EU summit agenda + Kallas on EU defense policy + EU Chamber of Commerce warns against China’s overproduction

Dear reader,

The international climate talks that will culminate in the COP29 in Baku in November begin this week. More than 30 ministers and special advisors are meeting in Copenhagen today and tomorrow for the informal Copenhagen Climate Ministerial (CCM). EU Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra will also be there to discuss what is to be decided in Baku for the first time since the last COP in Dubai.

The most important topic this year is climate financing. The $100 billion target, with which the rich industrialized nations are supposed to support developing countries every year since 2020, expires this year. A new financing target is needed. In any case, the previous target has caused more disappointment than confidence in the fight against climate change among the recipient countries, as it was simply not achieved in the first three years.

The new target is set to far exceed $100 billion. There is talk of up to $2.4 trillion from state and private sources. The rich industrialized nations, including the European countries, will probably continue to bear the main burden. However, discussions about new donor countries are also being driven forward in Copenhagen. In the spotlight: China and the rich oil states in the Middle East.

There will be no decision on donor countries and the amount in Copenhagen, but initial discussions on the architecture of the new target are likely to take place – albeit behind closed doors. The first public discussions in the COP process will follow at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin (probably in May) and at the interim climate conference in Bonn in June.

Your
Lukas Knigge

Arms aid for Ukraine – these topics will dominate the EU summit

Rarely does the EU Commission receive so much praise before a summit. There was much relief among the member states that the proposal for the use of Russian central bank funds is finally on the table: It was right to use the “windfall profits” for Ukraine, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He would insist at the summit that the funds be used quickly for what the country needs most urgently: Weapons and ammunition.

EU diplomats spoke of a “powerful proposal”. It was not only in Berlin that there had long been great skepticism about this premiere and the potential risks to the stability of the eurozone. Now they are happy that the lawyers have found a way forward. Most capitals accept that 90 percent of the initial €3 billion per year will be spent on armaments and not on reconstruction. Diplomats say that reconstruction is out of the question at the moment anyway.

The relief may also have to do with the fact that the member states are currently happy for every euro to support Ukraine on the defensive. In the background, pressure from the USA to provide Ukraine with central bank funds is also playing a role. The decision to quickly get serious about the revenues is intended to take some of the pressure off. The resistance of Hungary still needs to be overcome, according to Brussels. There is also skepticism among the neutral member states Austria and Malta.

Defense: Initial discussion about EDIP

There will also be an initial discussion at the summit on the Commission’s proposal for the European Defense Industrial Program (EDIP). More joint purchasing is needed, which will also make procurement cheaper, said Scholz. “Without creating a new competence for the European Union, however, much of the bureaucratic competition that prevents real cooperation must be abolished.”

A few years ago, industrial policy was taboo in Europe, emphasizes a high-ranking diplomat. Now it is possible to talk about a strategy for the European arms industry – that is a big step. How EDIP can be better funded is also likely to be a topic at the summit. The discussion is moving in the direction of changing the rules of the European Investment Bank so that it can be used more to finance defense-related projects.

In the run-up to the event, host Charles Michel had argued in a guest article for the issue of “European defense bonds”. However, frugal states such as Germany and the Netherlands reacted with reservation: The Council President had “rushed ahead of the debate somewhat”, according to government circles in Berlin.

Gaza: Struggle for unity

The EU summit is likely to be a disappointment for UN Secretary-General António Guterres and supporters of a more active Middle East policy. Guterres will be received for lunch at the start of the meeting. However, there are no signs of agreement on the issues that are close to his heart – support for the UN aid organization UNWRA and a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Chancellor Scholz rejects the demand for an immediate ceasefire. First, there must be an agreement on the release of the Hamas hostages, according to Berlin, which is thus going against the majority of EU states.

Spain and Ireland in particular are calling for more pressure on Israel. However, they were unable to get their way at the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday. There are no signs of any change at the summit. The draft resolution primarily addresses the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. It also calls on Israel to refrain from the announced ground offensive in Rafah.

But even this compromise formula is fragile. “If you pull on one thread here, you risk the entire sweater unraveling,” warns a high-ranking EU diplomat. Scholz acknowledged the differences of opinion. However, he hopes “that it will be possible to achieve a joint text that expresses unity”.

EU enlargement: starting signal for Bosnia

The upcoming decision to start accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina is also likely to cause discussion. Some countries, in particular the Baltic states and the Czech Republic, have so far linked their approval to faster progress in the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova. The Netherlands, on the other hand, has doubts as to whether Bosnia is ready for accession negotiations. Under pressure from his own parliament, Prime Minister Mark Rutte is therefore insisting that the actual negotiations at a technical level cannot begin until Bosnia-Herzegovina meets all the conditions formulated by the EU Commission in October 2022. This wording can now also be found in the draft conclusions.

Last week, the Commission confirmed that the tripartite country had made important progress with reforms, for example in the justice system, and spoke out in favor of opening accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The German government agreed with this after previous skepticism. The European Council had already cleared the way for Ukraine and Moldova to begin accession negotiations in December. Last week, the Commission presented the member states with proposals for the negotiating framework, but these are not expected to be a major topic at the summit.

On Wednesday, the authority also published an initial paper on the reforms that the EU itself should undergo before enlargement. The German government welcomes the communication as an important signal that will drive the debate forward. However, the heads of state and government do not want to discuss this in depth until their June summit. However, Council President Charles Michel is likely to make it clearer how he intends to structure the discussion process.

Migration: little movement

There is no movement in migration policy. Only a stocktaking is planned. The European Council also wants to acknowledge the new partnership agreements with Mauritania and Egypt. These partnerships need to be strengthened and expanded, according to the summit draft. The draft does not address the massive criticism from human rights organizations.

Agriculture: signal to the farmers

The heads of state and government will once again address the farmers, who are protesting loudly in many member states and will also be present again in the European Quarter. “We hear the signal”, according to German government circles. Specifically, the summit participants will back the Commission’s latest proposals to reduce the burden on farmers and push for rapid implementation.

Last week, the authority proposed to significantly relax several environmental requirements within the Common Agricultural Policy, the so-called GAEC standards, by the end of the funding period in 2027. It is also looking at additional measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the supply chain. However, the objectives of the Green Deal should not be called into question, Berlin warns.

Capital markets union: slightly more dynamic

On Friday, the heads of state and government will take an hour or two for the Euro Summit, which will also be attended by ECB President Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe. Donohoe will present the Eurogroup’s work on the further development of the Capital Markets Union.

