Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker the International Trade and Constitutional Affairs committees questioned Šefčovič Slovak candidate for Trade and Economic Security/ Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency The committee chairs and political group coordinators will meet without delay to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate In his introductory statement Mr Šefčovič reminded MEPs that trade is "marked by stark competition over disruptive new technologies and the weaponisation of economic dependencies" the Commissioner-designate said: “Regardless of the outcome of the US elections I will put forward an offer of cooperation” He added that the EU will have to solve its disputes with the US and protectionist elements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) he announced an expansion of the EU's Transparency Register’s scope "to all managers" Mr Šefčovič described China as the most challenging trading partner, one with which the EU needs to rebalance its relationship. He told MEPs that, after EU’s duties on electric vehicles made in China, in place since last week Commission negotiators are now in talks with Chinese counterparts on price undertakings we are looking for rebalancing our relationship with China in areas where we feel our relationship is not fair," Mr Šefčovič said MEPs grilled the Commissioner-designate over the ongoing negotiations with Mercosur countries Mr Šefčovič pledged to continue work on free trade agreements (FTA) with Mexico and Australia and said he wants the EU to be more present in Thailand he pointed to the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) with Angola and the Economic Partnership Agreement with Kenya as new types of agreements that could help the EU Asked by MEPs if the EU was breaching international law as it keeps its trade ties with Israel under the EU-Israel association agreement Mr Šefčovič said that the agreement “can be changed only by unanimity” among member states Priorities for interinstitutional relations Many MEPs highlighted the importance of treaty change based on Parliament's proposals which were inspired by the Conference on the Future of Europe The Commissioner-designate said that the key to moving forward on this is getting a clear position by the European Council: they will work with the new presidency of Antonio Costa to this aim The debate revolved around the need for reforms to prepare for enlargement and to activate the "passerelle" clause in key policy areas with some MEPs bringing up worrying reports about Commission practices Other topics included better cooperation with national parliaments and applying the findings of the Draghi report in the EU's institutional architecture At the end of the hearing, the Chair of the Committees of International Trade, Bernd Lange, and Constitutional Affairs, Sven Simon, held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg Home » Gallery » Brussels: Piyush Goyal meets Maroš Šefčovič – #Gallery You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations Maroš Šefčovič reiterated the EU’s commitment to removing duties on industrial goods and suggested Brussels could also abolish “non-tariff barriers” to transatlantic trade either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič the longest-serving current European commissioner put on a professional and engaging performance in the first round of confirmation hearings on Monday — and was rewarded by being confirmed shortly after his showing Sporting a bronze tan and a flashing smile Šefčovič was in full command of his talking points He switched effortlessly from English into French and German (and of course Slovak) to address the concerns of MEPs — such as a Latin American trade deal that worries French MEPs or escalating trade tensions with China that worry them all He opened his remarks with an ode to free trade which he called a “true success story” on which the European Union is built And he said his priorities would revolve around three “Ds”: driving the EU’s competitiveness; defending EU businesses against unfair practices Here are the top five takeaways from his three-hour hearing: The commissioner-designate pledged to revamp the EU-U.S holds a closely watched presidential election I will put forward an offer of cooperation and at the same time I will be ready to stand up for our interest if faced with disruptive scenarios,” Šefčovič said One such disruptive scenario could be a return by Donald Trump to the White House The real estate mogul has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs of up to 20 percent “First and foremost we have to talk to each other as allies,” Šefčovič said in response to a question from Brando Benifei the coordinator for the Socialists and Democrats group Šefčovič broke the news that a negotiating team from the Commission’s trade department was in China pursuing a negotiated settlement in an escalating trade dispute with Beijing over EV duties “A team of DG TRADE is currently in China,” Šefčovič said when asked about the EU’s duties on made-in-China electric vehicles that have been in place since last week “The EU is not interested in trade wars,” Šefčovič continued adding that the bloc was looking to rebalance its relationship with China and tackle all areas “where we simply feel that our relationship is not fair.” “We are fighting for the level playing field We are fighting for … fair access to … public procurement We are going to tackle with all our efforts which are being created by China and are threatening our industry in the European Union,” he added Šefčovič said on Monday that he’d aim to finish legislative work on the EU’s custom reform in the first half of 2025 when Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU He assured the Parliament that a new EU customs authority will be launched from 2026 two years earlier than originally proposed “I will throw my weight behind advancing the start date for this new customs authority from 2028 to 2026,” the veteran Slovak commissioner told his confirmation hearing arguing that the revamp of the EU’s customs cooperation scheme was crucial to the bloc’s security It’s an ambitious timeline given that legislative work has stalled in the Council.  