European Union

The year 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. It is also a year that ushered in a new chapter of China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

This autumn, President Xi Jinping paid a successful visit to the UK, followed by visits to China by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, culminating in a “China-Europe season”. Earlier, Premier Li Keqiang visited France and Belgium. The year also saw the organisation of several important meetings, including the 17th China-EU Summit, the High-Level Strategic Dialogue, the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and the High-Level People-to-People Dialogue. These encounters allowed the two sides to identify the direction of their relations and to reiterate their commitment to a positive, long-term strategic perspective and a rational approach to handling their relations while transcending differences in social system, cultural tradition and ideology.

China and the EU reaffirmed that they would respect each other’s choice of development path, take their respective development as major opportunities for cooperation, treat each other as equals and enhance mutual trust, with a view to developing China-EU relations in wider scope, greater depth and at a higher plateau.

The China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation is now being fully implemented. Negotiations for a China-EU Investment Agreement are yielding progress. Cooperation in finance, energy, technological innovation, sustainable development and urbanization has been intensified. China-CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) cooperation is pressing ahead. Consensus has been reached between China and the EU in five new areas: drawing synergies between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and EU Investment Plan, establishing a new Connectivity Platform; collaborating in digital economy and cyber security; launching a legal affairs dialogue; and facilitating people-to-people exchanges.

China and the EU share such objectives as transforming growth models, accelerating structural adjustment, raising the quality and returns of growth, promoting employment as well as improving people’s wellbeing. Determined to press ahead with the times, China and the EU have endeavored to enrich and upgrade their cooperation for the long term benefit, which has greatly inspired all sectors on both sides to participate and opened up broader prospects for a win-win relationship.

The celebration of the 40th anniversary of China-EU relations has presented an opportunity for both sides to conduct a series of cultural exchanges, including traditional dance dramas such as The Grand Canal, The Legend of the Sun, Dream of the Maritime Silk Road, the Chinese Film Festival, China Unlimited creative contest, Fashion China, China-EU Friendship Table Tennis Tournament, Chinese Health Qigong Week, and the China Day. In the meantime, the Chinese Cultural Center was launched in Brussels early in the year and exchanges among think tanks, academic institutions and the media on both sides have significantly increased. This was paralleled by growing numbers of student, tourism and entrepreneurial exchanges. China-EU people-to-people exchanges – communication between hearts and minds – have injected new momentum into the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

To promote regional stability, world peace and development, China and the EU have maintained dialogue and communication at such multilateral fora as the UN and the G20. The Joint Statement of the 17th China-EU Summit reiterates that as amongst those who built and maintained the post-World War II international order based on the UN Charter, China and Europe will continue to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter and work for a more equitable international order by building a stronger and more effective multilateral system based on the Charter and international laws.
The China-EU Joint Statement on Climate Change reaffirms a joint determination to join the international community in combating global climate change – a formidable challenge facing humanity – and promoting sustainable development and the long-term well-being of human beings. Coordination and cooperation between China and the EU on regional issues such as the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear program and Syria have played a constructive role in facilitating proper solutions.

It is true that China and the EU differ in their social systems, ideology and levels of development. However, as the Chinese economy enters a phase of “new normal” and EU integration progresses, exchanges and cooperation between China and the EU will expand and deepen. We will see more space for development and greater opportunities for cooperation. In the course of cooperation, some differences will be patched up, some may grow and new frictions may crop up. It is therefore of critical significance that both sides keep the overall situation and long-term interest in mind, adopt new initiatives and narrow the gap by increasing the opportunities for cooperation. This is the valuable experience derived from 40 years of China-EU relations and the most significant political wisdom that will chart the course of China-EU cooperation in the years to come.

Looking ahead to 2016, we have every reason to believe that the launch of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan and continuing integration of the EU will enable the two sides to find more synergies in their development strategies. We are confident that China and the EU will focus more on enhancing mutually-beneficial cooperation, surmounting disturbances, and consolidating the sound momentum of their bilateral ties to achieve shared growth and take their relations to a new height.

Mme. Yang Yanyi is Chinese Ambassador to the EU.

The post 2015: A New Chapter in China-EU Relations appeared first on Europe’s World.

Plenary sessions : The 29 November EU-Turkey summit, aimed at reinvigorating the partnership and finding common responses to refugee crisis and Syrian war was very timely, said most MEPs in Wednesday’s debate with Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Nicolas Schmit for the Council Presidency. However, in view of Turkey’s human rights and democracy record, many argued that EU funding for Turkey must be thoroughly scrutinised and questioned the decision to restart EU accession talks with it.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : The 29 November EU-Turkey summit, aimed at reinvigorating the partnership and finding common responses to refugee crisis and Syrian war was very timely, said most MEPs in Wednesday’s debate with Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Nicolas Schmit for the Council Presidency. However, in view of Turkey’s human rights and democracy record, many argued that EU funding for Turkey must be thoroughly scrutinised and questioned the decision to restart EU accession talks with it.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

REPORT on EU-China relations
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Bas Belder

