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The EU-China economic relationship appears to be in troubled waters. Battered by policy tensions and hamstrung by political obstacles inhibiting progress, it is necessary to look behind the smiles of summit leaders and beyond the ever-increasing value of goods traded between the economies to try to understand why there continue to be problems.

By analysing the context of the key areas of this relationship, it becomes clearer why its potential is not being fully realised. What emerges as the best description for the current state of relations is that there is now a palpable crisis of mutual trust.

Real disquiet is emerging in European circles over China’s direction of travel over promised economic reforms, especially in respect of the continuing visibility of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in key industrial sectors.

Also linked are concerns about Chinese fairness and openness in economic relations with the European Union, given a trade deficit of €174.5bn for 2016 (despite bilateral goods trade of more than €1.5bn per day) as well as product dumping and over-capacity in Chinese industrial sectors such as steel.

A particular frustration is the poor showing of services in the economic partnership, struggling to reach more than ten per cent of the value of goods traded – even though EU member states include some of the leading services-based economies in the world.

“Real disquiet is emerging in European circles over China’s direction of travel over promised economic reforms”

Whilst outward foreign direct investment (FDI) from China into the EU soared by 77% to a record €35bn in 2016, the same year actually saw a noticeable decline in European investment flows into China, reflecting a more troubled regulatory picture, whilst the accelerating pace of technology acquisitions by China in some EU member states (such as Germany) has promoted sharply negative political commentary about relinquishing Europe’s competitive advantage. Even the issue of whether to create a pan-EU FDI monitoring regime – akin to a European version of the United States’ – appears to be back on the table with China in its sights, albeit as yet with no final decision having been made.

All of this is explained in European circles by pointing to the continuing absence of reciprocity in market access in China linked to suspicions of a nationalist edge to economic policy priorities where the promotion and subsidy of national champions is seen as more important for the Chinese than fulfilling their World Trade Organization commitments.

EU business groups point to the persistence of issues such as compulsory local content requirements in key sectors, unfair procurement tendering rules in the absence of China’s membership of the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement, required disclosure of business-sensitive information to support collaborative projects, and enforced joint venture creation as a precursor to knowledge transfer to domestic Chinese firms who then become competitors.

Concerns have also been expressed about the persistent instrumentalism underpinning the application of law in China’s economy, such as in intellectual property enforcement cases or through anti-monopoly investigations aimed particularly against foreign firms. Perhaps most worrying is that European businesses in China report growing negative sentiment about the future.

Yet, of course, trust works both ways. The Chinese reject the EU’s focus on anti-dumping measures as unhelpful protectionism and argue that European criticism of government subsidies misunderstands how China’s financial system works while also failing to recognise the progress already made. China is growing more confident in challenging the EU’s application of trade defence measures, most recently at the WTO where the Chinese launched a formal complaint against the EU over the continuing refusal to grant China market economy status. The Chinese maintain this is a clear breach of faith in the commitments made by European economies at the time of China’s accession in 2001.

“None of these steps are easy to deliver politically for either side”

Moreover, the Chinese point out that they have offered trenchant support for the euro in recent times of crisis and that China’s investments across Europe bring direct benefits to local businesses and communities while also showcasing technology for infrastructure and utilities that bring considerable value to EU economies.

Finding political solutions to these tensions should be a priority for both sides but is actually very difficult as each faces internal political challenges to overcome.

In China, there is an ongoing debate about the direction of reform linked to divergent views over whether to prioritise supply-side or demand-side adjustments whilst ensuring the continuing economic stability and social cohesion that underpins the ruling Communist Party’s power. Leadership manoeuvres ahead of the 19th Party Congress in the autumn of 2017 make radical action politically unpalatable and therefore unlikely. Yet a renewed mandate for Chinese President Xi Jinping could offer a platform to relaunch reforms in more far-reaching directions, although whether these moves would overlap with EU demands is of course a completely different matter.

