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NewsTranscription
00:04Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30Europe's heatwave is intensifying.
00:33This, as a deal to permanently end the war in the Middle East
00:35and resolve the energy crisis, remains elusive.
00:38For the view from the European Parliament's biggest and most powerful political group,
00:42we'll be joined exclusively here on set by the President of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber.
00:47Plus, Ireland takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union today.
00:53For the next six months, the Irish government will chair 280 meetings
00:57and help steer the Union's legislative agenda.
01:00We'll be crossing live to Dublin Castle to speak to Ireland's European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne,
01:05where Ukraine's President Zelensky has also arrived today for the ceremony.
01:09And in an attempt to stop the desertification of Europe's high streets,
01:13the EU will from today impose a three euro fee on small parcels from China,
01:18mainly platforms such as Sheen and Teemu.
01:21The aim, of course, is to curb the flow of cheap imports
01:24and encourage consumers to think twice about how they shop.
01:28But first, Europe's deadly heatwave has broken records in the east of the continent
01:32and although millions of northern and southern Europeans are enjoying some fresh air this week,
01:37temperatures are set to rise this weekend,
01:40putting infrastructure and public services under increasing strain.
01:43And the issue is also becoming increasingly political.
01:46We can debrief now here on set with our Europe editor, Maria Taddeo.
01:50Good morning, Maria.
01:51Just tell us, what is the latest on the temperatures front
01:53and also on the political debate around it?
01:55Well, certainly, good morning, Maeve.
01:57Because it is political, it's about the politics of climate,
01:59but also the politics around policy when it comes to the Green Deal.
02:04And as you say, when you look at the temperatures,
02:06they are going up again.
02:08They will be picking up in the Iberian Peninsula,
02:11in France, here too, in Belgium, parts of Germany, Switzerland.
02:15And so we see now going into the weekend, we're looking at around 30 degrees Celsius.
02:20Of course, the big question now, and this is a key matter,
02:23it's not a trivial question, is whether this heatwave,
02:26this pickup in temperatures would look similar in intensity and length
02:30compared to the one that we just came out from on June 21st.
02:34I remember we had almost seven days of temperatures that smashed records,
02:39but also put a lot of strain, under strain, public transportation and also health care.
02:44When you look at the reality of this, this is not a trivial matter,
02:48and this is not a question of, well, it's summer, so obviously the temperatures will go up.
02:52The figures show us that from June 21st until now,
02:55there was an excess death rate of 1,300 people.
02:58So this has become a real question of public health.
03:02What the experts also suggest is that when you look at heatwaves,
03:05they are becoming more pronounced but also more regular.
03:08And a lot of this, to go back to an initial point, which is the politics around this,
03:12is the idea of very hot summers, the air conditioning, again,
03:16that has crystallized a debate among those who say there is a necessity now in Europe.
03:21These temperatures will become the new normal.
03:24And there is also a question of comfort, the idea of mass installation of air conditioning,
03:29using it more.
03:30Remember, for many years, it was vilified in Europe to install air conditioners all over the place.
03:35It's not a concept that is very natural, organic for Europeans,
03:38versus those who now say, if you believe the way to fix these temperatures.
03:43Again, I go back and point to Teresa Rivera, for example.
03:47She is the Executive Vice President of the Commission,
03:49but also a very outspoken European climate advocate.
03:51She says, if you believe the way to deal with this is just to install AC,
03:56there is a fundamental issue.
03:57And all of that also picks up on the question of the Green Deal.
04:01The Europeans made a pledge in 2019 to cut emissions.
04:04The question now is, can this Green Deal, as it was created,
04:08and obviously to see the benefits of it, there will be time,
04:10a money that will have to be invested, can it be sustained,
04:14or ultimately we're going into dismantling of it.
04:16And this heat wave that we've seen this summer may accelerate that process.
04:20Okay, Maria Steyer, you're better.
04:21Thank you so much for that analysis.
04:23And now for his view on all of this coming up,
04:25we'll be joined by Manfred Weber,
04:27the President of the European People's Party,
04:29Europe's largest political group, German member of the CSU.
04:34Manfred Weber has been a member of the European Parliament since 2004
04:38and is one of the European Parliament's most influential
04:41and most powerful politicians.
04:43So obviously he's a very busy man.
04:44So we're thrilled that you made it here to the Europe Today set.
04:46Welcome.
