Denmark is ‘sure’ EU will negotiate a ‘good’ US trade deal as deadline nears

Good morning from Aarhus, the place European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen and her school of commissioners are on the town to kick off Denmark’s six-month EU presidency.

Right here’s a scoop to start out: Giant European firms together with Airbus and BNP Paribas have urged Brussels to halt its landmark AI rules, because the EU considers watering down key components amid strain from the US.

As we speak, I clarify Denmark’s stance on commerce talks with the US, as strain mounts to clinch a deal inside per week. And our parliament correspondent hears from the person who triggered a no-confidence vote in von der Leyen.

Doing their finest

Denmark has praised the European Fee’s technique for negotiating a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump because the deadline to stave off a full blown commerce battle attracts nearer.

Context: Trump has threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on items from the EU, until each side can clinch a deal by July 9. Whereas the fee is main talks for the EU, member states have struggled to show a united entrance as their financial pursuits diverge.

Germany has criticised Brussels’ strategy as too “complicated” and referred to as for a fast deal that might assist its business, whereas France has requested for an extension to proceed haggling and get a greater settlement.

“We must always . . . guarantee that we truly discover good options, regardless that additionally they take longer to seek out,” Danish economic system minister Stephanie Lose advised journalists in Copenhagen yesterday, seemingly becoming a member of the French relatively than the German camp.

EU commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is in Washington as we speak for one more spherical of talks together with his US counterparts, after virtually three months of negotiations.

“The fee has negotiated and behaved in a really intelligent means,” Lose mentioned. “I’m very positive that they will even do their highest to seek out options which are in the entire European continent’s pursuits.”

Denmark has simply taken over the EU’s rotating six-month presidency, and shall be liable for navigating any fallout from the discussions.

“I positively don’t suppose that Europe ought to be escalating. We must always attempt to discover options,” Lose mentioned. “After all, if there are not any options in sight, we shouldn’t simply settle for something.”

An EU official yesterday mentioned that there would probably solely be an settlement in precept on decrease tariffs, whereas negotiations continued previous July 9. However even that was not assured, and the EU remained able to retaliate with tariffs of its personal, they added.

EU ambassadors will meet tomorrow in case there’s a deal to endorse.

Chart du jour: Uneasy

Simply weeks after European Central Financial institution chief Christine Lagarde hailed a “international euro” second, some contained in the financial institution are questioning if the euro’s energy might turn into too much of a good thing.

Not very assured

The person behind an attempt to topple the European Commission mentioned he expects it to fail, however guarantees that fee president Ursula von der Leyen will get a tricky grilling from European parliamentarians, writes Andy Bounds.

Context: Romanian nationalist Gheorghe Piperea final week tabled a motion of no-confidence, which was accepted by get together leaders yesterday after confirming he had reached the minimal of 72 signatures supporting the transfer, or 10 per cent of MEPs.

A parliamentary debate on the movement will happen on Monday, with the vote scheduled for Thursday, in response to officers.

Whereas von der Leyen is more likely to survive the vote, Piperea mentioned his predominant purpose was to not carry down the fee — which final occurred in 1999 — however to carry von der Leyen accountable over the so-called Pfizergate affair.

The EU’s normal court docket in Could ruled against the commission over its refusal to share personal textual content messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer’s chief government Albert Bourla throughout negotiations to produce Covid-19 vaccines.

The New York Instances had sued the fee over its refusal to disclose the messages exchanged in 2021. The court docket rejected the fee’s argument that it couldn’t discover the texts, forcing it to look once more or present a greater clarification for why they can’t be made public.

“The fee has not but complied with the court docket. That is about accountability of presidency,” mentioned Piperea, of the right-wing nationalist AUR get together. “I can’t settle for impunity. The president should come and reply questions from MEPs.”

Piperea mentioned three individuals had eliminated their names from the movement underneath political strain, because the 27-member fee has representatives from 5 totally different events. He declined to publish the remaining names.

“This strain is a scandal. That is democracy in motion,” Piperea mentioned.

What to look at as we speak

1. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen maintain a press convention in Aarhus.

2. German international minister Johann Wadephul hosts Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi in Berlin.

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