00:00You can bring in Michael Bloss, a German MEP from the Green Party.
00:04An MEP is working very closely on EU-China relations.
00:07We're thrilled to have you with us. Good morning.
00:09And of course, we're hearing, you know, Donald Trump saying,
00:12we're the two superpowers, referring to the US and China.
00:15So where does that leave the European Union?
00:17Sandwich somewhere in the middle.
00:21That's true.
00:21It is a moment where Europe has to realise
00:25that it is not sitting at the table
00:28when the two superpowers speak about very important things
00:32that is also determining Europe's face.
00:36So they're shaking hands over the heads of European leaders.
00:42And we have to understand that only when Europe speaks with one voice,
00:49when we are better coordinating in our China policy,
00:51but also in our US policy, we can have an influence.
00:54Well, that is the issue.
00:56You said Europeans are not around the table.
00:58And everyone says, if you're not on the table,
00:59you're clearly on the menu.
01:01How can the EU and the 27 countries survive in this world
01:05where Washington and Beijing are cutting deals over Europe's head
01:08and neither obviously caring about the climate,
01:10the environment or privacy issues?
01:15Well, it seems that we have to realise
01:17that it's difficult to survive
01:19if we're not speaking with one voice.
01:22But it's really Europe is squeezed, as it was said already.
01:26There is a trade war with the US happening.
01:31But also, if we look at our trade relations with China,
01:34this has really turned around now.
01:37There is a trade deficit of 360 billion euros.
01:43So the question is for us, how do we get more autonomy and more sovereignty?
01:50And I think the answer is, as I said already,
01:54speaking with one voice is very difficult,
01:56especially looking at the member states.
01:58And China is doing this divide and conquer policy.
02:04But it also means, for instance, with regards to energy imports,
02:11energy policy, becoming sovereign by producing our own energy.
02:17And second, I think also rare earth.
02:19Europe is absolutely dependent for all its technology on rare earth.
02:22And also here we have to diversify
02:25and not become, not being so dependent on China.
02:28And of course, Donald Trump is a very transactional president.
02:31How could deals being struck this week in Beijing
02:34impact negatively European industry?
02:39Yeah, it was already said,
02:41when there is better relationships between the US and China
02:46that can result in less market access, for instance,
02:52from the EU to the Chinese market.
02:57However, I think I want to also discuss on another policy area,
03:02which is security.
03:04I think that's also very important.
03:06And it's interesting or, well, that there is a risk
03:11that the US is less focused on Taiwan.
03:17And we see that the main security risk for Europe currently
03:23is Russia's attack on Ukraine.
03:26We heard that tonight and yesterday there was this massive drone attack.
03:30And China is supporting Russia in this.
03:35If China would pull the plug on the war of Russia against Ukraine,
03:41that would really help us.
03:42But it seems that they are more entering into some kind of imperialist policies.
03:51And that's really also a problem for Europe.
03:53OK, Michael Bluss, thank you so much for waking up early
03:56on this Thursday bank holiday for joining us here live on Europe Today.
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