04:47Thank you so much. Good morning.
04:48Great to have you with us.
04:49Look, this heat wave that we're seeing,
04:51is that just normal June weather in your view,
04:53or is it climate change? Is it global warming?
04:55Well, that's up to the scientists and experts to assess this.
04:58That's not up to the politicians.
05:00We see an unnormal situation, that's clear.
05:02And we face a new reality on European level,
05:04and we have to prepare for this.
05:06So on the one hand, I'm quite proud as an European politician
05:09that we did the Green Deal, that we are going forward,
05:12that Europe was the continent who made the Paris Agreement.
05:14You remember when we had a global agreement
05:16on the fight against climate change, we made it possible.
05:19So Europe showed leadership.
05:21But your party has been tinkering away at the Green Deal,
05:23rolling back parts of the Green Deal.
05:26My party is the Ursula von der Leyen party.
05:28My party is the party who did the Green Deal in the last mandate,
05:31and we fully support the Green Deal.
05:32It's our responsibility in today's world to deliver on these aspects.
05:37What we are asking for is to be reasonable in the business aspect,
05:41and that is what we are.
05:42We cannot kill our industry due to climate change.
05:44That is what we are asking for.
05:46So we need a common understanding to bring things in balance.
05:50That's always EPP approach.
05:51And now jeopardizing the debate, of course,
05:53is this conversation over air con,
05:55whether to invest in air conditioning.
05:56Where is your view here?
05:58Is it a necessity or a luxury?
06:00It's a necessity.
06:01No debate about this.
06:03In former times, it was no question at all
06:05that we need heating in the north of Europe
06:07because it's colder there.
06:08There's no question.
06:09And today, if climate change,
06:11if hotter temperatures are arriving,
06:13we need also air conditioning.
06:14So it's a question of practical needs
06:17and to invest there, the European Union, by the way.
06:19Even though the scientists would argue
06:20that would go against the goals of the climate plan?
06:22I don't see it like this, you know.
06:23Especially on air conditioning,
06:25we have the big advantage that if you also combine it
06:28with photovoltaics or with solar panels,
06:32then you can easily use the solar energy for air conditioning.
06:36So that's not a contradiction.
06:38We have that way towards green,
06:40sustainable energy production in Europe
06:41to be not anymore depending on the street of our moves,
06:44to use all the other debate of the last weeks,
06:47that we are ready for the future
06:48and then we can challenge this.
06:51So you're clearly going against it.
06:52Trisa Ribera, do you have your air con on in your office today?
06:55I think so.
06:56I hope so.
06:57Okay.
06:58Well, many, of course, Europeans do not
06:59because they can't afford it.
07:00But let's move from climate to migration.
07:02The Parliament has just approved a law
07:04on these very controversial return hubs.
07:07Should EU money be spent on these return hubs, Mr Weber?
07:10It must work.
07:11You know, in this moment of time,
07:13only 20% of the decisions
07:15that someone must leave the European Union
07:17is an illegal year.
07:18And not from a politician.
07:20It's from a judge.
07:21It's from an official service in the European Union.
07:25If someone is illegal,
07:27he has to leave the European Union.
07:28And only 20% are enforced in this moment.
07:30And who should pay for these return hubs?
07:32Well, return hub is only one part of a big legislation.
07:36And just to remind everyone,
07:37we were fighting about this migration thing
07:39for more than 10 years in Europe.
07:41It created a lot of...
07:42Since Lampedusa in 2013?
07:43It created a lot of problems
07:44and also created a lot of right extreme parties.
07:46And now I am proud as European politician
07:48that I can tell people that we have now a solution,
07:51that 25 member states agreed,
07:53that all center parties agreed.
07:54We do it together and we have an answer on this.
07:57We enforce it.
07:57And the main message is the state decides
07:59who is arriving and not to smugglers
08:01in the Mediterranean Sea.
08:02And which countries will these return hubs be in?
08:04Well, it's now up to the member states.
08:06So they have the chance...
08:07What's your preference?
08:08It's not up to us on the European level
08:10to decide about this.
08:11We have partners in Africa,
08:12in the Middle East,
08:13where we can work with,
08:14but it's up now to the colleagues
08:15to coordinate and to find partners.
08:18And it's not a must, you know.
08:20If France and other countries
08:21are not using this option,
08:22then it's fine.
08:23But we have to enforce it.