Slovak opposition MEP Miriam Lexmann (European People’s Party) asked Šefčovič how his strong language on China works when Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico — who is in China right now — argues in favor of “a strategic partnership with a totalitarian state.” Šefčovič sidestepped the man who nominated him for the job and didn’t mention Fico once he doubled down on the technocratic side of his future role highlighting that the EU has plenty of tools to deal with China’s unfair practices “We’ve got instruments to control incoming investments We’ve got possibilities to have control over subsidies,” Šefčovič said He added that “we realize China is the second-biggest economy,” implying that the country can’t be ignored but stressing that its very size requires that the EU “deal with these issues” of unfair practices The practice of companies avoiding EU trade sanctions on Russia is “totally unacceptable,” Šefčovič said He assured lawmakers that the Commission is keeping the issue at the top of its agenda with countries in Central Asia and with Turkey and the UAE which have seen increases in their trade with Russia “It’s part of every single dialogue and discussion we have with China on these elements,” he said of Beijing which is estimated to supply more than half of dual-use goods to Russia just one month before Poland takes over the Council presidency Warsaw is expected to shepherd through a new package on Russia sanctions after the Commission made no proposals during the six-month Council chairmanship of Viktor Orbán’s pro-Kremlin government in Hungary Governments the world over are racing to keep their steel industries alive the EU and Australia: Billions are reserved to counter global overcapacity and Donald Trump’s steep tariffs EU executive is planning a two-track approach of incentives and retaliatory measures to convince the White House to strike a deal to define its position,” says EU trade negotiator after talks in Washington European Commission reiterates zero-for-zero tariff offer following Trump’s stunning U-turn on import duties Varg Folkman is a policy analyst at the European Policy Centre Things are looking bleak for the European Union China has begun taking over industries that European countries once dominated a second Donald Trump administration for the US looks set to treat the EU as an adversary rather than a friend.  electricity prices that were once to the EU’s advantage have shot up since the Russian invasion of Ukraine They remain at an unsustainable level for the power-intensive industries the bloc excels at.  Maroš Šefčovič has stepped into the role of European commissioner for trade and economic security It is his job to help ensure the EU’s economic stability.  but the concept is generally understood as securing resilient value chains that can withstand shocks while developing tools to deter rivals from undermining one’s economic interests.  The EU is struggling to get off the ground on the first point The bloc is jarringly dependent on third countries for critical raw materials China has a chokehold on mining and refinement and is unafraid to use that to its strategic advantage it cut off supply of certain materials to the US amid tightening export controls on semiconductor technology.  strengthening the resilience of raw material value chains will be a daunting task Mining projects are unpopular and a wave of new mines opening across the bloc is unlikely This means striking deals with mining industries in African countries and other regions many of which are rife with human rights and labour abuses.  Securing raw materials is a major impetus behind the Mercosur free-trade deal with Latin America Yet the deal has exposed another challenge to Šefčovič’s efforts: internal division Not all member countries want the trade deal – France foremost among them.  There is similar disagreement when it comes to China is a recipient of Chinese investment in the electric vehicle value chain and does not see any value in antagonising its bigger Asian partner voted against imposing tariffs on subsidised Chinese EVs fearing its auto industry would face retaliation.  The lack of unity underscores the difficulty Šefčovič will have in identifying and deploying real deterrence against EU rivals Trade-offs between prosperity and economic security will only become more pronounced in the coming years.   EU member states agreed that the “need for a unified response has never been more compelling.” Those words are unlikely to become action anytime soon.  