For the EU, some measure of coherence in policy management towards China is desperately needed. A zero-sum mentality between member states undermines the credibility of the Union and can be exploited by global powers. There is at present a fractured response from across the EU to China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, ranging from overt enthusiasm to lukewarm consideration. Divisions over trade defence instrument reform need to be addressed at the EU Council to find a balance between supporting the consumer and protecting the producer without unfairly penalising a particular trade partner. But the variable geometry with which the EU exercises power can make finding an agreed pathway problematic.

None of these steps are easy to deliver politically for either side and current evidence suggests no early resolution to these tensions is likely – and it is not due to lack of opportunities.

IMAGE CREDIT: budastock/Bigstock

The post The EU-China relationship characterised by ineffective political action and lack of trust appeared first on Europe’s World.

Quand le bruit a couru que des réfugiés participeraient à un camp de vacances au bord du lac Balaton, la panique s’est emparée de la petite commune de Zalavár. Dans cette tribune au vitriol, le journaliste László Seres dénonce la campagne de xénophobie menée par le pouvoir.

« Dès que j'ai pris connaissance de l'information, je l’ai vérifié et j'ai pris les mesures nécessaires. Dans cette affaire, je servirai les intérêts de la population de la commune » - a déclaré la maire de la commune, Ildikó Horváth, avec la détermination exigée par la situation et dans un style très « Ministère de l'Intérieur ». L'information en question a profondément sidéré les habitants de Zalavár, qui ont cédé à la panique . . .

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2,7 millió éves jégmagot hoztak a felszínre az Antarktisz egy pontján a Princetoni Egyetem, a Scripps Oceanográfiai Intézet, a Maine-i Egyetem és az Oregoni Állami Egyetem kutatói, akik a párizsi Goldschmidt konferencián ismertették az eredményeiket.

Egészen a közelmúltig a tudósok úgy vélték, hogy a sarkvidékekről származó jégmagok életkorának felső határa nagyjából 800 ezer év, mivel a Föld belsejének hője alulról megolvasztja a jégdzsungeleket – olvasható a Phys.org tudományos-ismeretterjesztő hírportálon.

Néhány évvel ezelőtt azonban a Princetoni Egyetem szakemberei felfedezték, hogy az úgynevezett kék jég sokkal idősebb mintákat is magában rejthet. Kék jég akkor keletkezik, amikor a gleccserekre lehulló hó összefagy és a levegő kiszorul belőle.

Ennek a jégtípusnak további jellegzetessége, hogy az alul lévő jég idővel felfelé nyomódik, és ezáltal nem olvad el. A kutatók ilyen jégmagminták után kutatva végeztek fúrásokat a McMurdo-kutatóállomás szomszédságában lévő Allan Hillsnél.

A gleccserekből nyert jégmagok hátránya, hogy sokkal nehezebb meghatározni a korukat, mint az egyéb területekről származó mintáknak, amelyek koráról a rétegeik árulkodnak.

A szakemberek rájöttek, hogy a most felszínre hozott ősi jégminta korát a benne lévő kálium- és argonmaradványok után kutatva lehet meghatározni, amely ugyan nem annyira pontos, mint a rétegek számolása, de a kutatók úgy vélik, hogy plusz/mínusz 100 ezer év pontossággal működik.

A kutatók első ízben 128 méteres mélységig fúrtak le, legutóbb pedig már elérték a 205 métert, ahonnan a korábbinál csaknem kétszer öregebb mintát hoztak a felszínre.

A jégmagokban csapdába esett levegőbuborékok összetétele, különösen az oxigén- és hidrogénizotópok aránya segít a kutatóknak a minta keletkezésekor uralkodó klíma meghatározásában. A 2,7 millió éves mintában található levegőbuborékok a jégkorszakokat megelőző éghajlati viszonyokról árulkodnak.

A szakemberek mostanra megállapították, hogy a légköri szén-dioxid-koncentráció az érintett időszakban nagyjából 300 ppm (milliomod térfogatrész) körül mozgott, ami jóval kevesebb a jelenlegi 400 ppm-nél. A kutatók szerint azonban a friss jégmaggal kapcsolatban az az igazán izgalmas, hogy még régebbi, akár 5 millió éves minták felfedezésének lehetőségével kecsegtet.

