Unspectacular. This is how Janis A. Emmanouilidis from EPC described the EU’s last Summit that took place on 20th-21st October. The Summit ended with a lack of actual results or major initiatives. This briefing focuses on three main issues that dominated the debate: The international trade and CETA agreement overshadowed by the veto of Wallonia, migration and the relationship with Russia.
The Summit started with a debate over EU strategy on migration. There is a strong focus on security instead of solidarity. The EU did not take any innovative decisions or reforms during this Summit. The objectives are the same and were repeated: regain control of the situation and on the borders.
The Summit aimed at raising awareness and improving the support over a fair and international trade while the public criticism is growing. The EU is seen as an agent of economical globalisation. There is a need to strengthen the EU’s Trade Defence Instruments (TDIs) and the member states are not ready to support that.
Janis A. Emmanouilidis doubts that things are actually moving; it feels like a status quo despite the will of some member states such as Britain, the Netherlands and the Nordic States which defend the free trade. In the case of the CETA, three actors raised objections: Romania, Bulgaria called for conditions and Wallonia. For the French-speaking region of Belgium it is a much more complex picture. First, Paul Magnette, the president of the region fears that the agreement makes Wallonia losing its sovereignty over social and healthcare isuues, data protection and labour standards for big firms and multinationals. Second, there is an internal power battle in Belgian politics that we have to take into consideration. The Commission proposed a new declaration, amendments and safeguards in order to clarify the EU-Canada Trade and to satisfy Paul Magnette’s will. However these changes were considered insufficient. This “Walloon incident” as Janis A. Emmanouilidis likes to say, does not mean the end of CETA. Nevertheless it brings several lessons that the EU and the Member States should draw from this event. First it is important to separate the EU-only agreement from the mixed agreements that requires the agreement of all parliaments through the EU. Second, the Union has to be careful not overselling the benefits of such an agreement that does not only implies trade. There is a need to be honest. Third, the Commission and member states must take into consideration the critics from an earlier stage. This incident has to be comprehended in a broader and more profound way and shows us the polarisation of the society over the international free trade and the globalisation.
On the strategic debate to rethink the relations with Russia no concrete decision were taken and no new elements were put on the table. President Tusk recalls the many attempts Russia made in order to weaken the EU such as cyber-attacks, airspace violations or disinformation campaigns. Because of the complex interdependence of state members with Russia, a common stance vis-à-vis Russia is hard to reach.
The October Summit was also Theresa May’s first Summit … and probably the last according to Janis A. Emmanouilidis. He mentioned the so-called dirty Brexit that was also discussed during the summit. No major concrete decision was taken because there are many problems to achieve progress in the Brexit process due to the lack of willingness to compromise.
If this Summit was unspectacular, it brought a great vision on the challenges that faces the EU.