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Scott Pruitt, Boeing, European Union: Your Friday Evening Briefing New York Times 1. President Trump held a rally at a Boeing plant in South Carolina to celebrate jobs, before setting off to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend. Around the world, observers reacted with anxiety, disbelief and humor to Mr. Trump's 77-minute news conference on ...

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Scott Pruitt, Boeing, European Union: Your Friday Evening Briefing - New York Times

MUNICH The world needs the European Union now more than ever. Despite recent crises and the hard blow dealt by the Brexit vote, the EU may well be the worlds best line of defense against todays most serious threats: isolationism, protectionism, nationalism, and extremism in all forms, all of which are once again growing in Europe and beyond. The key to enabling the EU to meet this potential to save itself and the world from catastrophe is for member states urgently to adopt a European Union first mantra.

Unlike the America first credo embraced by US President Donald Trump, such a mantra would not be an exercise in damaging unilateralism. On the contrary, it would compel member states governments to look beyond narrow national interest, defend openness and multilateralism, and confront head-on the exclusionary political forces that have lately been gaining ground. It would drive member states to consolidate the EU, thereby enabling it to overcome the challenges it faces and help preserve the international order.

That order is neither an inessential accessory nor a post-war relic. It has supported global prosperity and stability for 70 years. We need it together with the multilateralism on which it is built to confront many of the economic, environmental, and strategic challenges we now face, challenges that cannot be addressed at the national level.

A cornerstone of the existing international order is the recognition that maintaining peace and human welfare requires an understanding of and respect for the needs and interests of others needs and interests that are no less legitimate than our own. Multilateralism is not a product of unsustainable solidarity, as some like to claim; it is the result of an enlightened interpretation of ones own interests. With a constructive attitude, even a large number of disparate actors can reach agreements in which everyone wins by yielding a little; without it, prospects for sustained peace and widely shared prosperity become far bleaker.

If all countries put their own interests first, paying no heed to others, competition will quickly overwhelm common interests. If nobody is ever willing to yield, we will all lose. If we depend solely on bilateral deals, the shared spaces and synergies that facilitate agreement on difficult but vital topics from climate change to security will narrow until they disappear.

This is why Trumps embrace of an American first mantra is so worrying. As the worlds leading power, the US sets the tone of cooperation and often provides the incentives for other countries to participate. If the US maintains a unilateral and isolationist stance, other countries are almost certain to follow suit, endangering everyone including the US.

Recently, the Trump administration has begun to moderate some of its foreign-policy positions. In particular, Trump has finally agreed to honor the One China policy. He also seems to have rectified his approach to Japan, after having raised doubts about his willingness to follow through on Americas security commitments. These developments imply that the administration is beginning to recognize the need for a more constructive approach.

That recognition may arise partly out of an understanding of history. Experience has shown that the most effective way to prevent conflicts is through inclusion and cooperation. Exclusionary rhetoric plays into the hands of those who reduce identity to nativist definitions. When such figures nationalists and populists have been left to guide policy in the past, the result has been large-scale conflict.

At a time when global power dynamics are in flux, as is true today, the risk of such an outcome is even greater. Today, an effort is being made to incorporate emerging powers particularly China more deeply into the existing structures of global governance. Casting doubt on these structures, which have sustained stability over the last seven decades, would merely fuel more nationalism and competition, opening the way for volatility and conflict.

If the US cannot be counted on to support global stability, the EUs model and experience will become even more important. The EU is the embodiment of inclusion, cooperation, and democratic values. Despite its flaws, the EU has proved time and again how differences can be resolved peacefully and constructively. Its member states are uniquely committed to multilateralism; indeed, we practice it daily.

The results speak for themselves. No one can doubt that the EU has been a guarantor of peace, democracy, modernity, and progress for all of its members. Its community model which requires cooperation, negotiation, and compromise to reach any consequential decision amounts to a check on extremism, because no member country can push radical policies forward without other members pushing back.

This is not to say that EU countries face no risk of falling victim to simplistic populist rhetoric. On the contrary, the point is to highlight why EU member states must dedicate themselves to the continued construction of a stronger and deeper union. For the sake of Europe and the world, it is time to put the EU first.

