by Oui
Wed Sep 13th, 2023 at 07:06:38 PM EST
Live: 2023 State of Union address by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen | DW News |
The World seen through the eyes of someone living in the Ivory Tower ... so far outside reality it is in danger of being disinformation or pure propaganda. Reality is a Europe divided and forever losing its foundation principles.
Von der Leyen says now 'Europe's moment to answer call of history'
Von der Leyen wrapped up her annual address to the EU parliament, by addressing the continent's youth.
"It is the moment to show them that we can build a continent where you can be who you are, who you love, who you want, aim as high as you want. A continent reconciled with nature and leading the way on new technologies. A continent that is united in freedom and peace," she said.
"Once again this is Europe's moment to answer the call of history."
The speech, which lasted in the region of an hour, did not touch on arguably the most anticipated question [??? wtf] -- whether von der Leyen hopes to continue in her role after the European Parliament elections of 2024.
Applause machine in Strasbourg ... or was it Brussels?
Empty Suit Bowing to the Right and Progressive Left
France 24's Europe editor, delivers his verdict on the speech from Strasbourg
The political analysis from France24 editors could never inspire me ...
Cat beat me to publication …
Reactionary Visions and eNtiTiES
When I stood in front of you in 2019 with my programme for a green, digital, and geopolitical Europe I know that some had doubts. And that was before the world turned upside down with a global pandemic and a brutal war on European soil.
But look at where Europe is today
We have seen the birth of a geopolitical Union—supporting Ukraine, standing up to Russia's aggression, responding to an assertive China, and investing in partnerships.
[...]
Long live Europe.
Please define “birth of a geopolitical Union” … the EU has become Pentagon Command’s mercenaries as NATO took over EU’s civilian role on security in Europe.
EU Management by VDL: Controlling Decay
Europe, lulled to sleep, is threatened from all sides: 'The EU has forgotten to think about its geopolitical basis'
In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, will undoubtedly have nice words to say about Europe's geopolitical ambitions in Strasbourg. But it is management of decline, says Mathieu Segers, professor of European history in Maastricht. Controlling decay.
Peter GiesenSeptember 12, 2023, 4:01 PM
Who is Mathieu Segers?
Envisioning Europe: The Europe of European Integration and its Vicissitudes; Past, Present and Future | Dec. 12, 2018 |
Why not finally a European state? | Progressive Post - 21 Sept. 2022 |
European Citizens Call for Peace!
State of the EU address - it's that time of year again. But what do Europeans think?
A call for peace will not be supported in her State of the Union speech today ... Ursula Von der Leyen on the lap of Joe.
🔻🔻🔻
Joe Says ....
SUPER MAGA ... join the destroy China's economy scheme ...
EU will launch anti-subsidy inquiry into China-made electric cars, von der Leyen says | EuroNews |
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced an anti-subsidy inquiry into low-cost electric cars coming from China.
The electric vehicles sector is a "crucial industry for the clean economy, with a huge potential for Europe. But global markets are now flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars. And their price is kept artificially low by huge state subsidies," von der Leyen said during her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg.
"This is distorting our market. And as we do not accept this from the inside, we do not accept this from the outside. So I can announce today that the Commission is launching an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles coming from China" she went on, prompting applause from some members of the European Parliament.
"Europe is open to competition but not to a race to the bottom. We must defend ourselves against unfair practices."
EU probe of Chinese EVs is deemed 'biased,' a protectionist move | Global Times |
Efforts to restrict products solely based on country of origin counter to EU's WTO commitments
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that the EU is launching a probe into Chinese EVs, claiming the prices of imported Chinese vehicles are being kept "artificially low by huge state subsidies."
The EU move comes as China is poised to overtake Japan to become the world's top vehicle exporter for the first time this year, fueled by strong demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs).
Chinese observers said the move came as "no surprise" as the Western media has touched on this issue for some time, which reflected EU's "biased mindset" toward Chinese-manufactured products. The act could endanger China-EU cooperation in green technologies, they noted.
The strong performance of Chinese EV makers presents a challenge for European automakers, which are slowly transitioning toward electrification, observers noted.
According to info from @ACEA_auto, many EU members subsidize their #ElectricVehicles industries. In what position is @EU_Commission to launch anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles from #China? This is nothing but sheer protectionism.
German electric car exports rise more than 65 percent in 2022 | March 23, 2023 |
German exports of electric cars rose more than 65 percent last year to some 500,000 units valued at 24.2 billion euros, statistical office (Destatis) reports. While foreign trade of electric vehicles is growing in significance, combustion-engine automobiles still accounted for the majority of German car exports and imports in 2022. At 1.5 million units, the exports of combustion-engine cars remained unchanged from 2021 levels. The United Kingdom was Germany's biggest e-car export market, with 14 percent in volume terms, followed by the United States with 13.1 percent. Germany also recorded a 22.2 percent increase in e-car imports, with 358,000 vehicles valued at 10.5 billion euros.