08:24It must work.
08:25And you mentioned France.
08:26What about Spain, though?
08:27This week, of course, big news
08:28with Pedro Sánchez saying
08:30that one million people have applied
08:32for his program for undocumented migrants.
08:34He argues that without immigration,
08:36Spain would lose 19% of its GDP by 2050.
08:40Does he have a point?
08:41Well, Europe needs migration,
08:43legal migration.
08:44We need workers for our care system,
08:47for example.
08:48So that's obvious.
08:49So do you support his plan?
08:50But the key question is
08:51who is invited to stay here?
08:53And if you legalize all illegals
08:55who are today in Spain,
08:56that's not the part
08:57of the persons and personalities we need.
08:59We need qualified people
09:01who can really contribute to our system.
09:03And that is not happening in Spain.
09:05These people, though, will contribute.
09:06By the way, if we speak about
09:07a number of above one million people,
09:10sorry, that's not normal migration.
09:13That's not normal migration
09:14when you have such a massive increase.
09:17But these people are already
09:18in the country working illegally.
09:19They're undocumented.
09:20So now if they become legal,
09:22they'll contribute.
09:23That's up to the authorities
09:24to assess this.
09:25Again, nothing against legal migration.
09:27But again, if you speak about
09:28one million in a few weeks
09:30to be legalized,
09:31that's not a normal procedure.
09:33I hope that this is not
09:34a normal procedure.
09:35That's why I'm not in favor of this.
09:37And that has also impact to the others.
09:38So if Spain is doing it,
09:39they have the right of freedom of movement.
09:41They can go to France.
09:43They can go to Belgium.
09:43They can go to Poland.
09:44Are these people a threat, do you think?
09:46That's why it is an issue
09:47for all of us.
09:48And that's why I would expect
09:49that also leaders speak about
09:50these kind of massive,
09:51one million people,
09:52massive legalization.
09:54That's an issue for Europe.
09:55Another big issue for Europe,
09:57China.
09:57We saw those very delicate talks
09:59this Monday night
10:00between Maris Sefcovic
10:01and his counterpart from Commerce.
10:03They put October now
10:04as a deadline.
10:05Is this just to avoid
10:06confrontation with China?
10:07No, we have a totally
10:09fundamentally change
10:10of our approach to China.
10:11Stop naivety.
10:12We need a level playing field
10:14where we clarify
10:15that subsidies cannot be part
10:16of a free market economy
10:17perspective.
10:19And I'm also sure
10:20that we have to talk
10:20about the digital infrastructure
10:22of Europe.
10:22For example,
10:23the 6G infrastructure
10:24of tomorrow,
10:25though,
10:25if we invest
10:25in digital infrastructure,
10:27must be China free.
10:28So I think we have to be clear
10:29that the new world
10:31is arriving
10:31and China must understand this.
10:33And which team
10:33are you on here?
10:34Team Ursula von der Leyen
10:35or Team Friedrich Merz?
10:36They have completely
10:37different views vis-a-vis China.
10:38We also have Team Emmanuel Macron.
10:40We have different teams
10:41in Europe.
10:41I would ask for one team
10:43and I'm on the side
10:44of Sefcovic in Europe
10:45to defend our European interests.
10:47Stop naivety.
10:48That's the main message.
10:49Continue to do business.
10:50No problem on this,
10:51but stop naivety.
10:52What if there's no deal
10:53though by October?
10:54Then we are entering
10:56into a phase of a conflict
10:58and we have to be clear
11:00that European Union,
11:00we speak about 450 million consumers.
11:02We are strong.
11:03We are economically
11:04the world power of this world.
11:06And does conflict mean trade war
11:07in your view?
11:08I don't ask for it.
11:11I don't look for a kind of conflict.
11:14But the Chinese must understand
11:15that the overcapacities,
11:17again,
11:17with solar panels,
11:18they did it already
11:19to occupy the global market
11:21and the same want to do
11:22on the electric vehicles,
11:23on the electric cars.
11:24And we cannot allow this.
11:26We are the continent of trading.
11:28We are the continent of free market.
11:29No question on this,
11:30but it must be fair
11:31and it must be level playing field.
11:33And just on that point,
11:34you mentioned trade.
11:34You finally have the trade deal
11:35over the line with the United States.