Le ministre de l'Economie s'était déjà attiré les foudres des seniors, lundi, en demandant aux retraités de consentir un «effort» pour les jeunes actifs quant à la hausse de la contribution sociale généralisée...

While the French President is expected to use his Eastern European trip to raise the issue of cheap migrant labour, Romania and Bulgaria hope to use the French leader’s visit to push their own agendas.

Two boats carrying Syrians and Iraqis seized in a week by Romanian Coast Guard in the Black Sea have raised concerns that a new migration route is opening up. 

Le gouvernement a confirmé qu’il engagera en 2018 le transfert des cotisations salariales vers la CSG. La baisse des cotisations salariales "maladie" et "chômage" sera en janvier et à l'automne 2018, permettant au gouvernement de réduire de quelques milliards d'euros le déficit de l'État. À la fin de l'année, ce seront "7 milliards d'euros de pouvoir d'achat" qui auront été redonnés aux actifs, d'après Bercy.

La nouvelle chaîne de séries et de cinéma de l'opérateur de télécoms SFR, Altice Studio, a rejoint mardi la plate-forme de vidéo à la demande SFR Play, venant ainsi compléter l'offre de contenus du groupe après l'information et le sport.

Roumanie : l'Église et l'extrême-droite ensemble contre le mariage homosexuel
Roumanie : trois millions de signatures contre le mariage homosexuel
Mariage homo en Roumanie : contre le « fanatisme religieux », Klaus Iohannis prône la tolérance
LGBT en Roumanie : ni PACS ni mariage pour tous à l'horizon
Droits des homosexuels en Roumanie : des progrès, mais peut mieux faire
L'Eglise roumaine en guerre contre le mouvement gay

/ Courrier des Balkans, Roumanie, Société, Religions

I Go Yougo, un voyage musical en Yougoslavie (3/4) : à la découverte des véritables musiques tsiganes
Disparition de Šaban Bajramović : « Le roi est mort ! »
L'adieu au musicien Šaban Bajramović : « Djelem, Djelem » jusqu'à la tombe

/ Courrier des Balkans, Serbie, Culture et éducation

I Go Yougo, un voyage musical en Yougoslavie (3/4) : à la découverte des véritables musiques tsiganes
Disparition de Šaban Bajramović : « Le roi est mort ! »
L'adieu au musicien Šaban Bajramović : « Djelem, Djelem » jusqu'à la tombe

/ Courrier des Balkans, Serbie, Culture et éducation

Timing parfait. Alors qu'en France, le gouvernement présente une première version de la réforme controversée du Code du Travail aux syndicats, Emmanuel Macron s'en va en Europe de l'Est pour défendre l'intérêt...

Au pouvoir depuis 1979, le président angolais José Eduardo dos Santos tire sa révérence, non sans avoir désigné son dauphin Joao Lourenço pour lui succéder, alors que les électeurs sont appelés mercredi à se prononcer.

Le président français Emmanuel Macron sera en déplacement en Europe centrale et orientale cette semaine, avec en ligne de mire la lutte contre le dumping social. Le Premier ministre tchèque Bohuslav Sobotka compte lui rappeler que les entreprises françaises implantées en Tchéquie doivent elles aussi participer au rattrapage des salaires.

Les dirigeants tchèque et slovaque, Bohuslav Sobotka et Robert Fico doivent rencontrer le président français et le Premier ministre autrichien Christian Kern ce mercredi à Salzbourg en Autriche . . .

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La chaîne de télévision a annoncé que l'ancien Premier ministre rejoignait l'équipe de "19 h le dimanche", présenté par Laurent Delahousse.

À la tête de la Caisse des dépôts depuis trois ans, Pierre-René Lemas va laisser sa place. Il assurera cependant lui-même la transition avec son successeur.

Après avoir commenté à outrance son propre quinquennat, il profite du creux de l'été pour critiquer les débuts de son successeur. Inélégant et irresponsable.

