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Euronews
23-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
'I hope the British public see how practical it is,' EU Trade Commissioner says about EU-UK deal
The EU Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič says he hopes the British public have a pragmatic view of the recent EU-UK deal covering trade, defence and fishing. The first ever EU-UK summit was 'an important step forward' in repairing relations between the two sides after almost of a decade of bitterness and mistrust following the referendum which saw the UK withdraw from the EU in 2020. 'I think we really made a very important step forward and we are opening the new chapter in EU-UK co-relations', Šefčovič told The Europe Conversation. 'We are eternal neighbours, we are the biggest trading partners', he said. Despite the warm words and practical nature of the deal, reaction from pro-Brexit politicians and newspaper columnists was one of outrage, accusing the Labour government of 'surrender' to Brussels. The deal opens up discussions for the UK to sign up to equal SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) standards, EU regulations relating to human, animal and plant life from risks like diseases and pests and carcinogens. When complete, it means the farming and fishing industries will no longer have the burden of extensive paperwork required to the enter the EU marketplace similar to the arrangement before the UK left the Single Market. The UK will adhere to EU standards - which the vast majority of production lines in the UK maintained since leaving the EU – but they will have full access to closest trade partners. Approximately 42% of UK trade goes to the EU. The deal also includes provisions to eventually allow young citizens of the EU and UK limited travel visa-free. In addition, UK travellers will soon be able to use E-Gates at EU airports meaning tourists won't have to wait in line to have their passports stamped. A key element to this, was also a Security and Defence partnership to bolster European security given the geopolitical instability facing the continent. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she would reverse the deal if she comes into power after the next general election, due to take place sometime in 2029. However, Šefčovič says he hopes the British public will appreciate the 'practical results and practical implementation of the agreements', he told Euronews. 'If you want to restore the bridge building among the young people, and between the EU and the UK if we want to make it easier for the farmers, for the fishers through the SPS agreement and if you want to make it even better for the people from Northern Ireland, I think these are all very important decisions,' he said. Meanwhile, in relation to the ongoing negotiations with the US over trade tariffs, Šefčovič indicated it's unlikely he'll settle for an arrangement which involves a widespread tariff base, similar to what the UK recently agreed. Goods coming from the UK will be subjected to a tariff baseline of 10%, but aluminium and steel tariffs of 25% have been removed as part of that deal. EU member states have stated they would be against any similar settlement, noting the size and heft of the EU's Single Market as an equal competitor to the US market. 'A very clear message I got from our trade ministers was that they insist on having a balance deal with the US. So of course we are ready to negotiate with our American partners,' he said. 'We are pushing for a balanced deal.' The US imposed 25% tariffs on EU cars, steel and aluminium and 20% on other goods last April. But then halved the 20% rate for a 90-day period to negotiate a new agreement. A new YouGov survey has found that between 41% and 55% of respondents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain think another world war is likely to occur within the next five to 10 years. The vast majority expect that such a conflict would involve the use of nuclear weapons. The research interviewed 7,095 people in the five European countries in the first two weeks of April. If another world war did break out, the respondents expect that their nation would be involved, ranging from 66% in Italy to 89% in Great Britain. Yet there is also a clear sense that European militaries are not prepared for a global conflict. Only France believes that its armed forces could effectively defend the country in the event of World War III, at 44%. The other four countries lack confidence in their armed forces' ability to defend their country, especially Germany, where only 16% have confidence and Italy, with 20%. However, survey respondents were likely to take part militarily if another world war did break out. Britain had the highest percentage of participants at 89%, while Italy had the lowest at 66%. Russia tops the list as the biggest obstacle to peace in Europe, with up to 82% of Western Europeans seeing it as a major or moderate threat on the continent. Islamic terrorism is the second biggest threat, with Germany being the European country most concerned about this issue at 78%. As Donald Trump continues to make controversial foreign policy moves, more than half of the surveyed people in Spain, Germany and France see tensions between Europe and the US as a major or moderate threat to continental peace. Since the start of his second term, Trump has made threats against Greenland, and caused confusion with his shifting stance on the war in Ukraine. Greenland is home to about 40 of the 50 critical minerals that the US considers vital to its national security. These minerals, which include uranium and graphite, are essential for manufacturing and global supply chains, although Greenland's resources remain largely unexplored.