No one knows better than Europe the consequences of extremism and nationalism or how to overcome them. With an enlightened and supranational spirit, the EU has achieved a sustained peace that would have seemed impossible a century ago. It must not lose sight of that achievement. Instead, it must continue to advance the union, and show the world what multilateralism can do.

The annual Munich Security Conference meets amid mounting concern about the entire global security architecture. How can peace be maintained in the face of Donald Trumps dubious commitment to Americas global role?

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The European Union First by Javier Solana - Project Syndicate - Project Syndicate

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I know that youre used to associate the words European Union to the word crisis [sic], she told the audience. Let me bring here the voice of a proud European. I believe that in the state the world is today, the European Union is quite in a good place [sic]. I say this because I have the privilege of seeing the European Union through the eyes of our partners around the world.

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The Italian socialist insisted that the EU is much, much stronger than we Europeans realise, and its much more indispensable to Europeans and to the world than we realise. Seen from the outside, the European Union is a reliable, predictable, strong, co-operative partner for many in the world.

Mogherini predicted that, in future, the European Union will for sure be a more indispensable partner than before, and, I would say, a more indispensable power than before. In the confusion were facing, you can be sure that the European Union will remain a stable, reliable, predictable partner for many, and for security.

U.S. president Donald Trump, who leads the worlds most significant global power, has articulated an entirely different view, predicting more EU member-states will follow the United Kingdoms lead in leaving the crisis-wracked bloc.

People, countries want their own identity, he told The Times in January 2017, arguing that the Brexit vote was an affirmation of Britains national identity.

You look at the UK and you look at the European Union and its Germany. Basically a vehicle for Germany. Thats why I thought the UK was so smart in getting out.

Also speaking at the security conference was German vice-chancellor and foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, who appeared to dispute President Trumps view.

I understand and I accept that the United States expect Europe to assume more responsibility for world security, but it would be a mistake to believe that we can expect a Europe of national states to do that, he said, hinting that a more federal Europe would be desirable because in the long run, that will yield the best results.

Gabriel also appeared to reach out to the UK, telling listeners, I regret the Brexit decision, but we have to respect it. The temptationof being too stern with the United Kingdom, we should not yield to that, because we need the United Kingdom as a partner.

In a seeming attempt to dissuade Britain from deepening the Anglo-American partnership at the expense of the EU, he appeared to claim that demographic shifts would weaken the special relationship in coming years.

Id like to tell our British friends that in [a] few years, most U.S. citizens will no longer be of European origin, he said. They will come from China, from Latin America, and other regions, so that will change their relations with Europe.

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was more forthright. He claimed the world needs a stable order, and the institution which can probably give the most stability and order is probably the European Union.

Not Europe as a continent, he emphasised, but the political project of the European Union. And let me remind you here once again that France and Germany are determined to consolidate what we have achieved, for the well-being of mankind.

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EU Foreign Affairs Chief Claims World Sees Struggling Bloc As 'Reliable, Predictable And Strong' - Breitbart News

A package of controversial proposals on the blocs future was passed by a wafer thin majority in the European Parliament earlier today amid an acrimonious debate about the future direction of the project.

Eurosceptics reacted with fury and disbelief as MEPs approved three separate reports on planned reforms to how Brussels operates, the most contentious of which was drafted by Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt and squeaked through by just 14 votes.

Critics tonight said the fact that such a set of plans could be passed by MEPs demonstrated why the British people voted to leave the EU and that Theresa May needs to press ahead with Brexit.

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Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge told express.co.uk: When you see that this kind of thing can be voted through, it shows we must accelerate Brexit. Weve got to get out now.

Guy Verhofstadt is the arch federalist, hes the absolute symbol of the EUs desperation to become a nation state. The lunatics are running the asylum and hes the Mad Hatter.

And a spokesman for Tory MEPs in Brussels added: "The closeness of this vote, and the failure of Mr Verhofstadt to secure the backing of the majority of MEPs for his report, is further proof that More Europe is not the answer to the EU's problems."

Mr Etheridge, a former leadership candidate, said the report should be vigorously opposed and added: The efforts to create a European superstate are a bad thing for everyone not least those still trapped inside it.

He described the plans to create an EU army and finance minister as exceptionally dangerous saying they would undermine NATO and wreck the European economy.

