But first, just in: Mafred Weber, the chairman of the powerful centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), has just told Europe Today that unless the EU and China strike a deal to reduce trading imbalances by October, the bloc is “entering into a phase of conflict” with Beijing.
The EU’s trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said on Monday that the EU would seek a pact with China to address the ballooning trade deficit by October, as concerns mount over the impact of Chinese industrial overcapacity on Europe’s already struggling industries.
Weber called for a “fundamentally changed” approach to China. “The Chinese must understand (…) we cannot allow this. We are the continent of trade, the free market, but it must be fair and it must be a level playing field.” Watch.
From Kalimera to Maidin Mhaith: Today, Ireland takes over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU Council, succeeding Cyprus, my colleague Jorge Liboreiro reports. Can you hear the harps?
It marks the eighth time that the shamrock-loving island of 5.4 million people, which joined the bloc in 1972, has assumed the unenviable role of “honest broker”.