The finance ministers agreed on a vague list of demands in March, with some governments wanting to move faster. The result will be a joint declaration in which the heads of government will speak out in favor of progress on the Capital Markets Union. The aim is to “spark a bit of new momentum”, according to Berlin. János Allenbach-Ammann, Eric Bonse, Julia Dahm, Till Hoppe, Stephan Israel

Kallas: Germans should not be afraid of Putin’s nuclear weapons

In an interview with Table.Briefings, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas calls for the sanctions against Russia to be tightened.

Ms Kallas, you are calling for EU and NATO states to invest more money in defense. How much of a consensus is there among the heads of state and government?

My colleagues, who have better neighbors than we do in Estonia, naturally find it difficult to explain to their population that more must be invested in defense. In peacetime, taxpayers’ money can be channeled into many other things, such as education and social welfare. The problem is that it is too late to invest in defense when you actually need it. We already have a crisis in defense.

You have proposed Eurobonds for investments in defense along the lines of the Corona Reconstruction Fund. Do you expect any concrete progress at the EU summit this Thursday and Friday?

We are taking baby steps. I met Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday and we are looking for solutions that are acceptable to everyone. I can live with a different path as long as we bring investment into the defense sector. More private capital must also flow into this sector.

‘Some countries are still not moving’

Are European politicians aware of the level of threat posed by Russia?

When the war started in 2022, I was sure that all NATO countries would increase their defense investments because the threat was suddenly real. To my surprise, that didn’t happen. There were many promises, but if you look at the footnotes, you see that the target of spending two percent of economic output on defense is often not reached until 2030. During the Cold War, NATO member states spent up to six percent of their economic output on defense. Now we have a real war and some countries are still not budging.

How seriously do you take Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed threat to use nuclear weapons?

The aim is intimidation, and that works in some countries. I was in Germany about a year ago at a discussion in which a German MP warned of a nuclear counter-attack by Russia. At the same discussion, Ukrainians pointed out that Russia would use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and not against Germany. If the Ukrainians were not afraid, then the Germans should not be afraid either.

Kallas: Signs that sanctions are working

Can you rule out the possibility of Putin resorting to nuclear weapons?

Of course not, he’s crazy. But his main aim is to instill fear in us. Russians are really good at that. They have nothing to offer in technology, but are very good at social sciences. Exactly the opposite of the Chinese.

Are the sanctions against Russia working sufficiently?

There are people who say that the sanctions are not working. That is actually a Russian narrative. We have concrete evidence that the sanctions are having an effect. The Russian state budget has a deficit of 20 percent of gross domestic product. And unlike countries in the West, Russia cannot borrow money on the capital markets because of the sanctions. China does not lend Russia any money either. At the same time, interest rates in Russia are at 15 percent. This shows how the central bank views the situation.

‘It’s important that we are heard’

Don’t you see any need to improve the sanctions?

Of course, Estonia has already made concrete proposals. We want a total ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). And we have also called for export quotas for certain goods to third countries. This would ensure that technology from Europe does not end up in Russia. We are seeing high car exports to Kyrgyzstan. But people there have not become so rich that they suddenly own ten cars per family.

The EU wants to admit new members, but with 30 or more states around the table, the current voting mechanism cannot remain in place. Could you live with a departure from unanimity in certain areas?

I come from a small country that didn’t have a voice for 50 years. It is important for us to be heard and not be overrun by the big countries. That’s why I would be very reluctant to give up unanimity. However, Estonia has never used its veto. We always try to be constructive and find a compromise.

After the European elections, there are numerous top jobs available in the EU. Would a job in Brussels appeal to you?

I am the Prime Minister of Estonia. But anything is possible in politics. And I have made so many difficult decisions in my country that I have committed political suicide.

The interview was conducted by Silke Wettach.

EU Chamber of Commerce warns of Chinese overproduction

By

Amelie Richter

European companies in China are facing mounting pressure. EU Chamber of Commerce chief Jens Eskelund summed up the situation on Wednesday by likening the current state of trade relations between Brussels and Beijing to a “slow-motion train wreck” during the presentation of the Chamber’s report on economic security in an increasingly geopolitically charged environment (“Riskful thinking: navigating the politics of economic security”) in collaboration with consulting firm China Macro Group.

China’s export-oriented growth with current overcapacity threatens to hollow out European industries such as the solar and electric vehicle sectors in the long run and could provoke a new trade war, warned the EU Chamber in its report. Eskelund stated that he doesn’t believe Europe will accept deindustrialization because China is exporting its excess capacity. “Something needs to happen soon,” he said.

Due to the more politicized business climate compared to the previous year, companies need to allocate more resources to risk prevention, writes the EU Chamber of Commerce. Resources could be better invested in product and service development rather than increasing budgets for risk assessments and compliance measures. The situation in the People’s Republic is leading to significant efficiency losses for companies, raising operating costs, hampering innovation, and ultimately resulting in higher costs passed on to consumers. The Chinese market has become less predictable.

Eskelund warns against protectionism

Concerns also arise from the legal environment in the People’s Republic: “China’s comprehensive legal toolkit for retaliation against what it sees as foreign interference and long-arm jurisdiction allows the Chinese government to sanction certain foreign companies or individuals, thereby disrupting their business in China by, for example, restricting their investments or market access in China,” write the analysts in their report.

The requirements for more “local content” are also showing their effect: In the efforts for self-sufficiency, China has replaced some imports with incentives or “pressure” at the provincial or municipal level by Chinese or China-based suppliers, resulting in “significant disadvantages” for European companies. The report cites public procurement for IT hardware or medical devices as an example.

It is natural for all global actors to strive to ensure the security of their respective economies, said Eskelund. However, this should be done in a way that minimally affects business activities. “Measures taken in the name of risk management and strengthening economic security should be proportionate, targeted and precise and should never serve as a cover for protectionism.” Beijing also urgently needs to address the issue of overcapacity.

Low consumption in China fuels overproduction

The occurrence of overcapacity in China is currently due to the lack of market mechanisms in the People’s Republic, according to a former president of the EU Chamber in China quoted by dpa at a panel discussion on Wednesday. According to him, many of the approximately 150,000 state-owned enterprises and the roughly 140 automotive companies would have to go bankrupt, which does not happen due to local subsidies. Therefore, the problem of oversupply can only be seriously addressed if companies go bankrupt, as in a market economy.

China’s industrial policy also overly supports manufacturers on the supply side rather than the consumer side, according to another former Chamber president. “If you want to use subsidies, give them to the consumer. That helps prevent the problems China has gotten into,” he said.

Increased industrial investments coupled with low domestic demand and consumption had led to the overcapacity of Chinese industrial goods. Economic activities in China, including consumption and industrial production, had recovered better than expected in the first two months of the year. However, there are concerns that the recovery may only be temporary.

