EU points way to competitive future to catch U.S, China rivals
BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The European Commission presented on Wednesday its plans to reverse industrial decline in the bloc and step up efforts to compete with the United States and China in new fields such as AI, and to lower energy costs and cut red tape.
The Competitive Compass sets out the EU executive's course of legislation and initiations over the next two years in established sectors like steel and cars and new technologies, including biotech and quantum.
"If Europe accepts a managed and gradual economic decline, it is condemning itself to a 'slow agony'," the compass paper says, echoing former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, whose report on EU competitiveness last year is a foundation of the EU plan.
First up on Feb 26 will be the Clean Industrial Deal, a multi-year EU plan to help energy-intensive industries decarbonise and boost production of clean technology, accompanied by ideas to boost supplies of affordable energy.
On the same day, the EU executive will also unveil plans to reduce business reporting requirements, focused on sustainability reports larger businesses need to file, due diligence rules and a system that defines which investments can be labelled as climate-friendly.
The Commission says this will be the first of a series of simplification packages in its push to reduce the reporting burden by at least 25% and for smaller firms by at least 35%, cutting 37.5 billion euros ($39.0 billion) of costs over five years.
MORE COORDINATION AND INTEGRATION
The Competitive Compass roadmap also includes a proposal to favour European companies in public procurement tenders and a proposal that the Commission would coordinate national policies in energy infrastructure like electricity grids and storage.
The EU executive arm could have a similar coordination role in investment and the building out of digital infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence use, as well as in key manufacturing areas like critical medicines.
Further ideas include a special legal regime for innovative companies so that they can make better use of the EU's single market and access to finance, joint purchases by the EU as a whole of critical raw materials, and creating an integrated, single European market for the defence industry.
The Commission is under pressure from business, the centre-right European People's Party and countries including France not just to simplify reporting, but to delay or water down recently approved climate legislation.
The bloc is also facing fresh challenges from the new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump, who is promising to roll back U.S. corporate rules and urged the EU to make it easier to do business.
France proposed last week to delay indefinitely a new EU directive on corporate due diligence and to delay by two years the corporate sustainability reporting directive.
The Commission will hear further complaints on Thursday from the European auto sector over 2025 CO2 emissions targets and potential fines as its launches a "strategic dialogue' to ensure the sector's future.
"We will identify immediate solutions to safeguard industry's capacity to invest, by looking at possible flexibilities to make sure our industry remains competitive, without lowering the overall ambition of the 2025 targets," the compass paper says.
($1 = 0.9615 euros)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
LA protests: Newsom says Trump 'deranged' to deploy of thousands more troops
President Donald Trump's administration has sent thousands more troops to Los Angeles on a fourth day of chaotic protests against immigration raids, as the unrest spread to other US 700 US Marines have been deployed to the Los Angeles area and the contingent of National Guard troops mobilised to help quell the disorder has been doubled to 4, Governor Gavin Newsom said the deployment was fulfilling "the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president".The state is suing the president for sending in troops without the governor's permission. It is highly unusual for US military troops to have any domestic law enforcement role. It is the first time since 1965 that a president has sent National Guard troops to a US city without a governor's Marines were previously deployed domestically for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 11 September 2001 the Trump administration has so far not invoked the Insurrection Act, which would allow the troops to directly participate in civilian 700 troops of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, from Twentynine Palms, California, will help protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents, said the US Monday evening, Los Angeles police officers fired stun grenades and gas canisters to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who gathered outside a federal detention centre in downtown LA where undocumented immigrants have been Guard forces formed a cordon to keep protesters out of the building in the heart of America's second largest city. LAPD said late on Monday afternoon some demonstrators had thrown objects at also sprang up in at least nine other US cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Austin and San took to the streets of LA on Friday after it emerged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were raiding Latino protests unravelled into looting, self-driving cars being torched, rocks thrown at law enforcement and a major freeway blocked by say they arrested 29 people Saturday night and made 21 more arrests on face charges ranging from attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail and assault on a police officer to LAPD also says more than 600 rubber bullets and other less-than-lethal rounds were used over the the White House on Monday, Trump said his decision to send in the National Guard had stopped the city from "burning down". "You watch same clips I did: cars burning, people rioting, we stopped it," the president said. "I feel we had no choice... We did the right thing."The Republican president said he supported a suggestion that California's governor should be arrested over possible obstruction of his administration's immigration enforcement who has engaged in a war of words in recent days with Trump, responded on X that "this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism". He said the troop deployment was "about stroking a dangerous President's ego".Trump meanwhile posted a warning to protesters in LA who confront police and federal wrote on social media: "IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!"His border tsar, Tom Homan, who has been conducting ICE raids, applauded Trump's show of force in LA."I was there for two nights," Homan said on Fox News on Monday. "It was out of control. The city was burning. Governor Newsom did nothing."The mayor did nothing. So President Trump, God bless him. He sent the National Guard in to save property and save lives, and I salute him for doing well." But at a press conference on Monday evening, LA Mayor Karen Bass said the deployment of troops was a "deliberate attempt" by the Trump administration to "create disorder and chaos in our city".The city leader also said she was aware of at least "five raids by ICE throughout the region" on Monday, including one near her grandson's Monday, Governor Newsom's administration sued the Trump administration for deploying the National lawsuit argued that the president was violating the US Constitution and state has argued that Democratic President Joe Biden's administration allowed far too many immigrants to enter the has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the US-Mexico border, setting a goal of at least 3,000 daily arrests.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
FBI unmasks protester who attacked officers with cinderblocks at LA immigration riots
Pam Bondi has warned the man caught tossing cinderblocks at law enforcement during the anti-ICE riots has been identified and he and others will be hunted down. The man, who the FBI has named 'Reyes,' is set to be on the bureau's most wanted list with a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's identification, arrest, and conviction. 'That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house as we speak,' Bondi told Fox News. The man was photographed wearing a green and orange Los Angeles Lakers cap along with a mask. Donald Trump has demanded anyone wearing a mask during the demonstrations be arrested. 'He has been identified by great police work by the FBI,' Bondi said to Sean Hannity. Bondi described the man as breaking up cinderblocks before hurling them at officers. 'So you can run. You can't hide. We are coming after you, federally.' LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said demonstrators were arriving to protests armed with hammers and cinder blocks, throwing chunks of concrete or enormous rocks at officers simply doing their jobs. Asked at a news conference on Sunday night if LA needed the National Guard, McDonnell said he would have to 'make a reassessment', adding: 'Looking at tonight, you know, this thing has gotten out of control.' 'We are overwhelmed We had individuals out there shooting commercial grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill ya.' Many, he said, were wearing masks - a direct violation of Trump's 'no masks' mandate. At least 700 Marines have begun their journey into riot-torn Los Angeles along with 2,000 more National Guard troops as the city braces for another night of immigration protests. The Marines from the 2nd Battalion were seen gearing up next to a convoy of Humvees at Twentynine Palms, 142 miles from Downtown LA, after President Donald Trump 's controversial order. Harrowing scenes overnight saw demonstrators torch cars, attack authorities with fireworks, bricks of cement and tear gas and destroy infrastructure - even as state officials tried to maintain the 6,000 protests were primarily peaceful. The Marines and another 2,000 National Guard troops will join the 2,000 boots already on the ground as LA is turned into a battleground. Police have resorted to firing rubber bullets into crowds in an effort to quell the violence, which first kicked off on Friday on the back of a series of coordinated ICE raids across the city. Governor Gavin Newsom lashed out at Trump as the violence escalated, accusing him of inflaming tensions by sending in the National Guard and insisting the crisis would be better handled by state authorities. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the National Guard deployment 'unlawful' and said it 'trampled' on the state's sovereignty. Bonta sued the Trump administration Monday in response. This appears to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor. Trump has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' But Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass argued the state of California is instead being used 'as an experiment' by the Trump administration seeking to test the limits of its power. 'These are not the people we were told were going to be detained, and it makes me feel like our city is actually a test case,' she said. 'A test case for what happens when the federal government moves in and takes the authority away from the state or away from local government.' At least 700 Marines are on their way to Los Angeles along with 2,000 more National Guard troops as the streets descend into violence and lawlessness Their arrival comes as Downtown Los Angeles braces for a fourth night of riots as pro-migrant protesters take to the streets to rail against federal immigration agents and President Donald Trump 's ambitious deportation agenda She said ICE agents had struck fear through the hearts of hardworking Angelenos, who are now constantly nervous about the next raids. 'I can't emphasize enough the level of fear and terror that is in Angelenos right now, not knowing if tomorrow or tonight it might be where they live, it might be their workplace, should you send your kids to school, should you go to work,' she said. Newsom said on X he had been informed of the decision. He called the move reckless and 'disrespectful to our troops.' 