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00:30Kaya Callas is finalising a fresh round of sanctions on Iran.
00:34EU ambassadors have been working around the clock
00:37to target all those responsible for the violent crackdown on protesters.
00:41Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Oman
00:45have been urging Donald Trump not to launch airstrikes against Iran
00:49in a last-minute lobbying campaign.
00:51While we wait to see what happens next,
00:53I'm joined here in the studio by our correspondent, Shona Murray.
00:56Good morning.
00:57Morning, Maith.
00:57Tell us, what is the EU planning and can they do it fast?
01:00Well, we know nothing really happens too fast
01:02because you're talking about 27 countries,
01:04but there were technical talks yesterday.
01:06And as you mentioned, Kaya Callas, the EU's foreign policy chief,
01:09is about to propose a package of sanctions
01:11against those responsible for this brutal crackdown
01:14in Tehran and all across Tehran.
01:16Now, what we do know from sources
01:17is there's going to be 21 individuals under the human rights regime.
01:20Those are people who are directly responsible
01:23for this state repression.
01:25And then 10 individuals under the drone system,
01:28the drone regime.
01:29Now, we know that Iran is a big provider of drones to Russia
01:32for its invasion of Ukraine.
01:34What's outstanding is whether there will be a terrorist designation
01:38for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
01:40And that's a really interesting issue
01:42because obviously people think this obviously should happen.
01:45But what I've heard from sources is this is an area of state repression.
01:49It's not necessarily terrorism.
01:51But that doesn't mean that the EU isn't fully behind the momentum
01:54of the protesters and doesn't have empathy.
01:57And we heard yesterday from President of the European Commission,
01:58Ursula von der Leyen from Cyprus, talking about this.
02:01We are looking into deepening the sanctions against Iran.
02:08These sanctions are biting.
02:09So I would not just put them aside.
02:11They are biting and they have their effect.
02:13They are weakening the regime.
02:16And the sanctions help to push forward that this regime comes to an end
02:22and that there is a change.
02:25It is in the very end the people of Iran who are bravely fighting for a change.
02:30They have our full support.
02:32They have our full political support.
02:35Commission President von der Leyen there speaking in Cyprus.
02:37And Shona, what is the EU's position on whether or not the US should strike Iran?
02:41Well, obviously there's no official position.
02:43And I spoke to a few people about this.
02:44There's a way, there's certain ways of looking at it.
02:46I mean, what will that achieve, first of all?
02:48Is it going to be targeted military strikes against the regime?
02:51Is it going to be individuals who are responsible for the repression?
02:55What comes afterwards?
02:56And then there's the issue of whether or not if America were to strike Iran,
03:00would that then, in the eyes of a regime, say, delegitimize the protesters,
03:04saying, oh, they're just tools of the United States,
03:06and then they could crack down even further?
03:08We've seen complex interventions in the Middle East in the past.
03:12So the question is, what is it set to achieve?
03:14What will be the aftermath?
03:16And the EU's position is really that if there is an overthrow of this regime,
03:20and we heard from Metzola early in the week,
03:22President of the European Parliament, that the regime is in its last legs,
03:24then it should come from within.
03:26That's the ideal.
03:27The EU will put the sanctions on Tehran,
03:30and it hopes that it will unsettle it that way.
03:32Maybe we'll keep a very close eye on that.
03:34Shona-Murray, thank you so much for all those details.
03:37But coming up now, we'll be joined by Andris Sprudz,
03:40the Latvian Minister for Defence,
03:42a former professor and expert on foreign policy.
03:45He's a member of the Latvian Progressives Party,
03:48and he's been a minister since 2023.
03:51So good morning, Minister.
03:52Thank you so much for joining us.
03:53First, I'd like to ask you about Greenland.
03:57What is the mood among some NATO allies about Trump's intentions for Greenland?
04:03Collective security in the high north, in the Arctic, is very important.
04:09And of course, that's why also Latvia is able and willing to contribute if necessary.
04:15But at the same time, it is important, of course, to once more underline that Greenland is an integral part of the Danish kingdom,
04:25of the Kingdom of Denmark.
04:26And could this bring about the end of NATO, as the Danes have warned?
04:30I would not over-dramatise.
04:34Of course, now we are in the process of discussing, especially the dialogue between the United States and Denmark.
04:41We see also in NATO sometimes there are some dialogues or discussions among countries.