Americas

• Chile is assessing the procurement of a ship-borne long-range attack capability, which if comes to fruition, will make Lima the first South American government to have vessels with a capability to reach targets deep in land. IAI/Malam’s Long Range Attack (LORA) hybrid missile and ballistic weapon is currently been eyed by Chilean military officials as the system of choice, with sources suggesting that initial deployment could take place during the first half of the 2020s. In June, Israel Aerospace Industries successfully test-fired the LORA from a cargo ship.

• The US Air Force has granted contracts to both Boeing and Northrop Grumman for the Ground-based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) phase one program. Valued at $349.1 million and $328.5 million respectively, the firms will conduct technology maturation and risk reduction, to be completed work by Aug. 20, 2020. The GBSD will replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.

• An industry team led by Lockheed Martin has successfully completed builder’s trials of the future Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Little Rock. Conducted on Lake Michigan, LCS 9 Little Rock went through a series of tests and evaluations of its primary systems and propulsion, including reaching flank speeds of over 40 knots. Four Freedom-class LCS vessels have been delivered to the Navy by Lockheed, with the Little Rock and eight others in various stages of production. They will serve alongside the larger Independence-class LCS produced by Austal USA.

Middle East & Africa

• Turkey’s main supplier of command and control suites, combat management systems (CMS) training centers and training simulators, Havelsan, has been contracted to provide a ‘Joint Warfare Center’ to the government of Qatar. While details on the contract remain scarce, it is believed that the sale will include Havelsan’s command, control, communication and intelligence (C4I) products and services with potential scope for the program to involve each of Qatar’s armed services branches. Qatar has previously hired Havelsan to provide its Cabin Team Training Simulator, Tactical Control Center, Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainer and DebriefingSystem, as well as a Full Mission Simulator for the Leonardo AW139 utility helicopter. In July, the firm opened an office in Doha as part of efforts to promote business growth in the country.

• Israel has begun an evaluation process for domestically developed systems and aerial refuelling procedures for its fleet of F-35i ‘Adir’ fighter aircraft. As part of the trials, aerial refuelling tests have been conducted from Tel-Nof air base using one of the service’s Boeing 707 tankers. The tests are an integral part of the Israel Air Force’s work towards declaring the initial operational capability (IOC) for its Joint Strike Fighters.

Europe

• Norwegian defense minister Marie Eriksen Soreide has announced a planned acquisition with German shipyard ThyssenKrupp for the production and delivery of four submarines. The $5.06 billion deal is part of a cooperation agreement between Oslo and Germany, under which Germany’s armed forces will buy two identical submarines from ThyssenKrupp and missiles from Norway’s Kongsberg. Soreide said that contracts for the deal will be signed in 2019 and delivery will commence in the mid-2020s.

• The UK Ministry of Defence (Mod) has announced the three-year extension of a British Army training contract with Saab. Under the terms of the agreement, valued at $26 million, Saab will provide its Tactical Engagement Simulation as a fully managed service, as well as delivering infrastructure, instrumentation and support personnel. The Tactical Engagement System simulates the effects of direct and indirect fire and tracks individual troops and vehicles. It also collects data in real time for after-action review.

Asia Pacific

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has won a Japanese government competition to lead the contracting work on a new class of multi-purpose destroyers. Eight models are expected to be built over the course of the program and construction is expected to commence in 2019. Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company has also been selected to act as sub-contractor, after MHI’s design won out against proposals from both Mitsui and Japan Marine United Corporation. Due to enter service by the end of the next decade, the vessels will be designed for a variety of missions including anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures, with the capability to operate helicopters, unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.

Today’s Video

• Cargo ship launch of LORA:

https://youtu.be/-fV1SM_G2f4

«#RetourÉlysée.» Emmanuel Macron l'a lui-même fait savoir par un tweet : ses vacances sont terminées. La période estivale s'achevant, les choses sérieuses commencent. Pour le président de la République,...

Motus et bouche cousue. Mardi, à la sortie du ministère du Travail, où a démarré l'ultime cycle de concertation sur la réforme du Code du travail, les représentants du Medef se sont éclipsés sans s'exprimer...