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04:46And of course there's a cautionary tale with Poland because if you go back in time when Donald Tusk won
04:51the election also promising a reset with the European Union, the institutions rushed to unlock money. But then of course
04:58now the Polish are really struggling to change fundamental issues like the judiciary because of the presidential veto.
05:04So Madra does not have that issue. He has a supermajority, but he does have this issue of the timing,
05:10the authority, the language around this. And of course this is going to be tricky for the two of them
05:15to arrive to this point in August. But obviously that is how a Brussels deal works. It needs to be
05:19seen as difficult for the deal to happen.
05:21Okay, Maria, thank you so much for that analysis. Now, weeks before a closely watched EU-China meeting, tensions are
05:30threatening to boil over between both sides. China has publicly criticized Brussels multiple times in the past week, including over
05:39its plans to shield its homegrown EU industries. So is there a road back to even-handed diplomacy or more
05:46fighting ahead?
05:47For more, we're joined in the studio this morning by our correspondent, Angela Scudgens. Angela, great to see you again.
05:54Remind us, why are these tensions boiling up again this week?
05:58Good morning, Madad. So like so many of these international spats, it is mostly centered on trade. Beijing came out
06:06with a statement this week blasting the EU's push to supercharge industry and support the local manufacturing of products such
06:13as cars, solar panels, aluminium and cement.
06:17They stated that spokesperson from the Chinese commerce industry, Chinese commerce ministry has stated that this push could potentially violate
06:26World Trade Organization principles and hurt foreign investment. It's important to point out that many see this push as a
06:33way to even out that trade deficit with 300 billion euros, the difference in 2024 with European manufacturers paying the
06:44price.
06:44Yes. I managed to speak to an MEP from the European Parliament, Sakis Arunotoglu, who sits on the delegation regarding
06:53EU-China relations.
06:54He pointed out that there is a difference in the dynamics between the duo when it comes to trade, but
07:00maybe finally the EU is speaking a language that China recognizes.
07:04For many years, we believed openness alone was enough. But today we know resilience matters too, because otherwise you cannot
07:12survive in this environment. And China has been very tough. We don't seek any confrontation, but I think Europe must
07:22stop being vulnerable. And some say we have been a little bit naive too.
07:28An MEP speaking there to me about the difference between the European Union and China, the EU's big push to
07:36become more autonomous when it comes to supply chains.
07:39And those products. It's also important to point out that Beijing is furious regarding an EU push to change the
07:47Cybersecurity Act, as well as by placing at least a dozen defence companies on a sanctions ban.
07:55But all eyes will be on an important EU-China conference expected to take place on May the 12th. The
08:02event is being billed as an opportunity for a frank discussion among delegates, as well as politicians. So all eyes
08:11will be on this to see whether the conversation can continue or whether it will peter out.
08:15Angela, we'll be keeping an eye on that conference, I'm sure, on May the 12th. Thank you so much for
08:21that.
08:22We're turning to Mali now, because last weekend, armed groups, including separatist and jihadist militants, carried out coordinated attacks across
08:30the country, killing the defence minister.
08:33The wider Sahel region has been experiencing a period of profound instability, with European credibility in the region in steep
08:41decline, as our reporter Estelle Nilsen-Julian explains.
08:46Europe is grappling with strategic security concerns on all fronts, from the Middle East to Russia's war against Ukraine.
08:55But there is another crisis that Europe cannot ignore. The ongoing situation in the Sahel, where a coup epidemic has
09:02been underway since 2020.
09:03Over the weekend, an alliance of al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and two OREG separatists staged the largest coordinated attack on
09:11Mali in over a decade.
09:13These two groups may have different ideologies, but they share the same opponent, the military junta that has run Mali
09:20since 2020, backed by Russia.
09:22France has since urged any citizens currently in Mali to leave the country.
09:26But this isn't just about Mali. The country sits in the Sahel region, a belt that stretches across West and
09:34Central Africa, where coups and jihadist violence have been rising in recent years.
09:39Since 2022, France has been dismantling its military presence in the region, pushed out by a growing anti-Western sentiment
09:47and a shift of support in favour of Russia.
09:50Although Europe has been working to strengthen ties with Mauritania and coastal Western African countries, it has struggled to implement
09:57a unified strategy.
09:59The situation has major consequences for the bloc.
10:02Officials have long warned that Sahel terrorism is a threat to European security.
10:07The belt also sits on key migration routes, meaning instability could drive more migrants towards Europe.
10:15Europe is failing to claw back relevance while Russia and China are consolidating their foothold.
10:25Well, yesterday I sat down with the EU's special representative to the Sahel, Shuao Cravinho,
10:31and I started by asking him what the most recent uptick in violence in Mali could mean for the EU's
10:37strategy towards the region.
10:39Well, firstly, it means very clearly that the situation is extremely unstable.
10:44It is a situation of very precarious stability, meaning that what happened on the weekend can happen again.
10:55So this is really a terrible situation above all for the Malian population.
10:59What it means is very simply that it has become clear that there is no military solution to the situation
11:08in the Sahel as a whole, including Burkina Faso and Niger.
11:13This comes following years of instability, including successive military coups in many countries in the central Sahel.
11:20We also know that the EU has lost real clout and influence in the region.
11:27Do you see the possibility now for it to claw back some of this influence?
11:31And is it possible to do that while Moscow, but also Beijing, Tehran, has such a visible presence?
11:39Well, firstly, I think it is absolutely correct and normal for us to acknowledge that we have no monopoly in
11:46the region.
11:46This is a region that must be respected for what it is, and it is perfectly legitimate for other countries
11:54to have partnerships with other parts of the world.