Euronews
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Irish PM accuses Israel of committing ‘war crimes' in Gaza
Martin has condemned what he described as Israel's weaponisation of basic life necessities, referring to the country's restriction on food and aid from entering the strip for almost two months. He told The Europe Conversation that this raises very significant issues for the European Union and the human rights laws which are central to the bloc's existence. 'In my view, this constitutes a war crime,' the Irish Prime Minister, who belongs to the Fianna Fáil party, said. 'And I don't say that easily.' He argued that he is in favour of a resolution, and wants the release of the hostages, stating it is 'shocking to take people as hostages'. In November 2023, Martin visited a kibbutz where around 10% of the population was attacked during the 7 October attack by Hamas. 'I went to see, first hand, the impact of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel. I've condemned it from the outset when I went there to show empathy to people who have been attacked,' he said, adding that the hostages should have been released a long time ago. He said however that the war waged in response has 'lost any moral compass in terms of its unacceptable impact on the civilian population and on children'. 'And in Ireland, there is this sadness now and horror and a sense of helplessness at what we see on our TV screens: young children in stretchers and hospitals, very badly injured. Many families being wiped out, kids being orphaned. From a humanity point of view, it's beyond comprehension.' The Taoiseach denounced what he called Israel's 'doubling down' in terms of intensification of the war on the ground. 'I know that Israel would say, well, Hamas is in the hospitals and so forth. But children need basic access to medicine,' he said. Martin met with Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Thursday, discussing matters ranging from trade and support for Ukraine to the Middle East. During this meeting, the Taoiseach shared his concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis. 'I think the president heard clearly my perspective on it. And I think she understands where I'm coming from and where others are coming from,' Martin said. 'I anticipate that there will be a lot of thinking across Europe on this issue.' While he welcomed the European Union's announcement of the recent €1.6 billion financial support package for Palestinians, Martin noted that, when it comes to a response, he doesn't believe there is a consensus within the European Union. 'I acknowledge and I understand the different backgrounds of member states, and the historic background that has informed member states' approach to the Middle East,' he said. 'But there is an unacceptable level of death and destruction and displacement [in Gaza]. And it is, many people have said, going back to 2011, it's hell on earth.' He argued that the EU has been quick to communicate its concerns to other countries around the world when they violate territorial integrity, adding that this is fundamental to the European Union and what it stands for. Israel argued in the past that the restriction of aid is lawful and that Gaza still has enough available provisions. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the closure of the Israeli embassy in Dublin in December last year due to what he described as the "extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish government" which he characterised as "antisemitism". Last month, Fine Gael - in coalition with Martin's Fianna Fáil - confirmed its delegates at the European People's Party's Valencia congress refused to put their names to a motion condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and calling for the release of remaining hostages, and defended the party's position, as reported. Euronews has contacted the Israeli embassy in Brussels and the mission of Israel to the EU and NATO for a response.
Euronews
24-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
US instability opens door for European innovation
ADVERTISEMENT Europe needs to grasp the opportunities emerging from changing dynamics of world trade in order to regain lost competitiveness, the president of the European Patent Organisation has told Euronews. Antonio Campinos said Europe has lost productivity and competitiveness over the last two decades, and at the same time has focused too heavily on designing regulations while paying less attention to driving innovation. "We lost productivity when we compare ourselves to the Chinese and to the US," he said. "We lost proactivity in the past 20 years," he told Euronews' The Europe Conversation. In addition, Campinos said Europe's approach to developing new technologies is too risk-averse; stifling experimentation and new ideas, for fear of failure. This is in sharp contrast to the approach taken in the US, according to Campinos, where fear of failure is not a factor when attempting to invent new products. And it's this difference that's allowed the US to gain significant momentum ahead of Europe when it comes to emerging technologies including AI. "We have a different risk appetite than the US, for instance. The US does not fear failing. Failing for the US is the first attempt to success," he said. The European Patent Organisation has 39 members including Turkey and Norway. It receives around 200,000 applications per year; a figure that is dwarfed by numbers from the US and China. "If you compare to the US, which receives 600,000 application or China, 1.5 million applications," he said. Campinos concurs with a growing consensus that European regulation went "too far" in one direction, without balancing the need to support inventors to create and stay in Europe. "For instance, if you take our competition law or competition rules, they are there to protect free competition- that's a good thing. They are there to protect consumers," he said, adding: "Tell me, how many tech giants we have in Europe, in the IT area, for instance? How many big providers of cloud services we have, in Europe?" However, he also believes some of the current instability triggered by a more protectionist America and the Trump administration's confrontation with its biggest markets over tariffs will bring opportunity for struggling Europe, if leaders and decision-makers are willing to grasp the moment. "Necessity brings ingenuity and we're indeed in need, we are in deep need," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "Humankind is never as creative as when it is in need and we are in need, the sense of urgency is there." He says European stealth and size is key to its survival. "We are strong in Europe. We are still a big economic powerhouse." "And now with the geopolitical tensions, We might even have a strategic opportunity to attract talent, attract researchers, attract talented gifted people from the US to Europe," he said. ADVERTISEMENT The EU's Draghi report on the future of European Competitiveness commissioned by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for annual investment of €800 billion in high tech sectors, and radical reform of regulation. Draghi also warned Europe could die a "slow and agonising death" if the slump in productivity continues to go ignored. Campinos agrees with the need for Europe to invest more at home and retain European startups. "The Americans have a logo. They say, invented here, produced here. So we have to start thinking the same way. What is invented in Europe needs to be produced in Europe," he said. ADVERTISEMENT Trade tensions and Trump tariffs mean Europe must diversify into new markets as well as continuing to trade with China, according to Campinos. "We can't rely now exclusively on the US to protect us or to trade with us. We need to diversity our partnerships." Europe needs to "expand our free trade agreements with natural partners". "I would say Canada, for instance, Mexico, so north of US, south of US and obviously China," he said. ADVERTISEMENT
Euronews
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
'We are against any form of hatred, no matter what manifestation it takes,' Al-Issa says
ADVERTISEMENT Extremism, Islamophobia, and the ongoing war in Gaza remain pressing concerns for the Arab and Islamic worlds and are increasingly drawing global attention and scrutiny. These issues not only affect the regions directly involved but also resonate with broader international communities concerned with peace, justice, and human rights. Muslims make up more than a third of the world's population, with significant minority communities living across Europe. These communities often face complex challenges within broader society, including discrimination, social exclusion, and cultural misunderstandings that can hinder integration and mutual respect. In an interview with The Europe Conversation, Euronews spoke with Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, to discuss a wide range of religious, social, and political issues of shared concern between Europe and the Islamic world. Dr Al-Issa condemned all forms of hatred and division, strongly advocating for peaceful coexistence and encouraging Muslim minorities in Europe to actively contribute to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of their countries. Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Dr Al-Issa remains hopeful and believes that through sincere dialogue, justice, and cooperation, Gaza will eventually regain its strength, stability, and dignity. Founded in 1962 and based in Mecca, the Muslim World League is an Islamic non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Islam, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue. It is funded by Saudi Arabia and private donations.
