operational. “The implementation of infrastructure and capital support for SMEs for the introduction of AI technologies took time so that no significant results had been achieved at the time of the audit”, the auditors criticize.
The investment gap has more than doubled
Compared to other regions of the world, Europe is clearly lagging behind. “While EU AI investment increased steadily over the 2018-2020 period and exceeded the EU’s AI targets, the gap between the United States and the EU in AI investment more than doubled between 2018 and 2020″, the report states. Specifically, the gap grewto €10.5 billion in 2020.
The Court of Auditors also criticizes the inadequate monitoring and use of research results. It found that the Commission only carried out partial checks to ensure that the results of research and innovation (R&I) funded from the EU budget in the field of AI were marketed or otherwise used.
Commission to better evaluate and coordinate measures
To address these shortcomings, the Court recommends that the Commission reassessthe EU investment target for AI and reach clear agreements with member states on how they can contribute to achieving the target. The Commission should evaluate whether specific instruments are needed to provide capital support to innovative SMEs and ensure that AI infrastructure is deployed in a coordinated manner.
In addition, the auditors call for the definition of specific performance targets and indicators as well as their regular monitoring. The Commission must take stronger measures to promote the use of the results of EU-funded AI research and systematically monitor the results after the projects have been completed.
The bottom line is that the EU needs to rethinkits strategies for promoting AI technologies and implement them more effectively to be successful in global competition. The recently adopted AI Act could help to establish the EU as an attractive location for AI development. However, it is still too early to assess this, said Kozlovs. vis
Digitalpolitik
KMU
DSA: Where the Commission sees initial successes
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is having a positive impact – at least that’s how the EU Commission sees it. One example: Meta has reactivatedits Crowdtangle analysis tool and even introduced new functions ahead of the European elections. However, the elections in the USA will not benefit from this, as it will no longer be available after Aug. 14.
On April 30, the Commission initiated formal proceedings against Meta under the DSA, among other things due to the discontinuation and planned abolition of Crowdtangle. The analysis tool allows researchers, journalists and civil society to track which posts on Facebook or Instagram were particularly successful. It is also used to monitor elections. The Commission criticized the fact that the tool was to be discontinued just before the European elections without an adequate replacement.
One dashboard per country
Meta has now extended the term and implemented new features in Crowdtangle: 27 new dashboards, one for each member state, to allow third parties real-time monitoring of civil discourse and electoral processes. “We welcome this announcement because, under the DSA, Very Large Online Platforms and search engines must assess and mitigate risks posed by their services, including those related to the protection of electoral processes”, a Commission spokesperson said in Brussels on Tuesday.
The Commission now wants to monitorthe effective introduction of these new measures and functions. The formal procedures are still ongoing. The integrity of the European elections is currently one of the Commission’s priorities under the DSA.
This development would not have happened without the DSA, said Prabhat Agarwal, Head of Unit at DG Connect, at the Republica digital trade fair in Berlin. He observed a “very positive dynamic of the DSA“. Many people within the platforms who wanted to do the right thing at a working level saw themselves strengthened by the DSA. They now have the opportunity to suggest internal improvements. The discussions that the Commission has with many platforms about the implementation of the DSA are often fruitful. The DSA monitoring team at the Commission now has 125 employees, 25 of whom have a technical background.
Delegated acts coming soon
In parallel, the team is still working on two delegated acts on the DSA, which are due to be published in the coming weeks. This also involves the uniform legal framework for transparency reports. Initially, companies were able to design their transparency reports themselves. The Commission wants to put the new legal framework up for discussion once again. The DSA offers scientists, for example, far-reaching access to internal data. According to the Commission, it is the only legal instrument in the world that grants such access.
Overall, however, the Commission would like to see greater support from civil society for monitoring. However, the financing of these activities is a difficult question. Under the DSA, the supervised companies finance their own monitoring. They pay a fee for this. However, the Commission may only use this fee for its own organization and not pass it on to third parties.
The work surrounding the DSA will not decrease: Before the summer break, the Commission will also designate the Chinese internet retailer Temu as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). vis
Europawahlen 2024
IMF: Why climate action strengthens Europe’s energy security
Higher CO2 prices, stricter energy efficiency regulations and accelerated approval procedures for renewable energies are improving Europe’s energy security. A new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concludes that Europe’s commitment to climate action has had a positive impact on the continent’s energy independence.
Long before Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, Europe “came to rely increasingly on imported energy from ever fewer suppliers.” The IMF analyzed that economic resilience to energy disruptions had been deteriorating for 13 years.
Europe’s climate legislation, the Fit for 55 package, reverses this decades-long deterioration in energy security. If the targets are met, energy security will improve by eight percent by 2030. If the climate action measures were also continued beyond 2030 as planned, this would result in further improvements, the authors write. luk
Climate & Environment
Climate policy
Financial policy
Finanzpolitik
Hydrogen: EU Commission approves €1.4 billion in funding
Germany and six other EU countries have been granted €1.4 billion to support the hydrogen industry in the fight against climate change. The EU Commission approved the state aid on Tuesday, as the authority announced. Among others, Airbus and BMW are the only car manufacturers to participate in the projects. In addition to Germany, Estonia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain are also involved in the so-called project of common European interest (IPCEI).
The funding that has now been approved is earmarked for a total of 13 different projects. It is also expected that €3.3 billion of private investment will be mobilized for the projects. For example, the aim is to develop high-performance fuel cell technologies with sufficient output to power ships and trains. Another project is reportedly concerned with developing lightweight and stable hydrogen tanks that can be used safely in aircraft. The Commission expects a total of around 3,600 jobs to be created directly as a result of the projects and more to be created indirectly.
On Tuesday, the EU Commission also approved a further IPCEI, which, among other things, can be used to fund the discovery of new drugsfor rare diseases with up to €1 billion. Companies from six EU countries, including France, Spain and Italy, are involved in the projects. dpa
Beihilfen
Critical raw materials: How the EU and Australia want to cooperate
The EU and Australia signed a declaration of intent for a bilateral raw materials partnership on Tuesday. This concerns critical and strategic raw materials in which the EU wants to diversify its imports. Australia has significant deposits of raw materials declared strategically important by the EU in the Critical Raw Materials Act, such as lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt. The partnership covers the entire value chain of these minerals, from exploration to mining, processing and recycling.
The EU and Australia are pursuing three main objectives with the declaration of intent:
Integrate and network sustainable and resilient raw material value chains; jointly facilitate projects, for example through joint ventures;
collaborate on research and development, for example to minimize the ecological footprint;
promote high environmental, social and governance standards and practices, including worker safety.
In addition, both partners also want to examine joint cooperation with other countries in which they have common interests. The focus here will be on reducing environmental impacts and promoting local communities. Over the next six months, Australia and the EU intend to develop a concrete roadmap for the bilateral partnership.
Christine Singer: From the farmers’ association to the EU Parliament
Christine Singer, top candidate of the Free Voters for the European elections.
She is still a state farmer of the Bavarian Farmers’ Association and a district councilor in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but it is highly likely that she will soon be sitting in the European Parliament: Christine Singer is number one on the list of the Free Voters and therefore has a good chance of winning a seat in Strasbourg. The 58-year-old farmer does not see a conflict of interest in moving directly from the state board of the farmers’ association to the MEPs’ bench. “Anyone who knows me knows that I think outside the box, that I’m someone who talks to everyone”, she says.
She has gained valuable experience from her work at the farmers’ association because it is also about seeking dialogue between different stakeholders. “Engaging in dialogue, helping to shape the framework conditions and initiating the right things from a practitioner’s perspective – that’s what motivates me”, emphasizes Singer. The practitioner’s perspective – for her, this means above all less regulation, or in her words: less “bureaucratic madness”.
Deforestation ordinance an example of ‘impractical’ regulation
The EU deforestation regulation is a prime example of this. “The idea is right: We want to protect the primeval forests”, says Singer. But there are many problems with the design. For example, the fact that German companies are alsoexpected to fully comply with the new reporting obligations, which are considered impractical, from their implementation next year, even though the German Forest Act already effectively prevents deforestation. “I have recently visited many medium-sized companies who say: We can’t implement this”, reports Singer.
The Bavarian welcomes the fact that making things easier for the sector has become a political priority in the wake of the farmers’ protests: “I think politicians have realized that we can’t go on like this.” In the future, too, EU policy must ensure that laws are tailored to everyday life. Singer cannot understandcriticism from environmentalists that the concessions to agriculture would reduce sustainability standards: “These are precisely the people who don’t have feasibility in mind.”
Stricter trade rules to protect local businesses
She argues that if the pain threshold of small and medium-sized businesses were to be exceeded through excessive regulation, they would be forced out of the market and food would instead be imported from countries with lower standards. “I can’t even express what a high value it is that we can supply ourselves with food” – this should not be put at risk, warns Singer. The independent voter therefore supports the demand for mirror clauses in international trade.
“Trade agreements with third countries must meet the EU’s quality and process standards for ecological, social and economic reasons”, she states as one of her three core concerns on the party website. It is a popular demand in agricultural policy circles, but the scope for this under trade law is limited.
Close to the Union in terms of content
In line with her background, Singer would like to join the Agriculture Committee in Parliament. She would replace her party colleague Ulrike Müller, who is leaving the EU Parliament after two terms and is said to have ambitions in Bavarian politics. A fairly equivalent replacement: Both are from Bavaria, trained housekeepers and part of a farm themselves.
Singer could therefore become the only German representative of the liberal Renew group on the Agriculture Committee. The FDP is also a member of Renew on the German side, but none of its MEPs currently sit on the committee. In terms of content, the Free Voters are close to the CDU/CSU parties when it comes to agricultural policy issues. At the latest since EPP leader and CSU top candidate Manfred Weber declared his party to be the farmers’ party, both have been working in a similar field.
‘Networking is a matter close to our hearts’
“In Bavaria, we can see that the CSU and the Free Voters are courting agriculture“, admits Singer. But because group discipline plays a much smaller role in the EU Parliament than in the Bundestag, it depends on each individual MEP – and the Free Voters often tip the scales. The Renew Group has often been caught between two stools in recent years when the EPP drummed up opposition to environmental rules defended by the Greens and left-wing parties. Unlike their liberal group colleagues in France, for example, the Free Voters – like the FDP – usually voted with the Conservatives.
Ultimately, however, it is all about making your voice heard as a “farmer representative” in the European Parliament, regardless of party, networking and convincing stakeholders from other areas. Singer is convinced that she has precisely this ability – also thanks to her experience with rural women. “Networking is a matter close to the hearts of rural women: Getting together and addressing precisely the issues that are pressing.” jd