No matter how much Šefčovič tries to prepare the EU for a faceoff with global rivals Sign up to The Parliament's weekly newsletter Every Friday our editorial team goes behind the headlines to offer insight and analysis on the key stories driving the EU agenda. Subscribe for free here Read the most recent articles written by Varg Folkman - Op-ed: Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ hits the EU with a retaliation dilemma © Political Holdings Limited document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); First up: Mr. Fix It Slovakia’s Maroš Šefčovič been tapped for the role of trade commissioner in Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as European Commission president It’s going to be a tough gig: Von der Leyen has downgraded the EU’s traditional pursuit of free-trade agreements to emphasize policies that And she wants to wrap issues like trade defense and a new economic security strategy into a new economic foreign policy PS. If you want to follow more of the action from the hearings, our reporters will be bringing you blow-by-blow updates from all 26 commissioner interviews here met with HRVP Kaja Kallas and Maroš Šefčovič EU Commissioner for Trade in Brussels on Wednesday 15 January 2025 visited Brussels on Wednesday 15 January 2025 and met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission (HRVP) Kaja Kallas who is also responsible for EEA EFTA affairs and the state of play concerning Iceland's membership application were among topics discussed HRVP Kallas and Commissioner Šefčovič emphasised the importance of the EEA cooperation and its success over the past 30 years The European Union confirmed that Iceland's application was still considered active as the application was never formally withdrawn Should Iceland announce its inntention to the European Union to resume negotiations it would be up to the Council of the European Union and its Member States to decide the next steps based on the groundwork already laid Cari English Caring for Maros-Pangkep Karst, Preserving Global Earth Parks TEKS › English›Caring for Maros-Pangkep.. Preserving Global Earth Parks Mining activities in the Maros-Pangkep karst area do not only have the potential to damage the environment and historic caves Its status as a global earth park is also under threat Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI Visitors are observing cave paintings in Leang Timpuseng The area is part of the Maros-Pangkep Global Earth Park UNESCO officially designated the Maros-Pangkep area as a Global Geopark This status places the Maros-Pangkep area as one of 10 Global Geoparks in Indonesia recognized by UNESCO This designation did not come instantaneously; a long struggle was required to obtain recognition since it was proposed in 2017 the Maros-Pangkep area has a wealth of clusters of karst towers and mountains that stretch between Maros Regency and Pangkep Regency The karst expanse in this area is the second largest in the world after South China Around 20,000 hectares are mining areas and more than 23,000 hectares are within the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park A number of endemic flora and fauna are found in this area the uniqueness as well as the wealth of karst clusters in this area is the existence of hundreds of prehistoric caves Most of these caves contain remnants of treasures such as hand paintings and jewelry and cutting tools from the prehistoric era the world was shocked by the discovery of a Sulawesi human skeleton that was confirmed to have Denisovan DNA in Leang Panningnge The age of this relatively complete skeleton is said to be 7,200 years old a hand painting that was around 39,900 years old was found in Leang Timpuseng researchers discovered what is called the oldest painting in the world in the form of a half-human and half-animal figure in one of the caves in Pangkep Its age is estimated to be around 44,000 years old including prehistoric human jewelry that is around 30,000 years old Also read: A Long Way to Find Besse, 7,200 Years Old Sulawesi Man A visitor observed the excavation site at Liang Panninge (Bat Cave) in Mallawa District The excavation at this site discovered a human skeleton with Dinosovan DNA as one of the important regions for the early life of modern humans The prehistoric Maros-Pangkep area is like a "black box" of civilization the Maros-Pangkep area also has significant importance Several endemic animal and plant species were discovered by Alfred Russel Wallace during his stay and research in Maros archaeologists are still conducting research to find the first humans who inhabited this region is not only a natural laboratory for research Its beauty has long been a magnet for tourists the South Sulawesi Tourism Office has now made the Maros-Pangkep area one of its priority destinations "The Maros-Pangkep karst area has been increasingly popular among tourists in recent years In addition to its natural beauty and prehistoric richness its proximity to Makassar has made many tourists visit the area this area is one of the priority destinations," said Secretary of the South Sulawesi Tourism Office Tourists boating along Pute River in Rammang-Rammang tourist attraction in Maros Kompas traveled around the karst area in Maros Two quite striking activities appear in this area At the Rammang-Rammang and Bantimurung tourist attractions tourists almost non-stop arriving from morning to evening The Leang-Leang prehistoric cave is also quite crowded along the axis road connecting prehistoric cave tourism objects to Rammang-Rammang and Bantimurung Several karst mountains were visibly