Brussels is currently trying to address the significant trade deficit the EU has with China. This reached a record high of around 400 billion euros in 2022. Last year, it then dropped to around 290 billion euros, according to data from the EU Commission. Overall, trade between the People’s Republic and the EU has declined recently, also in the current year: In the first two months of the year, according to Chinese customs data, total trade between the EU and China decreased by 4.1 percent compared to the previous year.

Tensions between China and the European Union escalated when Brussels launched an anti-subsidy investigation into China’s exports of electric vehicles last October. Imports of electric vehicles into the EU had fallen by more than a third at the beginning of the year. The EU Commission has begun registering imports to prevent panic buying ahead of possible temporary tariffs starting in July.

Europe’s Liberals go into election campaign with defense as main topic

In the 2019 European elections, the European Liberals ran seven candidates from seven different countries; this year there are three. Valérie Hayer for Renaissance, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann for the ALDE party and Sandro Gozi for the European Democratic Party.

The Franco-German signature of this trio is clear. Two candidates, Valérie Hayer and Sandro Gozi, belong to the camp of French President Emmanuel Macron, while Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the German FDP is the lead candidate of the largest of the three parties, ALDE.

Fight against opponents of Europe

Under the motto “Renew Europe Now”, the European Liberals have defined ten priorities. These are points on which they want to continue “the transformation of Europe”, explained Sandro Gozi. ” Defense is our top priority and that is why we want to equip the EU with the military means,” he continued.

The topic of defense offered Strack-Zimmermann the opportunity to criticize Berlin’s current position on the issue of support for Ukraine. There is a lot of irritation about this discussion in Germany at the moment, “my generation in particular is very irritated”, said the defense expert. “It’s about keeping Europe together and securing it, and it’s definitely not the job of the Social Democrats to talk about freezing conflicts“, she emphasized.

MEP Hayer, chairwoman of Renew and candidate of Renaissance, the French branch of Renew, emphasized the “historic” moment represented by the upcoming European elections. A rhetoric that she had already used at the launch of her campaign in France on March 9 and which serves to divide the political camp into pro-Europeans and democrats on the one hand and anti-Europeans and the far right on the other.

“There is no flirtation, no ambiguity when it comes to the populists“, she said. “The next European playbook will be written with us. We have the fight against the far right in our DNA.” cst

EU agreement on trade with Ukraine undermines farmers’ demands

Negotiators from the EU Parliament and Council agreed early on Wednesday morning to extend free trade with Ukraine, but to restrict it more than originally proposed. However, the core demands of farmers, who criticize competition from cheaper imports, have been ignored. The parliamentary plenary had also supported demands for further protective measures, particularly with votes from the countries bordering Ukraine.

It is therefore not certain that it will approve the agreement that has now been reached. Although the Trade Committee voted in favor on Wednesday, its position does not necessarily reflect that of the plenary. The time factor could play into Ukraine’s hands. After all, the parliamentary plenary only has April left to decide. If it then rejects the compromise, the free trade measures, which are an important source of income for the war-torn country, could expire without replacement at the beginning of June. Only a small minority of MEPs want this to happen.

Emergency brake for wheat and barley rejected

The negotiators want to extend the planned automatic emergency brake for chicken, sugar and eggs to honey, maize, oats and groats, but not to wheat and barley, as demanded by Parliament and farmers. The compromise is flanked by a non-binding assurance from the Commission to “closely monitor” grain imports and, if necessary, take further measures.

The demand to apply the brakes from a lower import volume is also not included in the agreement. Instead, the threshold proposed by the Commission, which is based on the average import volume for 2022 and 2023, remains in place. Sharp criticism comes from the farmers’ association Copa Cogeca.

In addition to the Parliament, the national ministers still have to approve the agreement. An initial vote by EU ambassadors, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will not take place until next week because several countries have requested more time to examine the compromise. However, a majority in the Council is considered likely. jd

Late Payment Regulation: ‘Not compatible with German law’

In order to combat late payments in commercial transactions, Parliament’s Internal Market Committee adopted its position on the Late Payment Regulation on Wednesday. CDU MEP Andreas Schwab yesterday called on Parliament to reject the report in plenary. This was not compatible with German law.

Schwab is particularly bothered by the planned way of enforcing the law: “Instead of ensuring that creditors can obtain a payment order more quickly through simple court proceedings, the rapporteur wants to place the payment behavior of companies under administrative supervision.” In the future, companies should be able to appeal to an authority in the event of late payment in the B2B sector. Up to now, only the civil courts have been responsible in Germany.

According to the parliamentary position, a stricter standard period of 30 days should apply in the future for transactions between companies or with public clients. In the B2B sector, the payment period can be contractually extended to 60 days. For certain goods such as jewelry and books, 120 days would also be permitted. The amount of reminder and collection fees is also to be standardized. The Council’s position is still pending. ber

Commission to improve working conditions for interns

At its meeting on Wednesday, the EU Commission adopted a proposal for a new directive on internships and a reform of the Council recommendation on internships. According to the Commission, the proposals together should ensure better working conditions and fair pay.

The Commission’s proposals are a response to pressure from the European Parliament and trade unions, who wanted to ban unpaid internships because they discriminated against young professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds. In June 2013, the European Parliament called on the Commission to draw up a new directive in a report.

Measures against bogus internships

The directive stipulates that trainees must not be discriminated against in terms of working conditions and pay compared to similar employees in the same company. According to the Commission’s proposal, a lower wage and other differences are only acceptable if the interns have less responsibility or less workload, or can benefit from a training component.

The directive does not explicitly prohibit unpaid internships. Data from the 2019 European Labor Force Survey estimates the number of unpaid interns across the EU at around 1.5 million, which corresponds to around half of all interns. Only in the legally less strong Council Recommendation does the Commission state that internships should be “fairly remunerated”.

In addition to remuneration, the directive also takes action against bogus internships. Authorities are to check whether internships are in fact poorly paid or unpaid employment relationships. Member states are also to regulate the maximum duration of internships by law. The directive is expected to be discussed by the newly elected parliament in the fall. jaa

Half of companies criticize declining EU competitiveness

Companies in Germany are increasingly concerned about the economic framework conditions in the European Union. The EU is becoming less attractive as a business location, said Freya Lemcke, Head of the Representation of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce to the EU, on Wednesday in Berlin, referring to a company survey. She spoke of an alarming signal just a few months before the European elections in June.

According to the survey, 56% of companies believe that the EU’s competitiveness as a business location has declined over the past five years. “Despite its fundamentally good starting position, Europe is in danger of losing ground in international competition. This trend must be stopped immediately,” said DIHK Managing Director Martin Wansleben.