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : An afternoon debate on the EU-Turkey summit and a vote on plans to set up a follow-on Special Committee on Tax Rulings were added to the agenda. The votes are scheduled to start at 19.00.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

A provisional deal on EU rules regulating the use of air passengers' data to fight terrorism and serious crime came within sight at the fifth "trilogue” (three-way talks between Parliament, Council and Commission negotiators) on Wednesday afternoon.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

All Members of the European Parliament will have access to all categories of confidential documents relating to the EU’s Transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) talks with the USA, under a European Parliament/European Commission agreement approved by the College of Commissioners on Wednesday. The accessible documents will include the so-called “consolidated texts”, which reflect the US position.
Committee on International Trade

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REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the other part
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Barbara Lochbihler

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REPORT on arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Bodil Valero

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RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the other part
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Barbara Lochbihler

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

REPORT on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Cristian Dan Preda

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RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sandra Kalniete

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On 2 December 2015 the EU signed a short-stay visa waiver agreement with Colombia, at a ceremony that took place in Brussels. The EU’s relations with Colombia are built on political dialogue, trade, and development cooperation, and cover a wide range of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, whilst also helping to address the legacies of its internal armed conflict.

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The Single Market is seen as a major European Union success. Twenty percent of the world’s trade flows among EU member states, taking advantage of the free movement of goods under the single market.

This success was achieved by tearing down regulatory walls, standardising rules, and creating a transparent business environment for both supply and demand. Now, the European Commission has announced its plans for a Digital Single Market.

Under the slogan “bringing down barriers to unlock business opportunities”, Digital Economy Commissioner Günther Oettinger has identified the sector’s fragmentation and obstacles to online trade as among the factors most holding back growth.

“Europe needs to assess whether the current competition policy framework is adequately equipped to deal with the increasing occurrence of platform markets and their challenges to market power”

Oettinger says an integrated digital market could contribute an extra €415bn to the European economy – roughly the size of Poland’s entire GDP.

Europe is lagging behind the United States where companies enjoy a level playing field free from the array of legal frameworks that are a nightmare especially for start-ups in Europe.

The multiplicity of European systems might be one of the reasons why leading digitised and innovative research hubs are found in Palo Alto, New York or around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, rather than on this side of the Atlantic.

Standardising and simplifying the framework sounds sensible, but it’s easier said than done. The Commission is currently trying to bundle together insights from various consultations covering areas as diverse as audio-visual media and the reform of telecoms rules.

One important aspect not yet covered is competition policy. Europe needs to assess whether the current competition policy framework is adequately equipped to deal with the increasing occurrence of platform markets and their growing market power.

It is debatable whether current rules dealing with the abuse of dominant market positions is defined widely enough. Another aspect that warrants adjustment is merger control. Mergers and acquisitions in the offline world are covered precisely. Digitised businesses, however, often fall through the cracks. The most prominent example is Facebook’s purchase of WhatsApp.

“European data protection legislation is needed urgently to provide consumers and businesses with a sense of legal certainty”

Digital business models work differently. Data is at the centre of most of these online companies. They often offer services that are free of charge, at least initially, while generating, analysing and using the massive amounts of data that accompany the service provision.

Consequently, even if such companies generate little or no revenue, the data they possess makes them valuable. Competition authorities, including at EU level, should take this into account when examining prospective mergers. To do this, they need to look beyond turnover, to consider indicators that better show the worth of digital businesses. Alternatives could include user numbers or the market capitalisation of acquired companies.

The Commission’s consultations on the digital single market strategy are already taking into account some of the market changes stemming from this focus on data.

However, the European legislative process is not keeping up with the pace of digitisation. European data protection legislation is needed urgently to provide consumers and businesses with a sense of legal certainty. Delay causes disruption for thousands of businesses and millions of consumers.

“The European legislative process is not keeping up with the pace of digitisation”

The suspension of the EU’s “Safe Harbour” regulation on transatlantic data transfers, following a ruling from the European Court of Justice in October, is bad enough for business. EU institutions now need to at least get the legislation for Europe done quickly.

Establishing the European Digital Single Market by levelling the playing field is an excellent idea to trigger cross-border supply and demand for digital services.

Aligning European legislation and regulative frameworks is, however, just part of what’s needed. Digitisation is moving forward quickly, becoming more complex each day. Finding the balance between protecting consumers while stimulating business and opening up the seemingly endless opportunities of the internet is a pressing challenge for the EU institutions.

Speed is essential because, in the words of Cisco Systems’ former CEO John Chambers: change will never again be as slow as today.

IMAGE CREDIT: EUROPEAN UNION 2015

The post New markets, new rules: What direction for Europe’s digital regulation appeared first on Europe’s World.

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EU Naval Operation Sophia against human smugglers in the Mediterranean, previously EUNAVFOR Med. The operation is aimed at disrupting the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean and to prevent the further loss of life at sea. It is part of a wider EU comprehensive approach to migration, tackling both the symptoms and root causes such as conflict, poverty, climate change and persecution.

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Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP