In less than two weeks the commissioners in-waiting nominated by president Ursula von der Leyen will start being heard by members of the European Parliament in view of their confirmation votes next month. Based on the various statements sent to committees ahead of the hearings, there is one major change …
European Parliament
Von der Leyen promises more EU ‘economic statecraft’
Ursula von der Leyen is expected to be confirmed for a second term as president of the European Commission by the European Parliament today on the basis of a working programme for the years 2024-2029 that emphasizes security issues.
Trade committee calls for results from enhanced EU Taiwan dialogue
The European Parliament’s international trade committee wants the European Commission to up its game in its trade cooperation efforts with Taiwan.
Comment: For gender-balanced trade, elect more women into parliaments
The upcoming European Parliament elections and general elections across Europe are an opportunity for women to elect more female representatives in the pursuit of gender-balanced trade policies.
Foreign subsidies regulation: MEPs to haggle over monetary thresholds, non financial contributions
The journey of the new EU foreign subsidies regulation through the European Parliament promises to be a rocky but not impossible one as key dividing lines among political groups emerge over critical aspects of the new legislation.
IPI: MEPs concede in clause that would have diminished foreign influence in capitals
In a few weeks or months the European Union will have a new regulation in place that aims at fostering ‘reciprocity’ in public procurement markets. French minister for trade Franck Riester, who led trilogue talks on behalf of the French presidency of the Council, announced triumphantly that, with the political …
Week in Brussels: UK Contact Group, Vietnam FTA, digital platform sellouts
European Parliament sets up new UK Contact Group; EU Vietnam civil society dialogue postponed until further notice; France, Germany and Netherlands want even tougher rules on company takeovers by digital platforms.
Van Brempt report outlines parliament position on vaccine exports, TRIPS, China
The European Parliament is preparing a report on trade policy post COVID-19. The drafting is in the hands of the Belgian S&D group member Kathleen van Brempt and will help define the parliament’s positioning in several trade policy files in the coming months. A first version of the report is …
MEPs vote on supply chain due diligence report
The European Parliament is taking a stand on what it wants from EU-wide ‘corporate due diligence’ ahead of legislation that the European Commission is yet to table in a report drafted by Lara Wolters, a Dutch MEP from the S&D group. The report is 79 pages long, has a record …
MEPs call for unilateral EU actions first before ratifying China investment agreement
The international trade committee debated the EU China Comprehensive Investment Agreement – also known as CAI – for the first time since its conclusion last December. A cross-political group consensus is emerging: the EU needs to move first in other areas of policy affecting its China economic and political relationship …