Another bold small nation: Belgian Prime Minister discusses EU summit topics, avoiding naming China directly: "We're too afraid to even do this"
Belgian Prime Minister De Wever warned that an urgent, effective strategy must be established.
Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday at an event jointly hosted by two pro-Europe think tanks, De Wever said, "Europe must respond. The only question is how we should respond."
De Wever expressed disappointment upon learning that French President Macron is reportedly launching a new initiative to include China in coordination efforts ahead of next week’s G7 Summit. It is expected that leaders of the G7 group will discuss China’s trade practices during next week’s summit.
At the event co-hosted by the "Friends of Europe" think tank and the Jacques Delors Institute, De Wever stated, "It’s certainly good, but we’ve already taken many initiatives—now it’s time to develop a strategy."
EU leaders will hold their summit in Brussels from June 18 to 19, one day after the G7 Summit. China is expected to be a central topic at this EU summit—although officially unnamed.
De Wever said, "They call it geopolitical economic imbalance, but they don’t name China directly because we’re too afraid to even do so." He then asked the audience if there were any journalists present.
De Wever has been at the forefront of debates about the potentially devastating impact of China on Europe’s economy. In March this year, he wrote a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging in-depth discussions on this issue at the highest political level.
In his letter, De Wever wrote, "We need to acknowledge this challenge at the level of the European Council (EU Summit) and take action to save our industries." The letter was obtained by the news site "European Dynamics."
De Wever also emphasized that Europe should not erect trade protectionist barriers, as this would drive up prices for businesses and consumers.
Instead, De Wever supports the now widely known vision of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—that Europe should become part of a "middle power" alliance committed to upholding the rule of law and global trade rules. European leaders’ vigilance toward China is growing.
De Wever believes Europe can serve as a shining "North Star" in a harsh world, illuminating the dawn of stability. He argues the EU should more actively "accelerate" implementation of existing trade protection mechanisms, diversify supply chains, and reduce Europe’s reliance on strategic sectors.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1867568853262336/
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