It’s published
•update
For Ursula von der Leyen of the European Parliament, it was an inactive victory. Many of the people who supported her in the no-confidence vote did so without enthusiasm and to avoid the crisis.
The committee’s challenge is to move forward with her agenda with a vulnerable majority and oppose vibrant opposition. And with the next long-term budget and the bruises ahead in the looming trade war with the US, pressure is simply increasing. Can I stream von der Leyen?
Questions to our guests this week: Irish Parliament of the European Parliament, senior analyst at the European Policy Centre, Philip Rousberg, and Chair of the Academic Council of the Wilfried Martens Centre.
On the surface, it was a good day for Ursula von der Reyen. The solid majority of the European Parliament expressed her trust.
However, to achieve this outcome, German Christian Democrats had to spend a considerable amount of political capital to buy concessions from socialists and Democrats.
This time it worked, but her centre-left allies have made it clear from now on that she hopes to stick to agreed climate policies.
A policy that is increasingly conflicting with her own EPP led by her archrival Manfred Weber.
Brussels Watcher predicts lively debates about the fate of the 2040 emissions target and hassle-free budget negotiations for the coming months. The question is how messy it can be.
Second topic: The surge in travel from Libya that Greece is currently experiencing could easily evolve into the summer EU crisis. Last week, around 500 immigrants arrived per day on Crete Island alone.
Athens announced stricter measures and suspended its asylum request for three months.
The government’s goal is to discourage Libyans from embarking on dangerous journeys across the sea. However, this requires the cooperation of the Libyans. That’s what the EU delegation was trying to achieve when it was kicked out of the country by local warlords over the problems of protocols.
It raises the question: how serious is partners Libya for Europe, and how do we deal with a failed state?
Finally, the panel discussed EU-China relations, which were caught up in a cycle of dissatisfaction – it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Choose your favorite controversy: restricted market access, trade imbalances, or Russia’s China’s support in war with Ukraine.
This is the background to the EU-China summit in Beijing next week. But with Donald Trump’s shadow looming heavily, some suggest that Brussels should work towards a reset of relations with the Chinese.
Initially, the summit was scheduled to run for two days in Brussels, but now there is only one day in Beijing. Xi Jinping refuses to come to Brussels and he will probably not attend the summit. Furthermore, no joint statements are planned.
What should we do to overcome years of frustration and skepticism?
