European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced that the executive branch will begin work on the future integration of Ukraine and the Balkan countries in early 2024.
The chairman of the European Commission (EC)Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that she would launch an investigation against China for the allegedly illegal support it provides to the production of electric vehicles, as it considers this an “unfair practice” that distorts the European Union (EU) market.
The program Von der Leyen refers to provides tax exemptions to consumers who purchase electric vehicles through 2027 and has an estimated value of $72.3 billion.
‘It is a crucial industry for the clean economy, with enormous potential for Europe, but also for global markets They are being flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars“, while the price “is kept artificially low thanks to huge state subsidies“Von der Leyen explained this in her first intervention in the Debate on the State of the Union (SOTEU) held during the plenary session in Strasbourg (France).
The German leader has warned that this “distorts the market” and recalled that “Europe is open to competition” but “not to a race to the bottom.”
Despite the announcement, the EC leader has advocated for it keep the lines of communication open and dialogue with China, because there are also issues where both actors “can and should work together.” With this aim in mind, the Commission’s Economic Vice-President and Head of Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, will travel to Beijing next week to discuss “commercial and economic opportunities and challenges”, as announced through his profile on the social network ( formerly Twitter).
The future integration of Ukraine and the Balkans, from 2024
Von der Leyen also referred to the Union’s expansion plans and announced that the Community administration will propose reforms to EU leaders in the first half of 2024 to face future integration into the Ukraine-Balkans bloc. “The future of Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans lies in our Union,” he proclaimed, ensuring that the EU must be “completed.”
The head of Europe’s executive branch has appreciated the “major steps” taken by Ukraine since gaining candidate country status, as well as its “determination” to reform other candidate countries.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the head of the European executive also assured in an announcement that she will propose to extend the temporary protection, valid until March 2024, that the European Union offers to Ukrainians who have fled the war and are in the continent. That earned applause from the Members of the European Parliament.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
