Europe Today : Margrethe Vestager, ex-cheffe du numérique de l'UE, réagit aux négociations commerciales tendues entre l'UE et les États-Unis
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02:45The thresholds are set to the extent that it's nearly only U.S. companies that are captured.
02:51The enforcement is quite aggressive at times.
02:54It becomes, you know, complying with the law can become challenging.
02:58Sometimes our companies feel like the goalposts are moved.
03:01The fines can be quite large.
03:03We know that the European Union, that these laws are important to them.
03:06We just want to make sure we're controlling for our companies that have global business models,
03:10that their global revenues aren't affected,
03:12and a variety of other things that perhaps could be modified to help accommodate their concerns and ours.
03:19And that was Jamie Sun-Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative.
03:22Maeve, that kind of language on a red carpet with the U.S. Trade Commissioner there,
03:27but also the Europeans next to him.
03:28That was very aggressive.
03:30This is not a very polite thing to say when you're meeting and you're being hosted by someone else.
03:34But, of course, they are making a very clear point.
03:36They want to see the implementation change,
03:38and they want to see American companies act in a way that they argue would be fair to their revenues.
03:45The problem for the Europeans, of course, is that this goes beyond trade.
03:48This is now about the legislation and the rule of the EU.
03:51You could argue there is a form of political interference.
03:54And yesterday, a U.S. official and a European official told me,
03:57we see this are two completely different negotiations.
04:00Steel is one thing.
04:01The digital rules are a different thing.
04:02OK, Maria Tadeo.
04:04Euronews' EU weather, thank you so much for all those details.
04:07And, of course, for more on that story,
04:09you can find specialised reports by our EU news team
04:12and, of course, our trade reporter, Peggy Corlan, on euronews.com.
04:15But for now, coming up, we'll be joined by Margarethe Vesteyer,
04:19the former EU competition commissioner that President Trump used to call the tax lady,
04:25known as one of the main trailblazers of the EU's landmark digital rulebook
04:28and also for having inspired the famous Danish TV show Borgen.
04:32The Danish liberal politician spent two terms in Brussels.
04:36She was also a government minister back home, a deputy prime minister and a party leader.
04:40So, Margarethe Vesteyer, thank you so much for joining us this morning on Europe Today from Copenhagen.
04:46Lovely to have you with us.
04:48It's such a pleasure to be with you.
04:50Thank you very much for having me.
04:51So, look, you were listening to Maria Tadeo there on set.
04:54The message yesterday, cut your digital rules for lower EU or US steel tariffs.
04:59Are the Americans cornering the Europeans here, do you think?
05:02Well, these are two completely different discussions.
05:06One is steel and aluminium.
05:07It has been going on for years.
05:09The second one is about how do we live with technology?
05:13Because promises were made to Europeans that digital services would be safe to use,
05:19just like any other product or service,
05:21and that the market actually would be open for a competition
05:24so that we can get new products and services.
05:27This is not crazy.
05:29This is not against anyone.
05:30This is normal.
05:32This is what you would ask in a normal market.
05:34But how would you be handling this if you were still in office?
05:37We can see a lot of your work being undone here, the work that you put in place.
05:41Well, I see that the Commission is continuing the work done
05:46because promises were made to Europeans.
05:47You know, when one discusses, for instance, the Dintra Services Act,
05:52this is a very sort of simple piece of legislation,
05:55just asking companies who are on our hands, in our devices every day
06:00for their products to be safe to use.
06:03And of course, what the DMA is asking is that you do not misuse your market power,
06:09but, you know, that you have a competitive market.
06:11You know, actually, this is everything that you could ask for.
06:14And actually, you do see some of the US states pushing for some of the same things
06:20because it is absolutely essential that you can trust also the digital services
06:25that most of us are using every day.
06:27But that is not how the Americans see it.
06:29Do you think this could be the beginning of the end of the so-called Brussels effect,
06:33where the EU has been setting global standards?
06:35Now it could be the United States.
06:38Well, we should not be setting global standards.
06:40We set standards for ourselves because we have a long, long, long tradition
06:45of making sure that protection of consumers goes hand in hand with innovation.
06:50That has been the goal.
06:51And actually, that has been achieved.
06:53If you see how that digital market is changing and more and more also European companies,
06:58they need to be able to reach their customers and not being kept out by gatekeepers.
07:04And how do you strike that balance, though?
07:05That is, of course, the problem, so that innovation can thrive and we also can have strong regulation.
07:13Well, innovation thrives when you see that I want to solve a problem,
07:17not just I want to produce another service.
07:21And when you look at the European ecosystem, when it comes to everything digital,
07:25we have very strong entrepreneurs.
07:27We have very strong innovation.
07:29The thing is that we do not make sure that they have a market.
07:31And the Digital Markets Act is exactly about this, making sure that it's your ideas,
07:37your work ethic, the people on your team that gives you a fair chance of getting to the market.
07:42We've been discussing this with the Americans ever since I took office.
07:46This is not new.
07:47What is news is that we actually deliver it to Europeans as promised.
07:51But did you overregulate during your term?
07:53Well, I see in the Omnibus proposal just tabled that there are actually some quite pragmatic,
08:03sensible simplifications when it comes, for instance, to cookies,
08:08when it comes to when to implement and how to enforce the AI Act.
08:12And I think that is really important because, of course, you can always do better.