11:37But just last week,
11:38we heard that announcement
11:39that President Trump
11:40might introduce tariffs
11:41because of the digital taxes
11:42Europe's imposing on the Americans.
11:44What does that mean then
11:45for the deal that you supported?
11:47Well, I'm a man
11:49of transatlantic cooperation.
11:50I love to work together
11:51with the Americans.
11:52The current president
11:53is a special one.
11:54Everybody knows it.
11:54But we have now the deal.
11:56We have agreed on it.
11:57Europe delivered
11:58as we promised it.
11:59And the EPP party
12:00was the adult in the room.
12:01You know,
12:01others were playing on this.
12:02We always said
12:03from the very first moment
12:04on that our business
12:05needs certainty,
12:06needs stability now
12:07in the trade relationship
12:08with America.
12:09That's why good
12:10that we have it now.
12:11And if we continue the fight,
12:13then I should also say
12:14let's stand up as Europeans
12:16and be proud again.
12:17450 million consumers
12:18means also for America
12:19that we are the biggest
12:20external market for them.
12:22So let's use this power.
12:23And if he makes good
12:24on these new tariffs,
12:25will you pull out of the deal,
12:26the Tunbir deal?
12:27We want to keep the deal
12:29and I would advise us
12:30not to react on every tweet
12:32and every message
12:32from Donald Trump
12:33because in every morning show
12:34we speak about Trump
12:36and that is exactly
12:37what he wants to do.
12:38Do you think he's just bluffing?
12:39Let's talk about us.
12:40Let's talk about our strengths
12:41and our values,
12:42what we stand for
12:43and especially on the trade issue.
12:45You know,
12:45we have now Australia,
12:46we have New Zealand,
12:47we have Mexico,
12:47we have Japan,
12:48we have Mercosur now in place.
12:50Enforced.
12:50I'm happy.
12:51My party was always
12:52a party of free trade
12:53and we believe
12:54that having this China
12:55and also with America
12:56more problems,
12:57we have to look for others
12:58who are rule-based,
12:59who love to work together,
13:00rule-based and value-based
13:02and that's why
13:02there's a huge opportunity now
13:04for the biggest market
13:05in the world
13:06and that is European Union.
13:07And as you say,
13:08we need to focus on ourselves,
13:09focus on Europeans.
13:09What's the new mood now
13:10in Europe regarding
13:11the new Hungarian
13:12head of state,
13:13Peter Mayer?
13:15Well,
13:15I visited him
13:16two years ago
13:17when he entered
13:18into European politics,
13:20European Parliament,
13:20his teaser party
13:21first time was elected.
13:23in Hungary
13:24and I invited him
13:25to join the EPP group
13:27in the European Parliament.
13:28He accepted this
13:29and he repaid
13:31this investment of trust
13:32now with a huge success.
13:33You know,
13:34last week
13:35when we had our gathering
13:36of the EPP leaders
13:37with Merz
13:38and all the colleagues,
13:39Peter Mojo
13:40was the first time
13:40inside of the EPP family
13:42being present
13:42and it was a moment
13:43of big strength
13:45and also pride
13:45because the Hungarian voice
13:47is back on the European level.
13:48And will it be back
13:49when it comes to Ukraine?
13:50Well,
13:51he already committed,
13:52you know,
13:5290 billion.
13:52he approved it,
13:53he gave green light
13:54and also the first chapters
13:55on the negotiations now,
13:57he already agreed,
13:58he already gave green light.
13:59So we see
14:00the fundamental change now.
14:02Orban is gone
14:02and all right extreme,
14:03all right populists
14:04in Europe
14:04have a big problem
14:05because their hero
14:06lost the elections
14:07against young EPP leader
14:09Peter Mojo.
14:10And just on a lighter note,
14:11I'm sure you've been watching
14:12the World Cup,
14:13the Mannschaft is out.
14:14True, true.
14:15And I have now
14:16as a chairman,
14:17I have to consider now
14:17what I'm looking for
14:19and what I'm supporting for.
14:20so we still have
14:21a lot of European teams
14:22being present there.
14:23Who are you supporting?
14:24And let's see,
14:26let's see
14:26how they perform
14:27and wish them all the best.
14:29Is it time
14:29for Julian Nagelsmann
14:30to stand aside?
14:31Well,
14:34losing is never
14:35a good thing
14:35and in this moment
14:36of time,
14:37especially in this game,
14:38we saw a lack
14:39of engagement.
