EU Insight, 10 January 2020, Brussels

VON DER LEYEN MEETS JOHNSON AHEAD OF CRUCIAL WEEKS FOR BREXIT OUTCOME

Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson met in London this week, ahead of the departure of the UK from the European Union at the end of this month, and the subsequent kick-off of formal negotiations to discuss the future free trade agreement. During her visit to the UK, the Commission President re-iterated the EU’s position concerning future negotiations, stressing that “no free movement of people means no free movement of capital, goods and services”. She also expressed concern over the possibility to conclude an agreement before the end of 2020, which marks the end of the transition period unless it is extended by July.

EUROPEAN LEADERS CALL ON THE US AND IRAN TO LOWER TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The EU diplomatic machinery reacted this week to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, after the United States killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last week. EU Foreign Affairs Ministers met in Brussels to discuss the conflict, which jeopardies further the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), one of the main diplomatic successes of the EU’s foreign policy. In addition, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel released statements calling for de-escalation and dialogue among the parties. The EU High Representative Josep Borrell also expressed concerns about the impact of this deterioration on the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq.

COMMISSION BOLSTERS PROTECTION OF EU INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN GLOBAL MARKETS

The European Commission published a report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries. The Commission warns whilst there have been some improvements since its last report on the topic, intellectual property rights infringements worldwide cost European firms billions of euros in lost revenue and put thousands of jobs at risk. The report identifies three subsets of “priority countries” where the EU will focus its future action based on the level of harm to EU companies: i) China; ii) India, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine; and iii) Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

ROADMAP TO ENSHRINE CLIMATE-NEUTRALITY IN EU LEGISLATION UNVEILED

The European Commission published the roadmap for the EU’s Climate Law. The initiative, foreseen by the EU Green Deal, aims to ensure an ambitious and just EU climate policy in view of protecting the EU’s welfare, prosperity, health, eco-systems and biodiversity against the threat of anthropogenic climate change. The main objective of the climate law is to enshrine the climate-neutrality objective by 2050 in EU legislation. It also aims to ensure that all EU policies are created in a climate-neutral, cost-effective and socially fair way. Citizens and stakeholders are now invited to provide feedbacks to the roadmap with the deadline set on 6 February.

EU SUPPORTS JUAN GUAIDO AS PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN VENEZUELA

In light of the latest developments concerning the National Assembly in Venezuela, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell declared that the European Union considers the voting session that led to the election of Luis Parra on 5 January as illegitimate, as it did not respect the legal procedures and democratic principles established. Instead, Borrell stressed the EU’s full support to Juan Guaidó as President of the National Assembly. To support democratic interests in Venezuela, the EU will work towards applying targeted measures against individuals involved in their violation.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

• 13-16 January: European Parliament Plenary in Strasbourg. On the agenda: Croatian Presidency programme, the EU Green Deal, Iran, Libya.

Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner Brussels, Kreab