08:16But one thing is important, and that is that we have promised Europeans
08:21that their services would be safe to use for their mental health, for their democracy as such.
08:27And that is, of course, core in any democracy that you stand by the promises made.
08:32And that U.S.-EU trade deal, Margaret Thevesh, there, was it a bad deal for Europe?
08:37I think it was a wise thing not to take the bait and escalate the conflict.
08:41Of course, some areas are not within that deal.
08:46But I think in a world like this, some level of predictability is actually worthwhile.
08:51And we could conclude the single market and kind of make up for the increased tariffs.
08:57And just what about Ukraine?
08:58That is, of course, a big story we're keeping a very close eye on this week.
09:02What should the Europeans be doing now to make sure they're heard in these very important talks,
09:05to make sure they have a seat at the table?
09:07Well, having followed the developments over the last week, you know,
09:13I was completely devastated when I saw the first U.S. proposal.
09:18But the negotiations that has been ongoing actually shows that there has been a listening,
09:24that European concerns and how we have obliged ourselves to peace in our region.
09:31I think that is a positive development, but so far it's completely impossible to say what comes out of it.
09:38But I think that the ask to be at the table is completely legitimate.
09:43OK, Margaret Thevesh, thank you so much for that.
09:45And I hope you can join us next time here in the studio when you're passing through Brussels.
09:49But now, it would be my pleasure.
09:51As you heard now, Ukraine's future is still unsure after the Kremlin said that the European counterproposal does not work.
09:58Leaders from the Coalition of the Willing, i.e. Ukraine's allies, will be gathering today via video call.
10:03Our reporters, Jakob Yanis and Jorge Lebrero, have been comparing the various proposals on the table.
10:08Bypassing Brussels, Washington presented a 28-point blueprint directly negotiated with Moscow to put an end to Russia's all-out war against Ukraine.
10:21Europe has now responded.
10:23A side-by-side comparison reveals three fundamental differences.
10:27What are they?
10:29First, money.
10:30The U.S.-Russia plan would unblock the frozen Russian assets to create two investment vehicles, with Washington taking half the profits from the Ukraine's reconstruction fund.
10:40The European plan insists that the assets must remain frozen until Russia fully compensates Ukraine for the destruction.
10:48Second, security.
10:50The U.S.-Russia plan would cap Ukraine's army at 600,000 personnel at all times.
10:57Europe raises that limit to 800,000 in peacetime only, giving Kiev the flexibility to scale up if threatened.
11:06Crucially, the Europeans demand a seat on a joint security task force alongside Ukraine, refusing to let Washington and Moscow decide the continent's fate alone.
11:17Third, territory.
11:18The U.S.-Russia plan accepts occupied Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk regions as...
11:27...to recognise borders changed by force.
11:30It all leads us to one fundamental question.
11:34Who decides the borders of Europe?
11:36An inviting military force or the European principles of sovereignty?
11:45And for more context on this, we can now bring in our EU news editor, Maria Tadeo, back.
11:49Welcome back.
11:50Look, the Kremlin has rejected this European plan, but there seems to be a bit of cautious optimism in Brussels.
11:55Where do we go from here?
11:56Well, Maeve, no question, because that original 28-point plan obviously was clearly tilted in Russia's favor.
12:02The issue here, and this is the crux of the matter, is that what works for Russia does not work for Ukraine, and what works for Ukraine does not work for Russia.
12:10Nonetheless, this 28-point plan has changed.
12:13We now understand it is 19 points.
12:16The Ukrainians also now...
12:17Yesterday, President Zelenskyy just checked this set.
12:19After Geneva, remember, they met on Sunday.
12:22There are fewer points.
12:23It is no longer 28.
12:25Many correct considerations have been taken into account, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done,
12:31and it will be difficult to produce a final document.
12:34So, obviously, what we see here is that the Ukrainians now believe they have managed to insert some of their demands.
12:41There is speculation that President Trump and President Zelenskyy could meet in America this week.
12:46There is no date for it.
12:48This would be for the critical political points.
12:50And then, of course, it does also seem that this deadline for Thursday has somewhat eased.
12:55And that's, of course, indeed good news.
12:57And just briefly, the Coalition of the Willing will be gathering today.
13:00What are your expectations for their meetings?
13:02Well, Coalition of the Willing, and, of course, a reminder for our viewers,
13:05this is a group of countries that are supportive of the UK, some of the EU, but not just led by the UK and France.
13:13They will gather today.
13:14The idea is what else can the Europeans offer and put on the table to sway this deal in favour of Ukraine?
13:21I was told, however, yesterday by a diplomat, it seems that things are moving better.
13:26There is less panic compared to a week ago, but also something very important.
13:30The Europeans believe that this plan, the 28-point plan, as it was done, is over.
13:35And this is not a static negotiation.
13:37It can improve.
13:38So, indeed, cautious optimism.
13:40And, of course, this topic will be dominating MEPs while they gather as well in Strasbourg this week.
13:45And, Maria, today you'll be in Strasbourg as well for us tomorrow.
13:47So we look forward for your update then.
13:48But, now, this does bring this edition of Europe Today to an end.
13:52Thank you so much for tuning in.
13:53For more news and analysis, do take a look at euronews.com or keep an eye on our social media networks.
13:58You can also check out our new formats, The Ring and 12 Minutes With, on Euronews.
14:02And I'll be back tomorrow morning here on Euronews.
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