Euronews
14-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Euronews Polish edition launches with exclusive EU and NATO interviews
The opening of Euronews's new Polish edition on Thursday was attended by representatives from Polish media, politics and civil society, highlighting their country's role in shaping the European information ecosystem. Euronews journalists interviewed Polish leaders, current and former ministers for an exclusive edition of The Europe Conversation, a television programme in which guests discussed key issues affecting Poland and Europe. In an interview, Poland's Interior and Administration Minister Tomasz Siemoniak addressed the issue of relations with the US administration and the future of NATO. "I assess these relations as very good," Siemoniak said. "There was President Andrzej Duda with President Trump. Minister Sikorski spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he spoke with the president's national security adviser. All this took place recently. There was the secretary of defence of the United States in Poland; it was his first visit." "These messages are strong and unequivocal." Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, commenting on the EU's security plans, pointed out that European countries will not be able to replace the US' presence and contributions to European security, which the Trump administration is already rolling back. "In the West we have two powerful blocs, with one having both military and economic power and the other only economic power," said Morawiecki. "The former is, of course, the Americans. Without the Americans, it is hard to imagine a lasting peace. Without American support, we in Europe could not be at peace for decades." "It is thanks to American support and presence in Europe that the Cold War was also won." Watch the interviews from the Euronews Polish launch event in the player above. Hungary has agreed to drop its veto and allow the renewal of the sanctions that the European Union has imposed on more than 2,400 individuals and entities, mainly from Russia, in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resolution happened on Friday, less than 48 hours before the measures were set to expire, a risky deadlock that had put the bloc in a situation of extraordinary suspense. Sanctions have to be renewed every six months by unanimity, meaning one member state can single-handedly derail the entire process. Hungary's veto was confirmed several times this week in meetings between ambassadors, with unsuccessful attempts on Monday, Wednesday and, most recently, Thursday afternoon. Each failure sent the clock ticking on. Budapest demanded several names be removed from the blacklist, several diplomats told Euronews. Following intense discussions behind the scenes, a compromise was eventually reached to release four people, three of whom Hungary wanted. Additionally, three individuals who are dead were excluded. As a result, the prolongation for another six months was approved on Friday morning. The sanctions were set to expire by midnight on Saturday. "They came to their senses, I guess," said a senior diplomat, referring to Hungary. "They realised siding with Putin is not the best course of action." The saga marks the second time in three months that Viktor Orbán's government has put Brussels on edge by threatening to undo the sanctions regime that the bloc has painstakingly built since February 2022. In January, it took exception to sectoral sections, which cover sweeping bans on oil, coal, technology, finance, luxury goods, transport and broadcasting, and the freezing of €210 billion in assets from Russia's Central Bank. Budapest relented after obtaining a non-binding statement on energy security. This time, it set its sights on the blacklist that includes hundreds of military commanders, government officials, oligarchs, propagandists and Wagner Group mercenaries, all of whom are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban. President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, are designated. The blacklist also targets hundreds of Russian companies in the military, banking, transport, energy, diamond, aviation, IT, telecoms and media sectors. Hungary argues that Donald Trump's inauguration as US president and his efforts to strike a peace deal merit a rethink of EU support for Ukraine and EU sanctions on Russia. The stance is not shared by other member states, who believe pressure on Moscow should continue for the duration of the war. They also want to pursue a "peace through strength" strategy to reinforce Ukraine's standing in the negotiations and establish the country's armed forces as an effective, long-lasting security guarantee. Orbán disagrees with the "peace through strength" mantra and last week prevented the adoption of joint conclusions on Ukraine at the end of a special EU summit, forcing his fellow leaders to release an attached "extract" signed off by 26. "Hungary has a different strategic approach on Ukraine," said António Costa, the president of the European Council. "That means that Hungary is isolated among the 27. We respect Hungary's position, but it's one out of 27. And 26 are more than one." Leaving the summit, Orbán replied: "The European Union has isolated itself from the US, isolated itself from China because of the trade war, and isolated itself from Russia because of the sanction policy. So if someone is isolated here, it's the European Union." The stark political divergence played out during the talks among ambassadors, with Hungary managing to block the roll-over on at least three separate occasions this week. The veto happened the same week that US and Ukrainian officials announced significant progress in their negotiations, easing tensions between both sides. Ukraine said it was ready to implement an interim 30-day ceasefire provided Russia reciprocated, while the US agreed to immediately lift the suspension on military assistance and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, which caused consternation in Brussels. "Ball is in Russia's court," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In response, Vladimir Putin said he was in favour of the proposal but asked for certain "nuances" to be clarified before committing himself. Putin heavily implied that Ukraine should stop receiving Western weaponry for the duration of the ceasefire. The European Commission has confirmed that it is already working on a 17th package of sanctions against Russia. This article has been updated with more information.