Bureaucracy reduction wish number one

Reducing bureaucracy is by far the most urgent task for the new EU Commission and the new European Parliament, according to the survey – 95% of companies said so. This was followed by securing the energy supply and protection against attacks, such as cyberattacks. Lemcke said that many provisions were unrealistic and difficult to implement, especially for small companies.

Another result of the survey: Companies consider the stability of the EU economic area to be particularly important. 82 percent of companies benefit from this. Especially in an increasingly difficult foreign trade environment, the EU continues to be an important anchor for reliability and predictability. dpa

T&E: Transport will account for almost half of EU emissions in 2030

A new analysis by the environmental organization Transport and Environment (T&E) states that if Europe wants to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, it needs to start taking the problem of transport emissions seriously. Since 1990, transport-related emissions in Europe have risen by more than a quarter and are expected to continue rising, while emissions from the overall economy are already falling.

T&E says that transport will account for almost half of all European greenhouse gas emissions in 2030: “With current policies under the Green Deal package of regulations, transport risks becoming 44 percent of total emissions, and still not below 1990 levels.”

T&E therefore urges:

halting the expansion of new airport and highway capacities,
better energy efficiency in shipping,
binding EV targets for companies in order to decarbonize company car fleets more quickly,
prioritizing the direct electrification of road transport over hydrogen and e-fuels.

T&E also examined the current EU regulations for the sector in its analysis “The State of European Transport.” It found that transport emissions would only be reduced by 25 percent in 2040 and 62 percent in 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The European Commission aims to cut emissions by 90 percent in 2040 compared to 1990 and to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. luk

Ireland’s head of government Varadkar resigns unexpectedly

The Irish head of government Leo Varadkar has surprisingly announced his resignation. In an emotional statement in Dublin on Wednesday, the liberal-conservative politician cited “both personal and political reasons”. The 45-year-old intends to lead the country on an interim basis until a successor is elected after the Easter break. Candidates include the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, and Trade Minister Simon Coveney. Varadkar resigned as leader of his Fine Gael party with immediate effect.

“I am confident that the re-election of this three-party government will be the right thing for the future of our country”, said the outgoing Taoiseach, as the office of head of government is officially known in Gaelic. The next general election must be held by early spring 2025 at the latest. “After careful consideration and some reflection, I believe that a new Taoiseach will be better suited than I to achieve this. After seven years in office, I think I am no longer the right person for the job.”

Reports about aspirations for Commission job

Varadkar has left his mark on Irish politics in recent years. The son of an Indian father and an Irish mother often offended with his unconventional style; the politician did not shy away from clear words and repeatedly put his foot in his mouth. But according to commentators, his modern leadership also opened up the strictly Catholic society further. He was proud to have contributed to making Ireland more modern and equal, he said in his resignation announcement.

The government recently suffered a resounding defeat in two referendums. Against their recommendation, a majority voted against constitutional amendments that were intended to change outdated and sexist language. The definition of family was to be expanded to explicitly include unmarried couples. In addition, phrases such as “domestic duties of women” should be replaced.

Varadkar emphasized that he did not yet have a plan for the future. According to reports, however, Varadkar could speculate on a post in the EU Commission after the European elections in June. dpa

French competition watchdog hits Google with €250 million fine

The French competition authority announced on Wednesday that it is fining Google €250 million. The Autorité de la Concurrence accuses Alphabet’s Google of infringements in connection with EU copyright rules. Among other things, this concerns the company’s AI services.

The authority said that Google had trained its AI-powered chatbot Bard – now called Gemini – with content from publishers and news agencies without informing them. Google has agreed not to contest the facts in settlement proceedings, the authority said. The company has also proposed a series of remedies for certain shortcomings. Google’s office in France did not initially respond to a request for comment.

Watchdog accuses Google of violating obligations

The fine is in connection with a copyright dispute over online content in France. The case was triggered by complaints from some of the country’s largest news organizations, including Agence France Presse (AFP). The dispute appeared to have been settled in 2022. At the time, the US company withdrew its appeal against an initial fine of €500 million imposed by the Autorité de la Concurrence at the end of a major investigation.

In Wednesday’s statement, however, the agency said Google violated the terms of four of the seven commitments agreed to in the settlement, including conducting good faith negotiations with publishers and providing transparent information.

Many publishers are fighting back against scraping

The authority specifically cited Google’s AI chatbot Bard, which was launched in 2023, saying it was trained with data from unspecified media and news outlets without the company informing them or the regulator. “As a result, Google linked the use of the relevant content with its AI service to the display of protected content”, the authority wrote, adding that Google was preventing publishers and news agencies from negotiating fair prices.

The fine comes at a time when many publishers, writers and editors are trying to limit the scraping (automated data collection) of their online content by AI services without their consent or fair compensation. The New York Times sued Google’s rival Microsoft and OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT) in 2023, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper’s articles without permission to train chatbots. rtr

EUROPE.TABLE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Till
Hoppe

Sarah
Schaefer

Lukas
Knigge

Corinna
Visser

Markus
Grabitz

Alina
Leimbach

Eric
Bonse

Manuel
Berkel

Stephan
Israel

Claire
Stam

János
Allenbach-Ammann

Dear reader,

The international climate talks that will culminate in the COP29 in Baku in November begin this week. More than 30 ministers and special advisors are meeting in Copenhagen today and tomorrow for the informal Copenhagen Climate Ministerial (CCM). EU Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra will also be there to discuss what is to be decided in Baku for the first time since the last COP in Dubai.

The most important topic this year is climate financing. The $100 billion target, with which the rich industrialized nations are supposed to support developing countries every year since 2020, expires this year. A new financing target is needed. In any case, the previous target has caused more disappointment than confidence in the fight against climate change among the recipient countries, as it was simply not achieved in the first three years.

The new target is set to far exceed $100 billion. There is talk of up to $2.4 trillion from state and private sources. The rich industrialized nations, including the European countries, will probably continue to bear the main burden. However, discussions about new donor countries are also being driven forward in Copenhagen. In the spotlight: China and the rich oil states in the Middle East.

There will be no decision on donor countries and the amount in Copenhagen, but initial discussions on the architecture of the new target are likely to take place – albeit behind closed doors. The first public discussions in the COP process will follow at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin (probably in May) and at the interim climate conference in Bonn in June.