14:40I respect every
14:41individual player
14:42but there was
14:42a lack of engagement
14:43and that's why
14:44it has to be discussed.
14:45And now that Germany's out,
14:47now that Germany's out,
14:48who, Manfred Weber,
14:49will you support?
14:50Hard question,
14:51hard question.
14:52I keep neutrality
14:54in this moment of time.
14:55Okay,
14:55thank you so much,
14:56Manfred Weber,
14:56our guest here on Europe Today
14:57for joining us.
14:58Thank you.
14:59And speaking of neutrality,
15:01moving on,
15:01an EU member since 1973,
15:03Ireland takes over
15:04the rotating presidency
15:05of the European Union
15:06today for the next
15:07six months.
15:08Ukraine's President Zelensky
15:10has arrived in Dublin
15:11for the symbolic ceremony
15:12that will take place today
15:13in Dublin Castle.
15:14For more,
15:15we can straight head
15:16over to the castle
15:17and bring in
15:17the Irish Minister
15:18for European Affairs,
15:19Thomas Byrne.
15:20Good morning,
15:20Minister.
15:20So lovely to have you
15:21on Europe Today today.
15:23Just tell us,
15:23President Zelensky
15:24has arrived for the proceedings.
15:25This is the first surprise,
15:27if you like,
15:27of the presidency.
15:29Yeah,
15:30well,
15:30we're delighted
15:31that President Zelensky
15:32is here.
15:32President Costa
15:33of the European Council
15:34will be here as well.
15:35This will be a ceremony,
15:36I suppose,
15:36to mark the opening day.
15:38It's not just ceremonial.
15:40We have about 20 meetings
15:41of working parties
15:42in Brussels
15:42happening today.
15:43I've already got calls
15:44from senior MEPs
15:46on particular files
15:47this morning.
15:49So we're starting
15:50with action.
15:51We're starting
15:51straight into it
15:52and it's a very exciting moment
15:54for all of us
15:55here in the Irish system.
15:56It's a generational moment
15:57with some really important files
15:59on enlargement
16:00when you mentioned Ukraine,
16:01but also on the MFF
16:02and the One Market Roadmap
16:04as well.
16:04These are key files
16:06for Ireland,
16:07but also for Europe.
16:07Just on Ukraine,
16:09how will you advance
16:09the talks
16:10on their membership
16:10into the EU
16:11over the next six months?
16:14Well, look,
16:14we've already achieved
16:15a lot now
16:16at the end of the Cyprus presidency
16:17and I want to pay tribute
16:18to them for that.
16:19So our ambition
16:20is to open more clusters
16:21in the negotiations
16:22with Ukraine.
16:23So we're already
16:25working on that.
16:26We've had discussions
16:26yesterday,
16:27we've continued
16:27to have discussions
16:28this week
16:28to see how far
16:30we can go
16:30to have an intergovernmental
16:32conference this month.
16:33and obviously
16:34all of the member states
16:34have to agree to that
16:35and we'd have to work
16:37really, really hard
16:39to get the member states
16:40to come to that view.
16:41So look,
16:42that's a serious
16:43work in progress
16:43at the moment.
16:44And of course,
16:45Mr. Brayne,
16:46this presidency comes
16:46just as the EU
16:47was seriously lagging
16:48behind the US and China.
16:49How will you help
16:50make the EU
16:51more competitive
16:51over the next six months?
16:54Well, I think
16:54the One Market Roadmap
16:55sets out
16:56a long series of actions
16:58that we should be
16:59implementing this year,
17:01much of which
17:01has to be done
17:02during the Irish presidency.
17:04That will make us
17:05more competitive,
17:06more resilient
17:07and make it easier
17:08to do business in Ireland.
17:09On my agenda,
17:10the simplification agenda
17:11is really important
17:12to make it cheaper
17:13to do business
17:14but also protecting
17:15the basic values
17:16that make us Europeans.
17:18But we have other items
17:19such as the Savings
17:20and Investment Act,
17:21the EU Inc. proposal
17:22and that long list
17:23on the roadmap.
17:25So our entire system
17:26is geared to trying
17:28to get agreement
17:28among the member states.
17:29It's not all on us.
17:30Member states have to agree
17:31and the European Parliament
17:32has to agree as well.
17:33But if we can do this,
17:35I think it will be generational,
17:37it will be really important
17:38and a significant boost
17:40to the European economy.