04:50We know already for some time there is the discussion, interaction between Greece and Turkey.
04:55But it doesn't mean that it somehow undermines NATO.
04:59Everybody understands the importance of collective defense.
05:02Everybody understands the importance of NATO as a strong alliance.
05:05And this is mutually beneficial for both, for the United States and for Europe.
05:10That's why I am absolutely believe and confident it's not end at all.
05:15But discussions certainly will go on.
05:18Latvia's position is clear in this regard.
05:20Collective defense and Greenland as a territorial part, of course, of the Danish kingdom.
05:24And some countries, of course, are sending troops for deterrence and surveillance.
05:27What is Latvia doing?
05:30Well, we once more underline the willingness to contribute to the collective defense.
05:35of NATO, also in the high north, high north, and the Arctic is strategically important.
05:40And we fully realize it.
05:42And we are in different NATO missions.
05:44And if required, Latvian troops or Latvian military presence, to some extent, also could be, of course, discussed and considered in Greenland.
05:55But, of course, requests must be there.
05:57And, yes, the mandate from the government and also the Latvian parliament should be given if there is some additional presence.
06:05OK.
06:06And, Minister, of course, what about the war in Ukraine?
06:08Do you support the idea of an EU envoy for Russia?
06:11Is that a good idea?
06:13Well, we have to speak from positions of strength.
06:17We have to realize what we are dealing with.
06:20So, that's why, of course, now, in this context, there are some peace efforts.
06:26And we also appreciate President Trump's efforts in this regard and also the contribution by the EU, also the coalition of the willing.
06:34It is important that Europe is stepping up and Europe is demonstrating its willingness and strength to be part of the peace process.
06:41At the same time, let's realize what we are dealing with.
06:44So, we always have to speak, negotiate, act from positions of strength.
06:49That's why Europe stepping up is a crucial and primary task and goal for Europeans.
06:56Yes, we can engage in some diplomatic activities, but there must be some limits how far we can go.
07:02And, of course, always strength is absolutely the basis we start from negotiations with Russia.
07:08And, just finally, we've seen that Latvia has reintroduced compulsory military subscription for women.
07:16Would you like to see all EU countries follow suit?
07:20First of all, Latvia thinks and invests and acts actively on strengthening our defence.
07:27This year, almost 5% from our GDP goes to defence investment, so it is crucial.
07:33It is a comprehensive defence.
07:35We want to involve as many people as possible.
07:37We have reintroduced conscription, obligatory, mandatory, so far, only for men.
07:43But there is discussion in Latvia on potentially expanding, also involving women.
07:48Women now are joining the conscription service on voluntary basis.
07:53In general, in armed forces, around 20% are women.
07:57So, we're very proud of these numbers, very proud of our soldiers who are contributing to defence and security of Latvia and NATO.
08:04So, that's why, yes, it's a comprehensive defence.
08:06Everybody is involved.
08:08Everybody actively can't be involved.
08:09Okay, Minister Sprouts.
08:10Thank you so much for joining us this morning on Europe Today.
08:13Take care.
08:14Thank you for having me.
08:15Thank you.
08:15Well, as we're speaking here, EU leaders Antonio Costa, the President of the EU Council,
08:19and Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission President, are getting ready to fly to Paraguay.
08:23Ahead of the prestigious signing of the Mercosur deal, they'll be touching base first in Brazil for talks with President Lula.
08:30For more on Brussels' accelerated trade agenda of light, I'm joined here in the studio by Euronews' EU editor.
08:35That's, of course, Maria Tadeo.
08:37So, the big day has come, the signing ceremony.
08:39What should we expect?
08:41Yeah, look, it's finally happening.
08:43The signature around the Mercosur, more than 20 years in the making.
08:46Again, as you say, the head of the Commission and the European Council will be heading to Brazil.
08:52They will meet bilaterally first with the Brazilian President Lula,
08:55who is obviously the key player, is the biggest economy among the Mercosur,
08:59and then head to Paraguay for the signature.
09:02Of course, the numbers, we've heard about them many times now.
09:05This is now going to create a market of 700 million consumers.
09:09This is a commission, but also Germany and Spain,
09:12clearly with huge business interests that have pushed for this deal, rid landlessly,
09:16really jumping through political hurdles.
09:19Of course, the French government societal pushback.
09:22Again, the Mercosur is and remains to be completely toxic among the farming community in Europe.