Your
Lukas Knigge

Arms aid for Ukraine – these topics will dominate the EU summit

Rarely does the EU Commission receive so much praise before a summit. There was much relief among the member states that the proposal for the use of Russian central bank funds is finally on the table: It was right to use the “windfall profits” for Ukraine, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He would insist at the summit that the funds be used quickly for what the country needs most urgently: Weapons and ammunition.

EU diplomats spoke of a “powerful proposal”. It was not only in Berlin that there had long been great skepticism about this premiere and the potential risks to the stability of the eurozone. Now they are happy that the lawyers have found a way forward. Most capitals accept that 90 percent of the initial €3 billion per year will be spent on armaments and not on reconstruction. Diplomats say that reconstruction is out of the question at the moment anyway.

The relief may also have to do with the fact that the member states are currently happy for every euro to support Ukraine on the defensive. In the background, pressure from the USA to provide Ukraine with central bank funds is also playing a role. The decision to quickly get serious about the revenues is intended to take some of the pressure off. The resistance of Hungary still needs to be overcome, according to Brussels. There is also skepticism among the neutral member states Austria and Malta.

Defense: Initial discussion about EDIP

There will also be an initial discussion at the summit on the Commission’s proposal for the European Defense Industrial Program (EDIP). More joint purchasing is needed, which will also make procurement cheaper, said Scholz. “Without creating a new competence for the European Union, however, much of the bureaucratic competition that prevents real cooperation must be abolished.”

A few years ago, industrial policy was taboo in Europe, emphasizes a high-ranking diplomat. Now it is possible to talk about a strategy for the European arms industry – that is a big step. How EDIP can be better funded is also likely to be a topic at the summit. The discussion is moving in the direction of changing the rules of the European Investment Bank so that it can be used more to finance defense-related projects.

In the run-up to the event, host Charles Michel had argued in a guest article for the issue of “European defense bonds”. However, frugal states such as Germany and the Netherlands reacted with reservation: The Council President had “rushed ahead of the debate somewhat”, according to government circles in Berlin.

Gaza: Struggle for unity

The EU summit is likely to be a disappointment for UN Secretary-General António Guterres and supporters of a more active Middle East policy. Guterres will be received for lunch at the start of the meeting. However, there are no signs of agreement on the issues that are close to his heart – support for the UN aid organization UNWRA and a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Chancellor Scholz rejects the demand for an immediate ceasefire. First, there must be an agreement on the release of the Hamas hostages, according to Berlin, which is thus going against the majority of EU states.

Spain and Ireland in particular are calling for more pressure on Israel. However, they were unable to get their way at the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday. There are no signs of any change at the summit. The draft resolution primarily addresses the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. It also calls on Israel to refrain from the announced ground offensive in Rafah.

But even this compromise formula is fragile. “If you pull on one thread here, you risk the entire sweater unraveling,” warns a high-ranking EU diplomat. Scholz acknowledged the differences of opinion. However, he hopes “that it will be possible to achieve a joint text that expresses unity”.

EU enlargement: starting signal for Bosnia

The upcoming decision to start accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina is also likely to cause discussion. Some countries, in particular the Baltic states and the Czech Republic, have so far linked their approval to faster progress in the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova. The Netherlands, on the other hand, has doubts as to whether Bosnia is ready for accession negotiations. Under pressure from his own parliament, Prime Minister Mark Rutte is therefore insisting that the actual negotiations at a technical level cannot begin until Bosnia-Herzegovina meets all the conditions formulated by the EU Commission in October 2022. This wording can now also be found in the draft conclusions.

Last week, the Commission confirmed that the tripartite country had made important progress with reforms, for example in the justice system, and spoke out in favor of opening accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The German government agreed with this after previous skepticism. The European Council had already cleared the way for Ukraine and Moldova to begin accession negotiations in December. Last week, the Commission presented the member states with proposals for the negotiating framework, but these are not expected to be a major topic at the summit.

On Wednesday, the authority also published an initial paper on the reforms that the EU itself should undergo before enlargement. The German government welcomes the communication as an important signal that will drive the debate forward. However, the heads of state and government do not want to discuss this in depth until their June summit. However, Council President Charles Michel is likely to make it clearer how he intends to structure the discussion process.

Migration: little movement

There is no movement in migration policy. Only a stocktaking is planned. The European Council also wants to acknowledge the new partnership agreements with Mauritania and Egypt. These partnerships need to be strengthened and expanded, according to the summit draft. The draft does not address the massive criticism from human rights organizations.

Agriculture: signal to the farmers

The heads of state and government will once again address the farmers, who are protesting loudly in many member states and will also be present again in the European Quarter. “We hear the signal”, according to German government circles. Specifically, the summit participants will back the Commission’s latest proposals to reduce the burden on farmers and push for rapid implementation.

Last week, the authority proposed to significantly relax several environmental requirements within the Common Agricultural Policy, the so-called GAEC standards, by the end of the funding period in 2027. It is also looking at additional measures to strengthen the position of farmers in the supply chain. However, the objectives of the Green Deal should not be called into question, Berlin warns.

Capital markets union: slightly more dynamic

On Friday, the heads of state and government will take an hour or two for the Euro Summit, which will also be attended by ECB President Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe. Donohoe will present the Eurogroup’s work on the further development of the Capital Markets Union.

The finance ministers agreed on a vague list of demands in March, with some governments wanting to move faster. The result will be a joint declaration in which the heads of government will speak out in favor of progress on the Capital Markets Union. The aim is to “spark a bit of new momentum”, according to Berlin. János Allenbach-Ammann, Eric Bonse, Julia Dahm, Till Hoppe, Stephan Israel

Kallas: Germans should not be afraid of Putin’s nuclear weapons

Ms Kallas, you are calling for EU and NATO states to invest more money in defense. How much of a consensus is there among the heads of state and government?

My colleagues, who have better neighbors than we do in Estonia, naturally find it difficult to explain to their population that more must be invested in defense. In peacetime, taxpayers’ money can be channeled into many other things, such as education and social welfare. The problem is that it is too late to invest in defense when you actually need it. We already have a crisis in defense.

You have proposed Eurobonds for investments in defense along the lines of the Corona Reconstruction Fund. Do you expect any concrete progress at the EU summit this Thursday and Friday?

We are taking baby steps. I met Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday and we are looking for solutions that are acceptable to everyone. I can live with a different path as long as we bring investment into the defense sector. More private capital must also flow into this sector.

‘Some countries are still not moving’

Are European politicians aware of the level of threat posed by Russia?

When the war started in 2022, I was sure that all NATO countries would increase their defense investments because the threat was suddenly real. To my surprise, that didn’t happen. There were many promises, but if you look at the footnotes, you see that the target of spending two percent of economic output on defense is often not reached until 2030. During the Cold War, NATO member states spent up to six percent of their economic output on defense. Now we have a real war and some countries are still not budging.

