00:00Today, we are very pleased to announce the transfer of a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine,
00:08capable of providing electricity to 1 million Ukrainians.
00:12This was the largest logistical operation ever coordinated by the European Commission.
00:18It was carried out over 11 months and involved physically moving nearly 2,400 tons of equipment.
00:25The plant is already reinforcing Ukraine's electricity grid and has been critical to emergency repairs after repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
00:37The Cypriot presidency begins in 10 days, if I'm not mistaken.
00:42So, yes, we are in contact with them. Yes, we have been in touch with them to help prepare their presidency.
00:45Yes, we are discussing with them the full range of topics upon which they will be working during their presidency,
00:52including the ongoing work on Ukraine.
00:55As regards to the 20th sanctions package, as you know very well, we don't comment on future packages while they're still under discussion,
01:02except to say that we are working very closely with our member states.
01:06It's just about what President Macron said, that he said that it's time to restart, to talk to Russia.
01:14I wonder if the European Commission has anything to say about this.
01:19And also, if you have decided who is going to, in case you think it is doable,
01:29who is going to talk to Russia on behalf of the EU?
01:33Madame Callas, many thanks.
01:35What you're talking about here is still hypothetical, and we're not going to speculate as to who may represent the European Union
01:47in future hypothetical strands of peace negotiations.
01:52What we can say is that, and I've said it before from this podium, that the path to peace is not straight or linear,
02:01and any efforts that contribute to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine are welcome from our side.
02:10Anwar, if you want to add anything to that, please go ahead.
02:12I would just again recall here, very happy for the third time, the position of the EU,
02:18which is the following as outlined in the EU co-conclusions of last week,
02:21that A, we do welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war,
02:27and B, that we as EU and our member states will continue to actively participate in peace efforts
02:35in accordance with our aim to promote peace as it is enshrined in our treaties.
02:43Many thanks, Anwar.
02:45Tommaso, do you have a follow-up?
02:51I mean, no, but...
02:55Okay, but Tommaso, either you do or you don't have a follow-up.
02:59If it's a question, it's a question.
03:01If it's a comment, you can send it to us in a Christmas card.
03:04Go ahead.
03:04It's not a comment.
03:05It's not a comment.
03:07The point is that you didn't answer the question.
03:10I mean, what do you think about the idea of President Macron,
03:15that it is time to restart talking with Russia?
03:18Is it a good idea or a bad idea?
03:21Many thanks.
03:22Tommaso, thank you for your question,
03:24but with the greatest of respect and pre-Christmas wishes,
03:29we have answered your question,
03:30and we're not going to repeat the same thing again
03:33after Anwar has very eloquently given our response a third time.
03:36I just want to also point out to Tatiana that I have received confirmation
03:41that there was no EU-level participation at the talks in the US.
03:46Okay, I see a question from Eddie.
03:51Is it for us on this topic, Eddie?
03:56Yes, it is.
03:57Then, Eddie, I invite you to proceed,
04:01and I find it wonderful that, in spite of your media declaring that we have banned you
04:06and that you're on our enemy list,
04:09you are magically, miraculously here talking to us.
04:12We're very happy to see you and answer all your questions as we always are.
04:15Please proceed.
04:15Well, that's very kind of you.
04:20It's not hypothetical that Macron has said that he thinks Europeans should talk to Moscow,
04:27and it's not hypothetical either that Ayakalat has stated
04:31that there's no point in engaging with Moscow
04:35because there's no sign from that side that they want to have peace.
04:41So how does the European Commission square that circle?
04:43Thanks, Eddie.
04:47I'll hand over to Anouar in case he has anything else to say.
04:49Yes, in terms of squaring the circle,
04:52well, this is exactly why we, on one hand, support Ukraine,
04:58and on the other hand, we do pressure Russia to bring it at the negotiating table.
05:03And that's also why to square the other circle of the sanctions
05:06that your colleague has raised a few seconds ago,
05:10that in light of such we will continue putting pressure on Russia,
05:14notably through further sanctions to bring it to the negotiation table.
05:21And I'm also happy to look back here since that's the last midday of the year
05:25to put some perspective on our sanctions policy vis-à-vis Russia in the last 12 months.
05:36Five packages of sanctions showing the unity of the member states
05:39in continuously applying pressure for Russia to stop its war of aggression against Ukraine.
05:45And no later than actually today,
05:47we have renewed sanctions against Russia for further six months
05:50until the 31st of July 2026.
05:53Which shows what?
05:54That we do keep on working on measures
05:57to deprive Russia of the funds, goods, and technologies
06:00sustaining its war against Ukraine,
06:02which obviously also includes the 20th package for which work is ongoing.
06:09So we continue to put our pressure on Russia,
06:14and this is how we square the circle that you have mentioned here.