17:41And just finally,
17:42what would a successful
17:42presidency look like to you?
17:44And are Irish people
17:45as enthusiastic
17:46as you today?
17:48I think Irish people
17:49are always very proud
17:50when we take over
17:51the presidency
17:51of the European Union.
17:52Irish people are very supportive
17:54of the European Union
17:55and they know the benefits
17:56that the European Union
17:57has given to peace
17:58and to economic prosperity,
18:00not just in Ireland
18:01but across the European Union.
18:03So I think there's a huge awareness
18:04in Ireland today
18:05of what's happening
18:06and I think Irish people
18:08will have a lot of goodwill
18:09towards government
18:10and the servants
18:10who will be doing
18:11a huge amount of the work
18:12in meetings in Brussels
18:13and in Dublin.
18:15But today,
18:15it's a day to start the work
18:17but also to mark the occasion.
18:19Okay.
18:19Minister Thomas Byrne,
18:20thank you so much
18:21for joining us there
18:22from Dublin Castle
18:23as Dublin takes on that role
18:25as presiding over the EU Council
18:26for the next six months.
18:28And now moving on
18:29after a trip to Turkey
18:30yesterday,
18:31just days ahead
18:31of the NATO summit,
18:33the EU Commission President
18:33Ursula von der Leyen
18:35has moved on
18:35to Azerbaijan today
18:37to build on EU influence
18:38in a region
18:39traditionally
18:39in Russia's orbit.
18:41For more on her ambitions
18:42we can cross now
18:43to Baku
18:43and bring in
18:44your news correspondent
18:45Nadira Tudor.
18:46Good morning, Nadira.
18:47Tell us more
18:48about her visit today.
18:50Well, this is a significant visit
18:52because it reflects
18:53just how strategically important
18:54the South Caucasus
18:55has become for the EU.
18:57President Ursula von der Leyen
18:59is set to hold talks
19:00with Azerbaijani
19:00President Ilham Aliyev.
19:02Discussions are expected
19:03to focus on four key areas.
19:05The first,
19:05to support the Azerbaijan-Armenian
19:07peace process.
19:08Second,
19:08to strengthen economic ties.
19:10Third,
19:11improving transport
19:11and trade links
19:12between Europe
19:13and Central Asia
19:14and finally
19:15to expand connectivity
19:16through the middle corridor.
19:18Now, the backdrop
19:19for these priorities
19:20is against Europe's
19:21changing geopolitical landscape.
19:23Since Russia's
19:24full-scale invasion
19:25of Ukraine,
19:26the EU has not been secret
19:28about its desire
19:29to diversify both
19:30its energy supplies
19:31and its trade routes.
19:32Currently,
19:3316 European countries
19:34import gas
19:35from Azerbaijan
19:35from Azerbaijan to Italy
19:37and Italy being the top importer.
19:40And as a consequence,
19:41the country has become
19:43increasingly important
19:44as a gas supplier
19:45and the middle corridor
19:46emerging as a key
19:47alternative trade route
19:49connecting Europe
19:50with Central Asia
19:51and China.
19:52And it's important to note
19:53that this is also
19:54von der Leyen's first visit
19:55to Azerbaijan
19:56since Azerbaijan and Armenia,
19:58the two neighbours,
19:59initial their landmark
20:00peace agreement.
20:01So, one could deduct
20:03that this makes
20:03today's meetings
20:04as much about
20:05long-term regional stability
20:06as about energy and trade.
20:08The two leaders
20:08are expected
20:09to make joint statements
20:10later this afternoon.
20:12And just yesterday,
20:13we saw the President
20:14von der Leyen,
20:15she was in Turkey
20:15with two EU commissioners.
20:17Tell us about that.
20:19Well, this visit
20:20is all part of
20:20a much broader week
20:21of EU diplomacy
20:23across the region.
20:24And while President von der Leyen
20:25is focusing
20:26on the South Caucasus,
20:27there are several
20:28senior European commissioners
20:30in Turkey
20:30for high-level talks
20:31covering things like
20:32security, trade, migration
20:34and the future
20:36of EU-Turkey relations.
20:38And expected discussions
20:39include modernising
20:40the EU-Turkey customs union,
20:43regional security,
20:44migration cooperation
20:45and connectivity projects
20:47all linking Europe
20:48with the Black Sea,
20:49the South Caucasus
20:50and Central Asia.