How seriously do you take Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed threat to use nuclear weapons?

The aim is intimidation, and that works in some countries. I was in Germany about a year ago at a discussion in which a German MP warned of a nuclear counter-attack by Russia. At the same discussion, Ukrainians pointed out that Russia would use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and not against Germany. If the Ukrainians were not afraid, then the Germans should not be afraid either.

Kallas: Signs that sanctions are working

Can you rule out the possibility of Putin resorting to nuclear weapons?

Of course not, he’s crazy. But his main aim is to instill fear in us. Russians are really good at that. They have nothing to offer in technology, but are very good at social sciences. Exactly the opposite of the Chinese.

Are the sanctions against Russia working sufficiently?

There are people who say that the sanctions are not working. That is actually a Russian narrative. We have concrete evidence that the sanctions are having an effect. The Russian state budget has a deficit of 20 percent of gross domestic product. And unlike countries in the West, Russia cannot borrow money on the capital markets because of the sanctions. China does not lend Russia any money either. At the same time, interest rates in Russia are at 15 percent. This shows how the central bank views the situation.

‘It’s important that we are heard’

Don’t you see any need to improve the sanctions?

Of course, Estonia has already made concrete proposals. We want a total ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). And we have also called for export quotas for certain goods to third countries. This would ensure that technology from Europe does not end up in Russia. We are seeing high car exports to Kyrgyzstan. But people there have not become so rich that they suddenly own ten cars per family.

The EU wants to admit new members, but with 30 or more states around the table, the current voting mechanism cannot remain in place. Could you live with a departure from unanimity in certain areas?

I come from a small country that didn’t have a voice for 50 years. It is important for us to be heard and not be overrun by the big countries. That’s why I would be very reluctant to give up unanimity. However, Estonia has never used its veto. We always try to be constructive and find a compromise.

After the European elections, there are numerous top jobs available in the EU. Would a job in Brussels appeal to you?

I am the Prime Minister of Estonia. But anything is possible in politics. And I have made so many difficult decisions in my country that I have committed political suicide.

The interview was conducted by Silke Wettach.

EU Chamber of Commerce warns of Chinese overproduction

By

Amelie Richter

European companies in China are facing mounting pressure. EU Chamber of Commerce chief Jens Eskelund summed up the situation on Wednesday by likening the current state of trade relations between Brussels and Beijing to a “slow-motion train wreck” during the presentation of the Chamber’s report on economic security in an increasingly geopolitically charged environment (“Riskful thinking: navigating the politics of economic security”) in collaboration with consulting firm China Macro Group.

China’s export-oriented growth with current overcapacity threatens to hollow out European industries such as the solar and electric vehicle sectors in the long run and could provoke a new trade war, warned the EU Chamber in its report. Eskelund stated that he doesn’t believe Europe will accept deindustrialization because China is exporting its excess capacity. “Something needs to happen soon,” he said.

Due to the more politicized business climate compared to the previous year, companies need to allocate more resources to risk prevention, writes the EU Chamber of Commerce. Resources could be better invested in product and service development rather than increasing budgets for risk assessments and compliance measures. The situation in the People’s Republic is leading to significant efficiency losses for companies, raising operating costs, hampering innovation, and ultimately resulting in higher costs passed on to consumers. The Chinese market has become less predictable.

Eskelund warns against protectionism

Concerns also arise from the legal environment in the People’s Republic: “China’s comprehensive legal toolkit for retaliation against what it sees as foreign interference and long-arm jurisdiction allows the Chinese government to sanction certain foreign companies or individuals, thereby disrupting their business in China by, for example, restricting their investments or market access in China,” write the analysts in their report.

The requirements for more “local content” are also showing their effect: In the efforts for self-sufficiency, China has replaced some imports with incentives or “pressure” at the provincial or municipal level by Chinese or China-based suppliers, resulting in “significant disadvantages” for European companies. The report cites public procurement for IT hardware or medical devices as an example.

It is natural for all global actors to strive to ensure the security of their respective economies, said Eskelund. However, this should be done in a way that minimally affects business activities. “Measures taken in the name of risk management and strengthening economic security should be proportionate, targeted and precise and should never serve as a cover for protectionism.” Beijing also urgently needs to address the issue of overcapacity.

Low consumption in China fuels overproduction

The occurrence of overcapacity in China is currently due to the lack of market mechanisms in the People’s Republic, according to a former president of the EU Chamber in China quoted by dpa at a panel discussion on Wednesday. According to him, many of the approximately 150,000 state-owned enterprises and the roughly 140 automotive companies would have to go bankrupt, which does not happen due to local subsidies. Therefore, the problem of oversupply can only be seriously addressed if companies go bankrupt, as in a market economy.

China’s industrial policy also overly supports manufacturers on the supply side rather than the consumer side, according to another former Chamber president. “If you want to use subsidies, give them to the consumer. That helps prevent the problems China has gotten into,” he said.

Increased industrial investments coupled with low domestic demand and consumption had led to the overcapacity of Chinese industrial goods. Economic activities in China, including consumption and industrial production, had recovered better than expected in the first two months of the year. However, there are concerns that the recovery may only be temporary.

Brussels is currently trying to address the significant trade deficit the EU has with China. This reached a record high of around 400 billion euros in 2022. Last year, it then dropped to around 290 billion euros, according to data from the EU Commission. Overall, trade between the People’s Republic and the EU has declined recently, also in the current year: In the first two months of the year, according to Chinese customs data, total trade between the EU and China decreased by 4.1 percent compared to the previous year.

Tensions between China and the European Union escalated when Brussels launched an anti-subsidy investigation into China’s exports of electric vehicles last October. Imports of electric vehicles into the EU had fallen by more than a third at the beginning of the year. The EU Commission has begun registering imports to prevent panic buying ahead of possible temporary tariffs starting in July.

Europe’s Liberals go into election campaign with defense as main topic

In the 2019 European elections, the European Liberals ran seven candidates from seven different countries; this year there are three. Valérie Hayer for Renaissance, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann for the ALDE party and Sandro Gozi for the European Democratic Party.

The Franco-German signature of this trio is clear. Two candidates, Valérie Hayer and Sandro Gozi, belong to the camp of French President Emmanuel Macron, while Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the German FDP is the lead candidate of the largest of the three parties, ALDE.

Fight against opponents of Europe

Under the motto “Renew Europe Now”, the European Liberals have defined ten priorities. These are points on which they want to continue “the transformation of Europe”, explained Sandro Gozi. ” Defense is our top priority and that is why we want to equip the EU with the military means,” he continued.