'This isn't about public safety. It´s about stroking a dangerous President's ego,' Newsom said. But both Trump and the Pentagon responded to Newsom with a greater show of force on Monday with the additional deployments. These troops are tasked with defending federal assets and personnel, including the federal immigration agents at the center of the conflict. The forces have been trained in deescalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force, Northern Command said. These Marines are highly trained in combat and crisis response, with time in conflict zones like Syria and Afghanistan. Now, they'll be facing furious protesters - carrying gas canisters or other makeshift weapons in some instances - and have to quickly decide how to respond with an appropriate show of force. At least three buildings have been broken into and vandalized, according to LAPD chief Jim McDonnell, with 'significant damage and broken windows.' He has placed his city on a 'tactical alert', meaning LAPD officers can be mobilized and reallocated quickly to respond to incidents as they arise. The violent protests have sparked mass road closures and sweeping 'unlawful assembly' orders across the entirety of Downtown LA. McDonnell weighed in on the decision to mobilize Marines and the National Guard, raising concerns that 'without direct coordination [they] create logistical challenges and risks confusion during critical incidents.' According to a US official, troops will be armed with their normal service weapons but will not be carrying tear gas. They also will have protective equipment such as helmets, shields and gas masks. The Pentagon is working on a memo with clarifying language for the Marines that will lay out the steps they can take to protect federal personnel and property. Those guidelines also will include specifics on the possibility that they could temporarily detain civilians if troops are under assault or to prevent harm. Having the Marines deploy to protect federal buildings allows them to be used without invoking the Insurrection Act, one US official said. The Insurrection Act allows the president to direct federal troops to conduct law enforcement functions in national emergencies. But the use of that act is extremely rare. Officials said that has not yet been done in this case and that it's not clear it will be done. President George H.W. Bush used the Insurrection Act to respond to riots in Los Angeles in 1992 after the acquittal of white police officers who were videotaped beating Black motorist Rodney King. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tweeted late Saturday that he was considering deploying the Marines to respond to the unrest. Bondi compared the streets of LA to a third-world country on Monday night, expressing disdain for protesters and warning any violence will be prosecuted. 'We can prosecute federally people who assault state law enforcement officers and we are going to do it, we are going to prosecute them federally,' she said. 'Look at it out there, it looks like a third world country. And it's not, it's the United States of America.' On Monday, the LAPD arrived at the Federal Building to disperse a group of protesters who had gathered there. Officers were seen in riot gear and wielding batons and rubber bullets, giving a large, agitated mob of protesters five minutes to evacuate from the area. One protester shouted 'we're fighting to die' as cops set off flash bangs and deployed tear gas. The rioting is still ongoing in San Francisco as well after the violence spread on Sunday. While horrifying scenes and stories of violence emerged from Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, officers actually made more arrests in San Francisco, with 154 taken into custody compared to the 74 people picked up in LA.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Four European countries 'outraged' over new airline luggage rules passed by EU
Last week, the Council of Europe made two major decisions on the future of commercial air travel. The first was on compensation rights, and the second related to free hand luggage Four European countries are outraged at new rules that could limit how much delayed passengers can claim in compensation and when airlines can charge passengers for carrying hand luggage. Last week, the Council of Europe made two major decisions on the future of commercial air travel. The first was on compensation rights. The Council decided that passengers on short-haul flights would have to be delayed by four hours or more before they could claim compensation, rather than the current three. For long-haul flights, delays will have to be six or more hours. The good news for passengers is that compensation for those delayed on short-haul flights will increase from €250 (£211) to €300. However, compensation for long-haul flights will be cut from €600 to €500. The changes were first tabled 13 years ago and must still be approved by the European Parliament before they become law. The European Consumer Organisation, the BEUC, has argued that the changes will be a huge blow for consumers and deprive 'the majority of passengers from their compensation rights". The BEUC claims that most delays are between two and four hours. While the UK now sets its own compensation rules following Brexit, the changes will impact Brits if they come into force, as it will apply to passengers taking flights with an EU carrier. This means it could affect a passenger travelling to and from an EU country on an EU airline. The second decision relates to baggage allowance. Under the new rules, the concept to free luggage will be limited to 'personal items' that can be placed under the front seat. That will leave other stowed cabin bags exposed to charges. Spain, Germany, Slovenia, and Portugal voted against the changes, warning that they could mean passengers end up paying extra for almost any cabin bag. The Spanish government criticised the new rules as 'too restrictive.' Spain's Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, described the changes as an 'outrage'. The political agreement, adopted by a qualified majority in the EU Council, was voted against by Spain, Germany, Slovenia and Portugal. Minister Bustinduy argued that the new rules would violate consumer rights and "only strengthen the power and profits of airlines." If the rules are accepted, then Ryanair would have to change its free hand luggage policy. Right now, the budget Irish airline require customers to have a bag no larger than 40x20x25 centimetres, which must fit under the seat in front. Under the new rules, the dimensions will be changed to 40x30x15 centimetres. That means Ryanair would be obliged to allow a bag 10 centimetres wider, but could also reduce the depth currently allowed by 10 centimetres.