20:52And if we put everything
20:53into context,
20:54the visits show
20:54that European Union
20:55is looking at the region
20:56as one connected
20:58strategic neighbourhood
20:59where energy, security,
21:01trade routes,
21:02defence cooperation
21:03and political stability
21:05are increasingly
21:06being seen
21:07as intertwined.
21:09OK, Nadira Tudor,
21:10thank you so much there
21:11for that live broadcast
21:12from Baku.
21:14Now, earlier on Europe Today,
21:15we were joined
21:16by Manfred Weber,
21:17the president
21:17of the most influential
21:18and powerful political group
21:20in the European Parliament,
21:21that's the European People's Party.
21:23Our Europe editor,
21:23Maria Taddeo,
21:24was listening
21:24into that interview
21:25and joins me now
21:26for some analysis.
21:27Maria,
21:27what were your takeaways?
21:29Look,
21:29I think it's,
21:30well,
21:30first of all,
21:31a comprehensive interview
21:32that ultimately touched upon
21:34the main topics
21:35that are driving
21:36the political agenda
21:36in Europe
21:37in which,
21:38we've got to be honest,
21:39the EPP,
21:40so the Conservatives
21:40across Europe,
21:41now dominate the scene.
21:43They dominate the scene
21:44in Brussels
21:44and they nominate
21:45the scene
21:46across the different capitals
21:47in the European Council.
21:48So there has been
21:49a shift
21:49into more Conservative positions
21:52from the European public itself.
21:54So to that extent,
21:55they play with an advantage
21:56over the rest.
21:57But I would argue
21:58the thing that to me
22:00struck out the most,
22:01and it is a real question to me
22:03for the rest of the year
22:04for the European Union,
22:05is China.
22:06What to do with the Chinese
22:09and the trade deficit
22:10that not only was a record last year,
22:13but if you look at the numbers
22:13so far this year,
22:14it seems that this will also be
22:16another record year
22:17when it comes to that gap
22:18between what the Chinese
22:19are selling and buying
22:20from the European Union.
22:22As it stands,
22:23every official,
22:23and I think Manfred Weber
22:24was very clear about this too,
22:26they believe that it's simply
22:27not sustainable
22:28to continue going down this path.
22:29To me,
22:30what was interesting is
22:31the Commission has decided
22:32now to take some of the heat off
22:33and wait until October.
22:34We are also expecting
22:35new tools
22:36that will be created
22:37and announced
22:38in order to deal with China
22:40if they do not level
22:41this playing field.
22:42Of course,
22:42you could argue
22:43the European Union
22:44already has many trade tools
22:45that it could have implemented
22:46had it had the political courage
22:48to do it.
22:49And I say political
22:50because the data does show
22:51these deficits
22:52cannot continue.
22:54To me,
22:54what is interesting is
22:55out of this trio of Germans,
22:57the German Chancellor,
22:58the head of the Commission,
22:59and now Manfred Weber
22:59with the EPP,
23:00he took a very strong line.
23:01You know,
23:02he said,
23:02we cannot kill our industry.
23:03And China now,
23:04that's a quote,
23:05is a serious problem
23:06for the European industry.
23:07And I particularly thought
23:08it's interesting
23:09when you said
23:09what happens after October.
23:11And he did say,
23:12ultimately,
23:12decisions in October
23:14will have to be made
23:14because of the EU
23:16having set a deadline,
23:17not triggered
23:18any countermeasures,
23:19decides to extend
23:20again this waiting period,
23:21it can only be interpreted
23:22as a sign of weakness.
23:24And Beijing will read it as such.
23:25Okay, Maria,
23:26today are Europe better.
23:27Thank you so much
23:27for your analysis.
23:29And you can read,
23:29of course,
23:29more about that interview
23:30and all the other stories
23:31we're covering for you
23:32here on Euronews.
23:33You can check out
23:34Euronews.com.
23:35You can also reach out
23:36to us at
23:37EuropeToday
23:37at Euronews.com
23:39with any of your thoughts
23:40or comments or queries.
23:41But that brings this edition
23:42of Europe Today.
23:43Thank you so much
23:44for your company,
23:44as always.
23:45Take care and see you
23:46very soon
23:47on Euronews.
24:15Euronews.
24:59Abonnez-vous !
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