The topic of defense offered Strack-Zimmermann the opportunity to criticize Berlin’s current position on the issue of support for Ukraine. There is a lot of irritation about this discussion in Germany at the moment, “my generation in particular is very irritated”, said the defense expert. “It’s about keeping Europe together and securing it, and it’s definitely not the job of the Social Democrats to talk about freezing conflicts“, she emphasized.

MEP Hayer, chairwoman of Renew and candidate of Renaissance, the French branch of Renew, emphasized the “historic” moment represented by the upcoming European elections. A rhetoric that she had already used at the launch of her campaign in France on March 9 and which serves to divide the political camp into pro-Europeans and democrats on the one hand and anti-Europeans and the far right on the other.

“There is no flirtation, no ambiguity when it comes to the populists“, she said. “The next European playbook will be written with us. We have the fight against the far right in our DNA.” cst

EU agreement on trade with Ukraine undermines farmers’ demands

Negotiators from the EU Parliament and Council agreed early on Wednesday morning to extend free trade with Ukraine, but to restrict it more than originally proposed. However, the core demands of farmers, who criticize competition from cheaper imports, have been ignored. The parliamentary plenary had also supported demands for further protective measures, particularly with votes from the countries bordering Ukraine.

It is therefore not certain that it will approve the agreement that has now been reached. Although the Trade Committee voted in favor on Wednesday, its position does not necessarily reflect that of the plenary. The time factor could play into Ukraine’s hands. After all, the parliamentary plenary only has April left to decide. If it then rejects the compromise, the free trade measures, which are an important source of income for the war-torn country, could expire without replacement at the beginning of June. Only a small minority of MEPs want this to happen.

Emergency brake for wheat and barley rejected

The negotiators want to extend the planned automatic emergency brake for chicken, sugar and eggs to honey, maize, oats and groats, but not to wheat and barley, as demanded by Parliament and farmers. The compromise is flanked by a non-binding assurance from the Commission to “closely monitor” grain imports and, if necessary, take further measures.

The demand to apply the brakes from a lower import volume is also not included in the agreement. Instead, the threshold proposed by the Commission, which is based on the average import volume for 2022 and 2023, remains in place. Sharp criticism comes from the farmers’ association Copa Cogeca.

In addition to the Parliament, the national ministers still have to approve the agreement. An initial vote by EU ambassadors, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will not take place until next week because several countries have requested more time to examine the compromise. However, a majority in the Council is considered likely. jd

Late Payment Regulation: ‘Not compatible with German law’

In order to combat late payments in commercial transactions, Parliament’s Internal Market Committee adopted its position on the Late Payment Regulation on Wednesday. CDU MEP Andreas Schwab yesterday called on Parliament to reject the report in plenary. This was not compatible with German law.

Schwab is particularly bothered by the planned way of enforcing the law: “Instead of ensuring that creditors can obtain a payment order more quickly through simple court proceedings, the rapporteur wants to place the payment behavior of companies under administrative supervision.” In the future, companies should be able to appeal to an authority in the event of late payment in the B2B sector. Up to now, only the civil courts have been responsible in Germany.

According to the parliamentary position, a stricter standard period of 30 days should apply in the future for transactions between companies or with public clients. In the B2B sector, the payment period can be contractually extended to 60 days. For certain goods such as jewelry and books, 120 days would also be permitted. The amount of reminder and collection fees is also to be standardized. The Council’s position is still pending. ber

Commission to improve working conditions for interns

At its meeting on Wednesday, the EU Commission adopted a proposal for a new directive on internships and a reform of the Council recommendation on internships. According to the Commission, the proposals together should ensure better working conditions and fair pay.

The Commission’s proposals are a response to pressure from the European Parliament and trade unions, who wanted to ban unpaid internships because they discriminated against young professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds. In June 2013, the European Parliament called on the Commission to draw up a new directive in a report.

Measures against bogus internships

The directive stipulates that trainees must not be discriminated against in terms of working conditions and pay compared to similar employees in the same company. According to the Commission’s proposal, a lower wage and other differences are only acceptable if the interns have less responsibility or less workload, or can benefit from a training component.

The directive does not explicitly prohibit unpaid internships. Data from the 2019 European Labor Force Survey estimates the number of unpaid interns across the EU at around 1.5 million, which corresponds to around half of all interns. Only in the legally less strong Council Recommendation does the Commission state that internships should be “fairly remunerated”.

In addition to remuneration, the directive also takes action against bogus internships. Authorities are to check whether internships are in fact poorly paid or unpaid employment relationships. Member states are also to regulate the maximum duration of internships by law. The directive is expected to be discussed by the newly elected parliament in the fall. jaa

Half of companies criticize declining EU competitiveness

Companies in Germany are increasingly concerned about the economic framework conditions in the European Union. The EU is becoming less attractive as a business location, said Freya Lemcke, Head of the Representation of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce to the EU, on Wednesday in Berlin, referring to a company survey. She spoke of an alarming signal just a few months before the European elections in June.

According to the survey, 56% of companies believe that the EU’s competitiveness as a business location has declined over the past five years. “Despite its fundamentally good starting position, Europe is in danger of losing ground in international competition. This trend must be stopped immediately,” said DIHK Managing Director Martin Wansleben.

Bureaucracy reduction wish number one

Reducing bureaucracy is by far the most urgent task for the new EU Commission and the new European Parliament, according to the survey – 95% of companies said so. This was followed by securing the energy supply and protection against attacks, such as cyberattacks. Lemcke said that many provisions were unrealistic and difficult to implement, especially for small companies.

Another result of the survey: Companies consider the stability of the EU economic area to be particularly important. 82 percent of companies benefit from this. Especially in an increasingly difficult foreign trade environment, the EU continues to be an important anchor for reliability and predictability. dpa

T&E: Transport will account for almost half of EU emissions in 2030

A new analysis by the environmental organization Transport and Environment (T&E) states that if Europe wants to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, it needs to start taking the problem of transport emissions seriously. Since 1990, transport-related emissions in Europe have risen by more than a quarter and are expected to continue rising, while emissions from the overall economy are already falling.

T&E says that transport will account for almost half of all European greenhouse gas emissions in 2030: “With current policies under the Green Deal package of regulations, transport risks becoming 44 percent of total emissions, and still not below 1990 levels.”

T&E therefore urges:

halting the expansion of new airport and highway capacities,
better energy efficiency in shipping,
binding EV targets for companies in order to decarbonize company car fleets more quickly,
prioritizing the direct electrification of road transport over hydrogen and e-fuels.

