Good morning from Aarhus, where the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and its College of Commissioners are in the city to start the six-month EU presidency of Denmark.
Here is a first to start: large European companies, including Airbus and BNP Paribas, have urged Brussels to stop its orientation point -Rules, because the EU is considering releasing important elements in the midst of pressure from the US.
Today I explain the position of Denmark about commercial conversations with the US, while the pressure runs a deal within a week. And our parliamentary correspondent hears from the man who has activated a voice without trust in Von der Leyen.
Do their best
Denmark has praised the strategy of the European Commission to negotiate a tariff agreement with US President Donald Trump as the deadline to prevent a fully inflated trade war closer.
Context: Trump has threatened to impose 50 percent rates on EU goods, unless both parties can conquer a deal by July 9. While the committee leads for the EU, Member States have difficulty showing a united front as their economic interests vary.
Germany has criticized the Brussels approach as too ‘complicated’ and called for a fast deal that would help the industry, while France asked to continue an extension to continue negotiations and get a better agreement.
“We should.
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is today in Washington for a new round of conversations with his American counterparts, after almost three months of negotiations.
“The committee has negotiated and worn in a very smart way,” said Lose. “I am very sure that they will also do their utmost to find solutions that are in all the interests of the European continent.”
Denmark has just taken over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU and will be responsible for navigating every fall-out of the discussions.
“I absolutely don’t think Europe should escalate. We should try to find solutions,” said Lose. “Of course, if there are no solutions in sight, we should not just accept something.”
A EU official said yesterday that there would probably only be an agreement in principle for lower rates, while negotiations will continue after 9 July. But even that was not guaranteed, and the EU remained ready to take revenge with its own rates, they added.
EU ambassadors will meet tomorrow in case there is a deal to endorse.
Chart du Jour: Discomfort
Just a few weeks after the European central bank chef Christine Lagarde greeted a ‘global euro’ moment, some within the bank wonder if the power of the euro could be Too much of the good.
Not very confident
The man behind an attempt to overthrow the European Commission, said he expects it to fail, but promises that the President Ursula von der Leyen will get a heavy whims of European parliamentarians, writes Andy Bounds.
Context: the Romanian nationalist Gheorghe Piperea last week has a motion of no confidence in service, which was accepted by party leaders yesterday after he confirmed that he had reached the minimum of 72 signatures that support the move, or 10 percent of MEPS.
A parliamentary debate about the motion takes place on Monday, planned for Thursday, according to officials.
Although Von der Leyen will probably survive the mood, Piperea said that his main goal was not to get the committee that last happened in 1999 to keep Von der Leyen responsible about the so-called Pfizergate affair.
The EU court ruled in May against the committee on its refusal to share private SMS messages between Von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations to deliver COVID-19Gaccins.
The New York Times had sued the committee for its refusal to reveal the messages that were exchanged in 2021.
“The committee has not yet complied with the court. This is about the responsibility of the government,” said Piperea, of the right-wing nationalist Aur party. “I cannot accept impunity. The president will have to come and answer questions from EP members of the MEPs.”
Piperea said that three people had removed their names from the motion under political pressure, because the 27-person committee has representatives of five different parties. He refused to publish the remaining names.
“This pressure is a scandal. This is democracy in action,” said Piperea.
What to view today
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and chairman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen are holding a press conference in Aarhus.
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The German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is organizing the Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Berlin.
