The push by NATO states to drastically raise the organization's defense budget is misaligned with the concerns of common European residents, who prioritize economic wellbeing over perceived military threats, said a Belgian journalist.
NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday "broadly" agreed to pursue a significant increase in member states' military spending to 5 percent of GDP. However, sharp disagreements over the timeline and spending categories revealed deep divisions ahead of the alliance's upcoming summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24-25.
Lode Vanoost, senior media professional from Belgium and a former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, told China Media Group (CMG) that the move would risk neglecting public anxiety about the rising cost of living.
"People care about their daily life. Can they afford (to send) their kids to school? Can they afford to pay for their house? Can they at least go on holiday a little bit? That's what people care about, that's what people care about. And then to say 'oh no, we have to give that all up because the Russians are going to invade us'. Now, when these politicians say that, most of them really know that it's not true. It's not going to happen. It didn't happen during the first Cold War, it's not going to happen now," he said.
"Whether they believe or not is not relevant. What they do is that they use it as an argument to silence opposition, to silence dissent on their opinions. This is of course not what you will hear in the mainstream media, not by what you hear from the mainstream politicians, etcetera. And this is what is going on and I think it's important to know that not all people in Europe think this way. There are a lot of people who think differently, who will say what is going on is we will live in a multi-polar society worldwide and that is good," he said.
According to Vanoost, NATO's current trajectory could entangle Europe in "collective militarization", hindering the pursuit of strategic autonomy through diplomatic engagement.
True sovereignty stems from coexistence and cooperation, not arms races, he said.
NATO's plans to raise defense budget run counter to interests of Europeans: analyst
NATO's plans to raise defense budget run counter to interests of Europeans: analyst
China and the European Union (EU) have agreed that it is necessary to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger battery electric vehicles to the EU, China's commerce ministry said on Monday.
The move aims to address relevant concerns in a more practical, targeted, and consistent manner with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to the Ministry of Commerce in a statement.
Accordingly, the European Commission will issue a Guidance Document on Submission of Price Undertaking Offers. In the document, the EU confirms that it will assess each undertaking application under the same legal criteria, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and relevant WTO rules, in an objective and fair manner.
The progress fully reflects the spirit of dialogue and the outcomes of consultations between China and the EU. It shows that both China and the EU have the ability and willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of WTO rules, thereby maintaining the stability of automotive industrial and supply chains in China, the EU, and the whole world. This is conducive not only to ensuring the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, but also to safeguarding the rules-based international trade order, the statement said.
On the same day, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) also issued a statement welcoming the positive outcome of the consultations.
The CCCME noted that eligible Chinese EV makers may now submit price undertaking applications in accordance with the EU's guidance, and the European Commission has pledged to review all applications objectively, fairly, and under uniform standards.
The proper settlement of this case meets the shared expectations of industries along the EV supply chain in both China and Europe. It will help ensure the security and stability of related industrial and supply chains and safeguard the broader China-EU economic and trade relationship, the CCCME said.
The chamber expressed appreciation for the substantial efforts made by China's Ministry of Commerce in defending the interests of the domestic industry. It also pledged to encourage and support relevant Chinese enterprises in making full use of the consultation outcomes to protect their interests in exporting to the EU and promote healthy cooperation between the industries of both sides.
China, EU agree on price undertaking guidance for Chinese electric vehicle exporters: commerce ministry