T&E also examined the current EU regulations for the sector in its analysis “The State of European Transport.” It found that transport emissions would only be reduced by 25 percent in 2040 and 62 percent in 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The European Commission aims to cut emissions by 90 percent in 2040 compared to 1990 and to achieve climate neutrality in Europe by 2050. luk

Ireland’s head of government Varadkar resigns unexpectedly

The Irish head of government Leo Varadkar has surprisingly announced his resignation. In an emotional statement in Dublin on Wednesday, the liberal-conservative politician cited “both personal and political reasons”. The 45-year-old intends to lead the country on an interim basis until a successor is elected after the Easter break. Candidates include the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, and Trade Minister Simon Coveney. Varadkar resigned as leader of his Fine Gael party with immediate effect.

“I am confident that the re-election of this three-party government will be the right thing for the future of our country”, said the outgoing Taoiseach, as the office of head of government is officially known in Gaelic. The next general election must be held by early spring 2025 at the latest. “After careful consideration and some reflection, I believe that a new Taoiseach will be better suited than I to achieve this. After seven years in office, I think I am no longer the right person for the job.”

Reports about aspirations for Commission job

Varadkar has left his mark on Irish politics in recent years. The son of an Indian father and an Irish mother often offended with his unconventional style; the politician did not shy away from clear words and repeatedly put his foot in his mouth. But according to commentators, his modern leadership also opened up the strictly Catholic society further. He was proud to have contributed to making Ireland more modern and equal, he said in his resignation announcement.

The government recently suffered a resounding defeat in two referendums. Against their recommendation, a majority voted against constitutional amendments that were intended to change outdated and sexist language. The definition of family was to be expanded to explicitly include unmarried couples. In addition, phrases such as “domestic duties of women” should be replaced.

Varadkar emphasized that he did not yet have a plan for the future. According to reports, however, Varadkar could speculate on a post in the EU Commission after the European elections in June. dpa

French competition watchdog hits Google with €250 million fine

The French competition authority announced on Wednesday that it is fining Google €250 million. The Autorité de la Concurrence accuses Alphabet’s Google of infringements in connection with EU copyright rules. Among other things, this concerns the company’s AI services.

The authority said that Google had trained its AI-powered chatbot Bard – now called Gemini – with content from publishers and news agencies without informing them. Google has agreed not to contest the facts in settlement proceedings, the authority said. The company has also proposed a series of remedies for certain shortcomings. Google’s office in France did not initially respond to a request for comment.

Watchdog accuses Google of violating obligations

The fine is in connection with a copyright dispute over online content in France. The case was triggered by complaints from some of the country’s largest news organizations, including Agence France Presse (AFP). The dispute appeared to have been settled in 2022. At the time, the US company withdrew its appeal against an initial fine of €500 million imposed by the Autorité de la Concurrence at the end of a major investigation.

In Wednesday’s statement, however, the agency said Google violated the terms of four of the seven commitments agreed to in the settlement, including conducting good faith negotiations with publishers and providing transparent information.

Many publishers are fighting back against scraping

The authority specifically cited Google’s AI chatbot Bard, which was launched in 2023, saying it was trained with data from unspecified media and news outlets without the company informing them or the regulator. “As a result, Google linked the use of the relevant content with its AI service to the display of protected content”, the authority wrote, adding that Google was preventing publishers and news agencies from negotiating fair prices.

The fine comes at a time when many publishers, writers and editors are trying to limit the scraping (automated data collection) of their online content by AI services without their consent or fair compensation. The New York Times sued Google’s rival Microsoft and OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT) in 2023, accusing them of using millions of the newspaper’s articles without permission to train chatbots. rtr

EUROPE.TABLE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Till
Hoppe

Sarah
Schaefer

Lukas
Knigge

Corinna
Visser

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Grabitz

Alina
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Eric
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Manuel
Berkel

Stephan
Israel

Claire
Stam

János
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EU summit agenda + Kallas on EU defense policy + EU Chamber of Commerce warns against China&#8217;s overproduction

Feature

Arms aid for Ukraine – these topics will dominate the EU summit

Defense: Initial discussion about EDIP

Gaza: Struggle for unity

EU enlargement: starting signal for Bosnia

Migration: little movement

Agriculture: signal to the farmers

Capital markets union: slightly more dynamic

Kallas: Germans should not be afraid of Putin’s nuclear weapons

‘Some countries are still not moving’

Kallas: Signs that sanctions are working

‘It’s important that we are heard’

EU Chamber of Commerce warns of Chinese overproduction

Eskelund warns against protectionism

Low consumption in China fuels overproduction

Events

News

Europe’s Liberals go into election campaign with defense as main topic

Fight against opponents of Europe

EU agreement on trade with Ukraine undermines farmers’ demands

Emergency brake for wheat and barley rejected

Late Payment Regulation: ‘Not compatible with German law’

Commission to improve working conditions for interns

Measures against bogus internships

Half of companies criticize declining EU competitiveness

Bureaucracy reduction wish number one

T&E: Transport will account for almost half of EU emissions in 2030

Ireland’s head of government Varadkar resigns unexpectedly

Reports about aspirations for Commission job

French competition watchdog hits Google with €250 million fine

Watchdog accuses Google of violating obligations

Many publishers are fighting back against scraping

Europe.table editorial team

EUROPE.TABLE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Feature

Arms aid for Ukraine – these topics will dominate the EU summit

Defense: Initial discussion about EDIP

Gaza: Struggle for unity

EU enlargement: starting signal for Bosnia

Migration: little movement

Agriculture: signal to the farmers

Capital markets union: slightly more dynamic

Kallas: Germans should not be afraid of Putin’s nuclear weapons

‘Some countries are still not moving’

Kallas: Signs that sanctions are working

‘It’s important that we are heard’

EU Chamber of Commerce warns of Chinese overproduction

Eskelund warns against protectionism

Low consumption in China fuels overproduction

Events

News

Europe’s Liberals go into election campaign with defense as main topic

Fight against opponents of Europe

EU agreement on trade with Ukraine undermines farmers’ demands

Emergency brake for wheat and barley rejected

Late Payment Regulation: ‘Not compatible with German law’

Commission to improve working conditions for interns

Measures against bogus internships

Half of companies criticize declining EU competitiveness

Bureaucracy reduction wish number one

T&E: Transport will account for almost half of EU emissions in 2030

Ireland’s head of government Varadkar resigns unexpectedly

Reports about aspirations for Commission job

French competition watchdog hits Google with €250 million fine

Watchdog accuses Google of violating obligations

Many publishers are fighting back against scraping

Europe.table editorial team

EUROPE.TABLE EDITORIAL OFFICE

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