Brussels says its ‘Made in Europe’ act is ready for prime time. Here’s why it isn’t.
@jordyndahl.bsky.social @audevdh.bsky.social @ziaweise.bsky.social and @framiche.bsky.social break down the delayed-but-still-rushed Industrial Accelerator Act due out today.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
“We took for granted that transatlantic relations means the U.S. will be in Europe and spend its resources here,” said Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius at the POLITICO pub at MSC, adding that the EU taking charge of its defense will strengthen NATO and the broader transatlantic relationship.
For decades, European policymakers decried China's use of forced joint ventures as the price foreign companies paid to get access to its market.
Now, the EU wants to copy that strategy. My story w/ @framiche.bsky.social & @audevdh.bsky.social for @politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/eu-i...
This week’s #TakingStock at @newstalkfm.bsky.social
🍸economics of Dry January with @conorpope.bsky.social
🇺🇸a deep dive into the auto industry in Trump’s America @jordyndahl.bsky.social
✈️ the return of supersonic travel @jeffwise.bsky.social
Listen back:
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/tak...
The crisis at Nexperia is close to causing a massive chip shortage in the automotive sector. But it's not just production concerns causing a shortage.
“It’s like the pandemic when people went on toilet paper buying sprees."
My story w/ @pieterhaeck.bsky.social: www.politico.eu/article/car-...
EU members want to make it easier to transfer defense products from country to country. That's according to the latest draft of the defense omnibus.
I got a hold of the document. Pro subscribers can read the 47-page document in its entirety: pro.politico.eu/news/206495
Read the story. There's plenty of references ;)
Huawei is using its membership at a dominant solar panel lobbying group to gain access to EU institutions and influence how cybersecurity risks are presented to policymakers.
My story: www.politico.eu/article/huaw...
The letter and today's coalition meeting sets the stage for tomorrow's auto summit in Berlin, hosted by Merz. Stay tuned. /end
The official emphasized that the status quo remains: “There is no real news here. We expect the German government’s position following Thursday’s auto summit to confirm a call for flexibility and technological neutrality." /8
The CDU-SPD rift over the letter has caused quite the curfuffle. A Commission official called me, saying they have been asked for comment from media all over Europe. /7
That puts the SPD in line with France, which was originally slated to sign the letter, as I scooped months ago. Paris wants any flexibilities in the ban to come with content requirements. /6
My colleagues in Berlin report that the SPD wants any flexibility in the 2035 legislation to include location and employment guarantees for manufacturers, calling it a matter of "location patriotism." /5
Which brings us to today's meeting. The biggest question mark comes from CSU leader Markus Söder and his willingness to compromise. “The ban on combustion engines must go. It is important both technologically and economically,” the Bavarian minister president said on Tuesday. /4
We got our hands on the full letter, which can be seen here (for pro subscribers): pro.politico.eu/news/206037
The TL;DR is Berlin and Rome stopped just short of calling for an overturning of the ban, instead calling for a radical overhaul. /3
Merz blindsided the SPD earlier this week when his economic minister co-signed a letter to the Commission calling for a significant watering down of the ban. Read my scoop on that here: politico.eu/article/germ...
/2
A coalition meeting is underway between German Chancellor Merz and his conservative CDU, along with their partners, the center-left SPD party. The topic? Tomorrow's auto summit and the fate of the combustion engine ban. A thread /1
Europe's automakers score reprieve in U.S.-EU trade deal with car tariffs lowered to 15 percent, the same rate as Japan's automakers.
Here's what it means for the sector.
From me for pro subscribers: pro.politico.eu/news/202544
Exactly. European consumers have no interest in buying pickup trucks
Trump railed against the EU’s tariffs on cars.
“We don’t sell cars into Europe. If we want to sell cars in Europe, we’re not allowed to,” he (incorrectly) said.
The EU imposes a 10% tariff on cars but the bulk of the models imported from the U.S. are made by German automakers BMW and Mercedes.
Scoop from yours truly: The EU is ready to align its autonomous driving standards with the U.S. to make a deal on trade with Trump.
Hard to overstate how dramatic a shift this is. Remember - the argument over car standards helped end TTIP talks in 2013.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...
⚠️ NEW: EU countries want to let carmakers use recycled plastic from outside the EU to meet future recycled content targets.
Otherwise, it would breach international trade rules, they warn.
more here (€): pro.politico.eu/news/198504
@jordyndahl.bsky.social
Members of the European Parliament were offered special pouches to protect digital devices from espionage and tampering for a visit to Hungary this week, a sign of rising spying fears within Europe.
It's not your imagination: Brussels is going to hell in a handbasket. Nine months after the election, a government is still not formed and crime is on the rise.
My colleague @hannecl.bsky.social explains in her must read story www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Even bigger than that - selling 80% of entire subsidiary with 43 ports
Tesla's sales are crating across Europe in response to some of Elon Musk's remarks.
But those declining sales is going to impact another lucrative revenue stream for Tesla: regulatory credits.
In 2024 alone, it made $2.76 billion on emissions deals.
My story: www.politico.eu/article/tesl...
I got a hold of a draft of the Commission's Automotive Action Plan last night. It left much to be desired from automakers that say they need relief from this year's emission targets w/the draft having a massive placeholder where details should be.
More for subscribers:
pro.politico.eu/news/194794
France is still trying to find a "blocking" minority in the EU to prevent Brussels from finalizing a landmark trade deal with Latin American countries that would hurt French farmers, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.
Under the law used to fund DOGE, it should be subject to the same open-records laws that cover most federal agencies, such as the State Department.
"However, DOGE has refused to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests, saying it operates with executive privileges."