mined and left a scarred surface Excavation equipment seemed to never stop working Trucks were transporting mineral load back and forth This activity is in stark contrast to the status of global earth park that has been conferred by UNESCO and also the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park within it one of the requirements of a global earth park is a geological area that has richness and beauty that is of interest to the scientific or knowledge world biodiversity and culture are equally important aspects residents have been protesting against the plan to establish an asphalt factory in the area The factory location is not far from the Bantimurung waterfall tourist attraction long before being designated as a global nature reserve two large cement companies had been operating there They are PT Semen Tonasa and PT Semen Bosowa Heavy equipment has been excavating karst walls in the Maros-Pangkep Global Earth Park area Despite being designated as a global earth park mining activities continue to flourish in this area the management of the geopark area should re-identify this mine Those who are still applying for permits should not be granted them Those who have already carried out extraction should be given a time limit to stop their activities The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) in South Sulawesi recorded that there are approximately 30 marble mines operating in the area This number does not include the hundreds of other illegal mines that also operate whether just taking rocks and soil for piles or marble materials "This is in stark contrast to the Global Geopark status awarded by UNESCO in this region if uncontrolled mining activities continue it will be the community that will suffer the consequences," said Al Amin He warned that the status of a global earth park could be revoked if environmental damage caused by mining activities got out of control Those who are still applying for a permit should not be granted a permit Those who have already carried out the extraction must be given a time limit to stop the activity It would be embarrassing for us if the status of global geopark was revoked," he said archaeologists and researchers were also concerned about mining activities in the area It is not only about the vulnerability of caves being destroyed due to mining activities but dust can also potentially damage the rock paintings on cave walls identification is ongoing to ensure how many caves have prehistoric relics it is believed that most of the more than 200 caves in this area have traces of prehistoric relics Also read: The wealth of prehistoric remains in South Sulawesi must be saved the General Manager of the Maros-Pangkep Geopark Management Agency acknowledges that the designation as a global geopark is not the end Maintaining the preservation of the environment while also ensuring the welfare of the community is the next task A karst mountain appeared eroded due to cement mining activities in Maros This mining location is located in Maros and also enters the Maros-Pangkep Global Earth Park area He said that before this area was proposed as a global earth park the Maros Regency Government has imposed a mining moratorium This means that there are no more new mining permits namely the Trans-Sulawesi train for the construction material of railroad embankment we are monitoring if the required material is sufficient For other companies that have long explored We involve all parties such as cultural heritage He stated that the current focus of supervision is to ensure that if there are any existing mines they must be conducted with an environmentally friendly principle We also hope that if there are any interests related to mining What are the impacts on the prehistoric cave wealth whether it is better for tourism or mining we are also very careful in preserving this area," he said after being designated as a global Earth park various efforts have been made including socialization to the community Not only about taking care of the environment but also the consciousness of becoming aware tourism community "There will definitely be more visitors as UNESCO will also be involved in promoting this area UNESCO will re-validate whether the requirements required as a global earth park are fulfilled or not Also read: Cement Mining Activities Assessed as Dangerous to the Preservation of Goa Paintings The long struggle to obtain the status of a global earth park must certainly be accompanied by continuous efforts to uphold the conditions set by UNESCO Maintaining that status means the interests of residents living in the area will also be maintained the struggle does not stop at being designated as a global earth park Tourists walk in front of a row of lodgings with a background of karst hills at Rammang tourist attraction in Maros This area is included in the Maros-Pangkep Global Earth Park Chef Maroš Jambor has been named Chef de Cuisine at the property's flagship rooftop restaurant which will offer breathtaking 360-degree views of Prague Chef Jambor has honed his craft at world-renowned establishments including the Michelin-starred Lecture Room & Library in London and Eleven Madison Park in New York City Drawing on his deep understanding of fine dining and his knowledge of the region he will curate menus that celebrate seasonal Chef Jambor is committed to fostering a culinary community and delivering an extraordinary dining experience for every guest Maroš Šefčovič’s remarks came just hours before a high-stakes meeting with senior US officials NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 18: Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations Maros Sefcovic attending the three-day international conference at Queen's University Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement on April 18 (Photo by Niall Carson - Pool/Getty Images) BRUSSELS — European Union trade chief Maroš Šefčovič will meet with his U.S counterparts Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer in Washington D.C in the EU’s latest effort to dampen soaring trade tensions with the United States.  