Some 833,500 e-cars were registered in Germany last year, according to car industry association (VDA). However, the total number of electric cars on German roads is only slightly above 1 million, as many newly registered - and heavily subsidised - cars were sold abroad at a profit. The roll-out of e-car charging infrastructure has also made progress in 2022, with the number of public charging points growing 35 percent to more than 80,500, energy industry association BDEW recently reported.
Clean vehicle tax credit: The new industrial policy and its impact | Stanford U. |
Key Takeaways
- The Clean Vehicle Tax Credit in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a prime example of the U.S.'s return to industrial policy.
- IRA's stricter requirements slashed the number of EV models eligible for the credit, while allowing renewed access for some high-volume Tesla and GM EVs.
- Leasing is a gap in the friendshoring requirements of the consumer EV tax credit and enables high-income households and buyers of expensive EVs to benefit from the commercial EV tax credit.
- EV leasing has lifted off disproportionately, showing many EVs are getting the credit without meeting the stricter requirements.
- The EV tax credits are only one of many levers the Biden administration is pulling to promote electric vehicles.
Mandatory Solar PV "friendshoring"
The Real Reasons Why Europe Is Concerned by the US Inflation Reduction Act | Institut Montaigne - Dec. 2022 |
Most of Brussels was on holiday on 16 August 2022 when the Biden administration signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. A mammoth package of 280 pages, the IRA aims to drastically reduce US carbon emissions and strengthen its social security system, while also cutting the public deficit, fighting inflation and boosting energy production and manufacturing. Not everyone in the US likes it: the bill narrowly made it through Congress, with 220 voting in favor and 207 against.
The EU's view of the IRA is also mixed. On the one hand, this is the first serious attempt by a US administration to combat climate change (the IRA plans to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2030 (compared with 2005 levels)). Although experts believe the US will need to pass more legislation to meet this target, the IRA is an important first step in US climate action - and undoubtedly a good move for the planet.
But it's the IRA's whopping subsidies package that is proving problematic. To cut down emissions, the US administration is hoping to boost its green technology industry. Through the IRA, it is pouring $369 billion worth of tax breaks and subsidies into energy production and manufacturing, in particular for electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries that are mainly produced in the US. That's almost half of the total of the NextGenerationEU, the mass investment plan the EU adopted in 2020 to relaunch the EU's economy after Covid-19. The EU is not alone: the UK, Japan and South Korea have all expressed similar concerns.
Reaching net-zero while safeguarding competitiveness and social cohesion in Germany | OECD - July 28, 2023 |
Meeting Germany's ambitious objective of reducing emissions by 65% in 2030 (compared to 1990 levels)will require higher carbon prices.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit offers a Net Zero Tracker to list countries in the "Net Zero Emissions Race". So far only two countries, Bhutan and Suriname, have achieved negative carbon dioxide emissions status while still few other countries have made legally binding agreements, and proposals, or have only discussed action plans to take. The countries with legally binding agreements so far are Sweden, the UK, France, Denmark, New Zealand, and Hungary.
Trade agreement EU with China led by Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel - Dec. 2020
Merkel pushes EU-China investment deal over the finish line despite criticism | Dec. 29, 2020 |
The European Commission said the agreement was a success story because it not only increases market access for European investors in China and tackles forced technology transfer, non-transparent subsidies and state-owned enterprises, but also commits China to "make continued and sustained efforts" to ratify international conventions on banning forced labor.
However, some EU countries like Belgium and the Netherlands have raised concerns about the EU's ability to address human rights issues under the agreement. Others like Poland are questioning why the EU is rushing ahead to seal the deal with China without waiting for the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, whose transition team has already voiced concerns about the deal.
The Rise and Demise of the EU-China Investment Agreement: Takeaways for the Future of German Debate on China | CSIS |
East-West Schism: Destruction Process Inside Europe | by Oui Sun Dec 29th, 2019 |
I had not been aware of this manifesto by the European Parliament ... putting the final nail in revisionism of the events leading up to Nazi Germany invading and conquering most of continental Europe and the Second World War. It were the Communists and the Soviet Union that need to undergo a modern Nuremburg Trial for war crimes during Stalin's reign.
I'm aware of a long campaign to propagandize the evils of Russia and white-wash the role played by the Allied Nations. Russia and Putin weren't invited to commemorate the soldiers who fell on D-Day in Normandy as other leaders were proud to be seen as victors in the defeat of Nazi Germany. There has been a revival in commemorating the end of that Great War. Instead, Europe should be celebrating the fact that we have lived in an age without a major outbreak of hostilities. We should be thankful to the founding of the EEC of six nations and the expansion of the European Union on the principles of Four Freedoms.