09:29And then, of course, there's pending legal questions and the vote in the European Parliament.
09:34And I want to stress, ultimately, this is being celebrated today,
09:37but we should be clear, this is not going to fix the deeply structural issues of the European industry,
09:44and it's not going to save the German car industry overnight.
09:47But, and this is really what Brussels diplomats continue to stress,
09:50and has told me many times, at a time, and this is really the key point here,
09:54at a time in which the multilateral trade system and the EU needs this to survive.
09:59It needs this to make money.
10:01And this is collapsing because of the trade tariffs and the Trump tariffs.
10:05At this time, they've managed to get this deal done.
10:08The timing is key, and that is the value of it.
10:10There's huge optics in it.
10:11And, of course, you mentioned the tariffs, and the Trump tariffs are here to stay, Maria, today.
10:16What is the European Union doing to counteract, please?
10:18Yes, and you look, we hear this repeatedly,
10:20this idea of we need to turbocharge our trade agreements with other countries
10:24because the Trump tariffs, of course, announced on Liberation Day,
10:28they were slightly smaller now compared to the initial numbers,
10:31but we've got to be very clear, they have tripled when it comes to the European exports going into the U.S.
10:36They're now operating around 15 percent, before we looked at it, a rate of 5 percent.
10:41So, obviously, it's making life difficult for European producers.
10:44And the answer now from the Commission is go out, capture the world, and open new markets.
10:48There is no other way for European products.
10:51And that's why we've seen now, and hopefully we can put it up on the screen,
10:54the agenda that they've carried forward.
10:56India is the big goal now.
10:58They missed a deadline to get this FDA, this free trade agreement, at the end of last year.
11:02We know there were really serious, very difficult sticking points in agriculture.
11:06They hope to get that done before potentially the end of this month.
11:10They want to get this thing on paper now.
11:12And they're reaching out to countries in Asia and the Gulf.
11:14The UAE is another big country they've launched talks with already last year.
11:18Indeed, Marisa, our Euronews EU editor, thank you so much for all those details.
11:21And the aim, of course, of these trade deals is for EU consumers, for us to be able to buy goods and services at better prices,
11:29improve our purchasing power.
11:31Because as it stands, the cost of living crisis is still pinching,
11:35especially in countries like Portugal, who are holding presidential elections this Sunday.
11:40Ahead of the key votes, Euronews has published an exclusive poll on who's in the lead.
11:45You can read it on our website, Euronews.com, but not before taking a look at this report on why these votes matter.
11:52Jakub Janos reports.
11:56Portugal is electing a new president this Sunday.
12:00And for the first time in 40 years, we might not have an immediate winner.
12:05Usually, Portuguese presidential elections are predictable.
12:08But not this time.
12:11With rent soaring while wages stagnate, it pushes frustrated voters towards the extremes.
12:17So who is riding this wave of anger?
12:21First, the veteran Antonio José Seguro, a former socialist leader,
12:26pitching himself as a safe pair of hands who returns from the political exile.
12:31Then, the liberal, Joao Contrín Figueiredo, a pro-business MEP and a vice president of Renew Europe
12:39that promises to cut taxes and shake up the economy.
12:43And we also have the showman, André Ventura, the far-right opposition leader who is a former TV commentator.
12:51He runs on an anti-corruption and anti-immigration platform and he wants to be a prime minister,
12:56but is using this run to cement his power.
12:59But watch out for the dark horse.
13:03The admiral Enrique Govalle Imel, a non-politician military man who promises order and discipline
13:10and who could upset the entire race.
13:13Finally, the insider, Luis Marquez Mendes.
13:18He is backed by the ruling party and he vows to wake Portugal up from its complacency.
13:25Though the role is mostly ceremonial, the president does hold the atomic bomb,
13:31so the power to dissolve the parliament.
13:34And with the current government ruling without a majority
13:37and voters angry about the costs of living,
13:40the next president will not be just cutting ribbons.
13:44If no one wins outright, the second round will take place on the 8th of February.
13:49And for more news and context on the presidential race
13:58or any of the stories we're covering for you here,
14:00do take a look at yournews.com or download our app.
14:04You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter, Europe Today.
14:06But that does bring this edition to an end.
14:09Thank you so much for being with us and for tuning in.
14:11See you very soon here on Euronews.
14:13We'll see you next time.
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