In a sign of the political sensitivity of the trip European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s top aide “We should be making every effort on both sides to avoid harmful tariffs and build — rather than tear down — the EU-U.S which is the strongest in the world,” Olof Gill The visit comes as the EU weighs imposing retaliatory tariffs on €21.5 billion in U.S. exports to “mirror” the new, and broader, steel and aluminum duties imposed by U.S the Commission decided to delay one batch of its tariff response from April 1 to April 13.  That bought time to negotiate with Washington and calibrate the EU’s response as Washington finalizes a fresh round of “reciprocal” tariffs due on April 2 — styled by Trump as “Liberation Day.” The U.S. president indicated last week that he was not open to granting exemptions from those tariffs — with the EU set to be caught among the worst hit Brussels is also trying to rally some skeptical EU countries which have lashed out against the inclusion of wine and alcohol in the lists of goods likely to be caught in the trade spat It’s Šefčovič’s second trip to Washington since Trump took office in January and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday It wasn’t yet clear whether the EU trade negotiator would attend any other public engagements in Washington D.C The Slovak commissioner is then due to fly to Beijing on Thursday and Friday for his first visit to China since being confirmed as EU trade commissioner late last year The draft U.K.-EU agreement is one of several being drawn up ahead of a May 19 summit Even the EU’s most protectionist countries are realizing that they need new friends to trade with as their oldest ally goes rogue Brussels suspended its countermeasures against the U.S president’s steel and aluminum tariffs before they even took effect Now the two sides have 90 days to do a deal BRUSSELS ― EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will travel to Washington on Monday to meet his U.S counterparts after the bloc promised to suspend its metals retaliation tariffs The European Commission's spokesperson for trade Olof Gill confirmed the visit at the daily press briefing in Brussels on Friday “Our offer stands to reduce tariffs zero-for-zero with our American friends,” Gill added, referring to the zero-for-zero tariff offer that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen repeated this week Šefčovič's visit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump made a stunning U-turn and paused parts of his so-called Liberation Day tariffs and raised tariffs on China to a total of 145 percent. The EU said it would pause its own retaliation by 90 days as well still maintains a 10 percent overall tariff on global imports It will be the third time Šefčovič will travel to Washington since Trump returned to the White House in January Pause buys time for Brussels to negotiate a deal with the US BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen named Maroš Šefčovič as her next trade commissioner Tuesday putting the long-serving Slovak and point person for the U.K relationship into the powerful economic post Šefčovič’s nomination came as a surprise, after Wopke Hoekstra of the Netherlands and Czech Jozef Síkela were previously linked to the job Šefčovič will also oversee customs policy. He will report to France’s Stéphane Séjourné on the trade and economic aspect of his job while retaining his longstanding role as commissioner for institutional relations and transparency The 58-year-old has served for 15 years in the Commission, building a reputation as an effective, low-key operator He has occasionally taken on roles in a caretaker capacity Šefčovič will step into the trade role just as von der Leyen pivots towards strengthening the EU’s economic security and trade defences pushing the outright pursuit of free-trade deals down the agenda This story has been updated to clarify Šefčovič’s reporting lines The “zero-for-zero” offer extended to cars please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič left Washington on Tuesday (25 March) without a breakthrough on the bloc’s trade dispute with the United States after talks with senior trade officials in Donald Trump’s administration.  “The hard work goes on. The EU's priority is a fair, balanced deal instead of unjustified tariffs. We share the goal of industrial strength on both sides,” said Šefčovič in a post on X after what he described as “24 intense hours in D.C for substantive talks” with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick the director of the national economic council.  