This [the EU losing a historically ardent supporter of European integration] would significantly impact the EU, especially with the rise of far-right movements within Europe, if China opts to work with individual member states rather than EU institutions [...]
Working with individual countries rather than blocs is something China has been doing for a long time, in Europe and the EU as well as elsewhere. There are no signs that Beijing is willing to change that. For example, China's 'Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) is entirely based on agreements with single countries, there is not one BRI contract with any kind of bloc (let me know if I'm mistaken). The BRI is explicitly a series of single-country agreements.
In Europe you can actually see this in Hungary and Serbia where China invests heavily and has apparently strong ties with the autocratic leadership there, while at the same time there appears to be no Chinese interest of even negotiating at the EU bloc's level. And it has never been. Last year, for example, the Chinese ambassador to France even said independent states that emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union lacked ‘actual status in international law’ - this includes the Baltic states, all EU members.
Also, from a Chinese perspective, the rise of the far-right in Europe is probably something Beijing welcomed and allegedly promoted, as, for example, we may see in Germany with the recent arrests and prosecutions of right-wing AfD politicians over their alleged ties with China and Russia.
So I agree that a China-EU trade war is unlikely in 2024 (and, unlike what the article says, also in 2025 imo), but for very different reasons. I don't consider China as a supporter of European integration considering what the government has been doing for a very long time.
Companies ought to stop thirsting for world domination, and focus regionally. If they don't want our cars- it's fair. We can also prohibit the sale of their cars here too.
Excellent summary of the political situation in France, thanks for sharing
Macron took pride in this ability to see beyond ideological apriorism and see all sides of the issues. He was neither left nor right – he was both. Or neither.
The french leftists are usually mocking Macron's catch phrase "neither left nor right", we say he's neither left, nor left
So they're just gonna cry that the EU is the cause of all of our problems. It's Wilders, he always needs someone else to blame. I'm afraid that he'll try to convince a substantial part of Dutch society that "we need to take back control" from Brussels just like they did in the UK. A lot of people don't like nuance and complexity, they just want a silver bullet and people like the PVV and BBB promise them that. Let's pray that NSC and the VVD (lol) have some integrity.
As a Dutch person, I'm sorry we elected a bunch of populist conservative bigots. I tried really hard, but a lot of the old racists haven't died yet thanks to the excellent healthcare they're trying to abolish.
As a [Western European Country] person, I'm sorry we elected a bunch of populist conservative bigots. I tried really hard, but a lot of the old racists haven't died yet thanks to the excellent healthcare they're trying to abolish.
Plus a lot of young easily swayed folk getting brainwashed on social media.
We can only hope the idiots don't use the agreed upon rules to point to the EU and start the Nexit process. You know the one where they just want a non binding poll to check the pulse of the nation. Only to turn a 51% vote into "The people have spoken".
Which is kind of a catch phrase for the right anyways. Look the people voted for right parties with huge differences, this must mean the people want what the extreme right wants.
euobserver.com
Heiß