11:57However, having said that, I don't think any other part of the world has the same level of direct interest
12:05as Europe does.
12:06What is clear is that over the past few years, we have had a series of monologues between us rather
12:14than a dialogue.
12:15We have not been, and it's a mea culpa here, we have not been capable of listening and understanding properly,
12:23as we should.
12:23We have not really been capable also of explaining what our interests are in the region.
12:29And by the same measure, I think there has been a failure in terms of dialogue on the other side.
12:35So the idea of deepening and making a lot and improving our dialogue is fundamental.
12:43That's a starting point.
12:44And we're on the road.
12:46We've been doing that over the last year, year and a half.
12:49And I think there's quite a lot of recognition.
12:51Our relations with those regimes now have bridges which did not exist some time ago.
12:58Would you say that the incidents in Mali could have undermined maybe the reputation or the image of Russia as
13:06a security partner?
13:07And could that lead to maybe efforts to diversify security ties from Mali?
13:13Well, firstly, I think, of course, the Malians are going to have to do some reassessments.
13:18It's theirs to do.
13:20And I can't tell them what to do.
13:23But I think that it's obvious, due to the tremendous security failures of the past week, that they need to
13:31do some reassessments.
13:32Secondly, it's very clear that there is no solution through military means alone.
13:39The Russians only offer military support.
13:41They offer nothing else.
13:42Do you fear that the Sahel is being neglected?
13:45And what could be the cost of that for Europe?
13:48Well, I think it is very evident that there is limited bandwidth from our political deciders.
13:55I have had an interesting experience as a special representative of the European Union.
14:00I've been visiting most European capitals and speaking with ministers.
14:04All the ministers tell me the Sahel is geopolitically strategic.
14:09And yet, they don't have time.
14:11They don't have time because of everything else that is happening.
14:14And the cost of that for Europe?
14:15The cost of that is that the situation is getting worse.
14:20But what I do believe is that we are developing the instruments to be able to take advantage of opportunities
14:27when they arise.
14:28And I think the opportunities will arise when it becomes evident that Europe is still the best possible partner for
14:36those countries.
15:06Moving on now.
15:07And we are going to have time to take advantage of the EU-Russia.
15:08And to our correspondent, Vincenzo Genovese, who is there for us this week.
15:12And Vincenzo, on this issue of Russia, it also featured prominently in a debate on EU-Russia ties in the
15:19hemicycle last night.
15:23Yes, Mared, indeed.
15:24Good morning.
15:25Good morning from Strasbourg.
15:26It was quite a heated debate yesterday evening, as the topic is highly controversial among MEPs and also full discussion
15:33across Europe.
15:34Currently, we know Russian teams are excluded from sports competitions, and Russia remains banned from cultural events such as the
15:41Eurovision Song Contest,
15:42but not from, for example, Venice Biennale, the world's most renowned contemporary art exhibition.
15:49So the question is, should the EU talk to Russia through diplomacy, or at least through sports and arts, or
15:56not?
15:56Let's put it to Vincenzo, who is an MEP from the Greens-HIFA group, and chairs the European Parliament Russian
16:03delegation.
16:04Good morning. Welcome.
16:05Good morning. Good morning.
16:07Should we talk to Russia or not?
16:10I think we have to be very clear that Russia uses all connections or conciliation from our side as a
16:17way to show that they would have international legitimacy for their war crimes in Ukraine
16:22and ongoing slaughter of Ukrainians.
16:26So Russia has committed thousands of war crimes, torture of prisoners, rape of Ukrainian women, and these are kind of
16:37like systematic.
16:38So we have to remember that as long as the war continues and Putin does not take responsibility for the
16:45war crimes and Russia does not stop invading Ukraine,
16:48there is nothing we can talk about with Russia, and we should not give them any legitimacy through sports or
16:54culture.
16:55The war continues, as you said, but Putin, Vladimir Putin, announced a ceasefire for the Victory Day.
17:00Do you believe him? Is it a serious offer?
17:02No, it's not. I mean, Putin also feels, Russia feels weaker now than they did a year ago.
17:10Ukraine has done a lot of drone attacks inside of Russia, so they start to feel threatened by those attacks.
17:15So this is also for them to try to create a day where they can show their strength, but then
17:22they want Ukrainians not to intervene.
17:24But some Europeans will go there, like Slovak Prime Minister Fitsou, is it the right choice?
17:30I think it's the totally wrong choice.
17:32We don't want to show any support for the current Russian regime in their kind of like also reimagining the
17:40past.
17:40Russia uses the Victory Day as a way of strengthening a very nationalistic future for Russia,
17:48where human rights are not supported.
17:50In the meantime, there is also a standoff between Ukraine and Israel for what Kiev says is stolen grains from
17:55occupied territories.
17:57What do you can do on that?
17:58I think you have to be very clear that all the support that we have for Ukraine and all the
18:03conditions and sanctions on Russia
18:05and action against Russians using Ukrainian resources elsewhere has to apply to all countries.
18:10So we have to be strict on Israel as well, and Israel has to pay if they do wrong on
18:16here.
18:17Very clear. Thank you very much, Vileninisto.
18:20It's the last day of the plenary session in Strasbourg, and we will follow it as usual on Euronews.
18:25Maren.
18:26Vincenzo there in Strasbourg, thank you so much for that.
18:29And that's it from us for today and for this week.
18:33We'll be back on Monday next week at the same time and the same place with the same news and
18:38analysis to start your day.
18:40In the meanwhile, you can keep up to date with more of our reporting on Euronews and Euronews.com.
18:46You can also get in touch with us, email us at europetoday at euronews.com with your questions, feedback and
18:53tips.
18:54And we'll see you again on Monday next week.
19:23Euronews.
19:55...
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