Šefčovič is due in China on Wednesday for a three day visit where he will meet commerce minister Wang Wentao and Vice-Premier He Lifeng in a bid to resolve trade disputes with Beijing in a raft of sectors including electric vehicles Despite imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US last week the EU Commission is anxious to avoid an expensive tariff war with Washington the commission imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on a raft of US products including bourbon Harley Davidson motorcycles and Levis jeans after the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports came into effect Both sets of measures will cost the EU and US economies around $28bn [€25.7bn].  President Trump stated on Tuesday that he may exempt a number of countries from the \"reciprocal tariffs\" due to be levied on 2 April in a day Trump has dubbed \"Liberation Day\" for the US economy from unfair trade practices.  He also claimed that the EU had decided to lower tariffs on American cars Although Šefčovič and other EU officials have hinted at willingness to drop the EU’s 10 percent import duty on US cars Although Commission officials have played down the prospect of the Trump trade wars leading to a cosier trade relationship with China, the EU has intensified its efforts to broker trade deals with other partners EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen gave a December deadline to conclude negotiations on a free trade deal with India It is also preparing the ground to conclude and ratify a trade pact with the six nation Mercosur bloc of South American countries.  Benjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor previously working for fellow Brussels publication Euractiv His reporting has also been published in the Guardian He heads up the AU-EU section at EUobserver balanced deal instead of unj...To read this story log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives Become a member for as low as €1,75 per week EU & the WorldAuthor BioBenjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor Maroš Šefčovič will travel to Washington on Monday in an attempt to ward off an impending trade war GERMANY - FEBRUARY 15: Slovak diplomat Maros Sefcovic participates in a panel discussion at the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 15 International defence and security leaders from around the world are gathering for the February 14-16 conference BRUSSELS — Maroš Šefčovič has earned a reputation as Ursula von der Leyen’s go-to troubleshooter — and his next task will put that to the test a Slovak politician who joined the European Commission in 2009 was appointed by von der Leyen as a surprise pick to lead both trade and economic security in the next EU executive A steady pair of hands he has been called on to manage the European Union’s response to daunting challenges like Brexit he was put in charge of the European Green Deal the flagship initiative of von der Leyen’s first term after Frans Timmermans quit to run in last year’s Dutch election As the longest-serving current commissioner Šefčovič will steer an economic agenda to transform the EU and its market of 450 million people from a once-open market into more of an economic fortress And he will have to ensure that the EU finds ways to stand up against its geopolitical rivals and protect its technology and research.  At the same time, he’ll need to navigate tensions with the United States — including a potential return by Donald Trump to the White House — and likely retaliation by Beijing against the EU’s looming imposition of duties on Chinese electric vehicles But first, Šefčovič will have to handle a boss with strong opinions on the portfolio: He will report to France’s outgoing Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, who was nominated by President Emmanuel Macron at the eleventh hour and will and will not necessarily cause [EU] trade administrators .. to jump with joy,” said David Kleimann a senior trade expert at the ODI think tank “Trade as a function of French-designed industrial policy would have been unthinkable for many in Brussels in previous decades.”  “Šefčovič will have to counterbalance some of Séjourné’s more French tendencies on the economy,” said one EU diplomat who was granted anonymity to comment on the evolving power dynamics.  “Šefčovič will be his watchdog,” the diplomat added.  the 58-year-old Slovak has the political leverage and gravitas that Séjourné might lack in the Commission’s power dynamics.  “Stéphane Séjourné will have to find the right balance between fulfilling his [executive vice president] mandate without turning it into a power struggle between industrial and trade policies,” said Elvire Fabry a senior researcher on trade and economic security at the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris EU trade policy will take a U.S.-flavored approach with security concerns trumping economic calculus von der Leyen writes that he should defend the EU’s technological leadership and “resist economic coercion.”  “It is essential that a security-oriented approach should be embedded within our work,” von der Leyen writes in the mission letter to her commissioner-designate.  As one EU official concludes: “His pragmatism will be needed with coordinating economic security.”  Linking both trade and economic security in one portfolio has raised concerns among trade observers who worry that the EU will focus excessively on protecting its core technologies and not enough on promoting its export champions and partnering with third countries “This might mean less outward-looking openness and more protectionist policies,” said David Henig trade policy at the ECIPE think tank.  