Speaking from Stoke, where he has been campaigning with leader Paul Nuttall, he said: Hes a dangerous man with exceptionally dangerous ideas. The idea of a defence union is quite the most absurd notion Ive ever heard.

People like him want the EU to become a superpower to rival America. Its absolutely cloud cuckoo land.

Itll destroy whats left of the European economy. Itll be a catastrophe on an enormous scale for the whole of Europe.

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Tory MEP Ashley Fox added: Mr Verhofstadt is very consistent. Whatever the question the answer is always the same more Europe.

Britain did not vote to leave the EU because there was not enough Europe. We voted to leave because the EU does too much.

It has already taken too much power from the Member States and has lost touch with its citizens.

This report seeks to create a United States of Europe. Instead of listening to the people it is telling them that Brussels knows best.

Instead of extending democracy it is centralising power. And so, rather than strengthening the EU, it undermines it further.

When you see that this kind of thing can be voted through, it shows we must accelerate Brexit

Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge

Mr Verhofstadts report, which has met with widespread opposition, would curtail the influence of the member states and instead hand sweeping powers to Brussels.

It advocates setting up an EU finance ministry to take control of the continents economic policy, the creation of a eurozone budget funded by taxpayers and a move towards a fully fledged defence union.

The dossier was approved by a minuscule majority of 14 during a knife-edge vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, demonstrating the huge division among EU politicians over where Europe should go next.

It was passed alongside two other reports, one by German MEP Elmar Brok and the other by Frances Pervenche Bers, which also contain a number of significant reforms.

Together they propose ditching individual countries right to a veto on EU laws, standardising tax laws across Europe and boosting the power of the EU parliament compared to the Commission and Council.

One of the reports also suggests taking control of military matters away from member states and putting it in the hands of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers instead.

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Countries that are in the European Union

After the vote Mr Verhofstadt said: These reports give the blueprint of what a more perfect Union should look like. They do not propose European integration for the sake of it.

I know we can have a strong, powerful, respected European Union and at the same time have flourishing local and national democracies. In fact, I believe the one is not possible without the other.

Mr Brok added: Citizens expect solutions from Europe, and they are angry because they do not see answers being delivered.

This is evident in a time with many challenges, but there are many problems that can only be solved together.

The proposals in all three reports would have to be agreed by all of the heads of government across Europe to come into force and would be fiercely resisted by some including Britain.

But the votes today do hold political clout and will put pressure on eurocrats to accelerate their commitment to ever-closer union even in the face of a surge in support for populist candidates.

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'We need to get out NOW' Euro MEPs approve superstate plan to hand vast power to Brussels - Express.co.uk

February 17th, 2017 by Joshua S Hill

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of reforming the European Unions carbon market post-2021 in an effort to help the EU reach its climate change goals.

Specifically, the Parliament voted in favor of a proposal to reduce the number of carbon credits, or emission allowances, by 2.2% each year, as well as doubling the capacity of the 2019 market stability reserve (MSR) to absorb any excess allowances.

According to European Parliament News, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved the [European Commissions] proposal to increase the so-called linear reduction factor the yearly reduction of credits in order to deliver on the carbon curbs by 2.2% from 2021, as against 1.74% in the existing legislation. The MEPs also voted to ensure that this would be kept under review with the possibility of increasing it to 2.4% by 2024.

As for the 2019 MSR, the plan would see up to 24% of the excess of credits in each auctioning year absorbed by the MSR, and that 800 million allowances should be removed from the MSR starting the beginning of 2021.

I am very grateful to my colleagues for supporting this report. Todays vote marks a major step forward towards meeting our ambitious climate change targets said Ian Duncan, MEP with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. Parliament has voted through ambitious measures to fulfil our Paris Agreement obligations, and we have sent a strong signal to the European Council that we are serious about the fight to stop global warming.

Todays landmark vote provides a clear outcome after more than a year of discussions in Parliament, and it demonstrates the European Unions commitment to turning the Paris Agreement into reality through concrete action on the ground, said Miguel Arias Caete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy. Now the EU ETS revision is on the Councils table and we hope they can swiftly reach an agreement to kick-start negotiations.

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Tags: EU, Europe, European Parliament, European Union

Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

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European Union Parliament Passes Move To Reform Carbon Market - CleanTechnica