06:16Hi, I'm wondering if you have any reaction to the U.S. appointing an envoy for Greenland
06:26and comments made apparently trying to advance U.S. interests when it comes to Greenland.
06:34Do you have any reaction to that,
06:35that the Danes are going to summon the U.S. ambassador if they haven't done so?
06:42Thank you for the question.
06:43It is not for me here to comment on U.S. decisions,
06:47but what I can say about the EU position is the following,
06:52which has been our long-standing position on the matter,
06:55that preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,
06:59its sovereignty, and the inviolability of its borders
07:04is essential for the European Union.
07:07The reason we said last week that we wanted to get the deal done last week
07:14was because we do believe there is a sense of urgency,
07:16because we're very close to the finish line.
07:19And as I said last week, we believe this is an agreement of immense importance
07:23economically, diplomatically, geopolitically.
07:27It's an agreement that would offer immense economic upside to EU exporters.
07:33It's an agreement that would create a framework of trust
07:37between two like-minded partner blocks
07:39to work on some of the great questions of our day,
07:43including climate action, including the global rules base and so on,
07:48as well as that it would send a signal to the rest of the world
07:50that in a time of economic fragmentation,
07:54in a time of tariffs and increasing uncertainty,
07:58by playing by the rules, by working together on a rules base,
08:02trusted partners can still achieve great things together.
08:05So our expectation now is that we will discuss it further with member states
08:10to see where they are at,
08:12and we will approach the issue with the same urgency in the new year
08:19in the objective of getting a goal,
08:23getting it over the line as quickly as possible.
08:25We believe that it's achievable.
08:27As Commissioner Shevcevic often says,
08:30the last mile is the hardest.
08:31After 25 years of negotiations,
08:34no one's going to lose any sleep if it takes a few extra weeks
08:36to get this thing over the line.
08:37So that's where we are.
08:38We look forward to getting into the details again
08:40in the coming days and in the early new year
08:42with a view to sealing agreement
08:45so that the Commission can sign the agreement
08:47on behalf of the European Union, ASAP.
08:50I just want to double check with you guys.
08:52Are you still planning to sign the agreement with leaders
08:56come January 12th?
08:59And then second of all,
09:00are you worried about the lack of support
09:02for the safeguards in Coropas
09:05since it has been delayed three times now?
09:08Magnus, thank you for your question.
09:10It's wonderful to see a second Euroactive journalist
09:12somehow evading the fictional ban
09:14and our enemies list to ask questions
09:16and get respectful responses back.
09:21So on the timing,
09:24we haven't fixed any date.
09:26We simply said that,
09:28as indicated by our member states
09:29last week at the European Council,
09:32that they need a bit more time
09:33to understand the details,
09:36to see what concretely has happened,
09:40because a lot has happened in recent weeks,
09:42in order that they can offer their full support,
09:45and that is what we're aiming for.
09:47So, I repeat,
09:48there was a discussion among member states
09:50at the European Council
09:52on the Mercosur agreement last week.
09:53A clear majority of our member states
09:59are in favour of the deal,
10:00but a number of them requested more time
10:02to understand the details,
10:04and we are now engaging with those member states
10:06to go through the details,
10:08to understand their concerns,
10:10see what additional steps need to be taken,
10:12with the view to getting the agreement
10:14over the line in the early new year.
10:17As I said,
10:19we've been trying to get this deal
10:20over the line with our Mercosur partners
10:23for 25 years.
10:25A few extra weeks
10:26is, I think, manageable.
10:30It is with concern
10:32that the Commission takes note
10:33of China's announcement
10:34to impose provisional countervailing duties
10:37on imports of dairy products
10:39from the European Union.
10:40The Commission's assessment
10:42is that the investigation
10:43is based on questionable allegations
10:45and insufficient evidence
10:47and that the measures
10:48are therefore unjustified
10:50and unwarranted.
10:51Right now,
10:52the Commission is examining
10:53the preliminary determination
10:54and will provide comments
10:56to the Chinese authorities.
10:58The deadline for concluding
10:59the investigation
11:02and the imposition
11:03of definitive measures,
11:05if any,
11:06is 21st of February next year.
11:08The Commission will assess
11:09all the information available
11:10against compliance
11:12with WTO rules.
11:14We are doing everything it takes
11:15to defend EU farmers
11:16and exporters
11:17as well as the common agricultural policy
11:20against China's unfair use
11:23of trade defense instruments.
11:24The Commission already took action
11:26at the World Trade Organization
11:28against China's initiation
11:29of this investigation on dairy.
11:32As always,
11:33the Commission will take
11:33all necessary steps
11:35to defend the rights
11:36of European producers.
11:38The Commission will take action
11:39to defend the rights
11:40of the European producers.
11:41The Commission will take action
11:42to defend the rights
11:43of the European producers.
11:43You
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