And just like his taciturn predecessor Valdis Dombrovskis Šefčovič will also have to devote attention to another task: his long-standing role overseeing relations between the EU institutions in which he reports directly to von der Leyen.  Šefčovič will become the second longest-serving European commissioner in history overtaking Dutchman Sicco Mansholt who served for 5,475 days.  He’ll need all the experience he has accumulated over the last 15 years to complete his mission Barbara Moens and Giovanna Coi contributed reporting.  Dewi Elvia Muthiariny Laila Afifa Jakarta - Maros Pangkep Geopark in South Sulawesi is officially named the UNESCO Global Geopark during the 216th UNESCO Executive Council Session in Paris Maros Pangkep is officially recognized by UNESCO at the 216th UNESCO Executive Council meeting in Paris,” said South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman Andi said this thanks to the hard work and collaboration of the provincial government “Let's protect and make it a special tourism attraction in South Sulawesi,” he said the initiation to include Maros Pangkep Geopark in the Global Geoparks Network along with 17 other geoparks began in 2015 it was only declared a member of the national geopark the General Manager of the Maros Pangkep Geopark Management Agency said the status serves as a protection for the area as a world heritage “This area has special characteristics in terms of geodiversity Stakeholders are thus encouraged to synergize and sustainable development of the Maros Pangkep Geopark the pride for South Sulawesi as this is recognized by the world and is promoted internationally,” Dedy said Editor's Choice: 5 National and Global Geoparks in Indonesia Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News List of Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Winners KOSTCON 2025, the First Largest K-Drama OST Concert in Jakarta, to Take Place on August 2nd 10 Best Cities to Visit in Japan Besides Tokyo to Add to Your Bucket List 10 Recommended Budget-Friendly Tourist Destinations in the United States What Are the Cheapest Businesses to Start from Home? 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Without name-checking him, she spelled out the many options the EU has such as boosting cooperation “not only with our long-time like-minded friends but with any country we share interests with.”  Von der Leyen had already suggested that one way to deter Trump from imposing new tariffs is for Europe to buy more U.S Loading up on American military gear would be another way to buy favor in Washington Even though Trump has not followed through on his threat to impose universal tariffs on Day One he has continued since taking office to trash talk the EU blaming it for a yawning transatlantic trade deficit.  We have a $350 billion deficit with the European Union They treat us badly so they are going to be in for tariffs,” Trump told reporters in the White House.  Šefčovič, a European Commission veteran known for his calm demeanor “This relationship is so massive and so important that we just have to treasure it We just have to look at how we can improve it,” he said stressing that transatlantic ties account for over 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.  The Slovak government is pleased with the portfolio given to its nominee economic security and transparency to his roster while Transparency International Slovakia reminds of his “non-transparent” 2019 presidential campaign Slovak Prime Minister and Smer leader Robert Fico appears to regard his nominee's position as a clear victory even though Šefčovič has been demoted from the executive vice-presidency position to only being a regular commissioner indispensable guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington follow the latest on tariffs and executive orders Stay on top of the latest events in US politics with the FT’s trusted and impartial coverage Insight and analysis on US politics from commentators such as Ed Luce and James Politi This subscription does not include access to ft.com or the FT App Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country Digital access for organisations. Includes exclusive features and content. See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times. Bilateral grievances sure to be on the agenda, although problems between Europe and US could provide space for positive discussions according to people familiar with the plan.AdvertisementIt will mark his first trip to Beijing as commissioner for trade and economic security and comes after a maiden visit last week to Washington where he made initial contacts with the Trump administration’s top trade and commerce officials Sefcovic is ready for a sit-down with Wang to discuss the many grievances in the bilateral relationship In recent years trade ties have frayed with Europe frustrated by Beijing’s unwillingness to acknowledge and address the industrial overcapacity in its system Brussels claims that this results in cheap exports arriving in the EU and endangering local industries EU trade chief Maros Šefčovič will ‘go in peace’ when he meets US president Donald Trump’s top trade officials in Washington on Wednesday (19 February) in a bid to avoid a transatlantic tariff war.  The EU trade commissioner is expected to meet with Trump’s nominees for commerce secretary and trade representative Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer respectively The trip marks Šefčovič’s first attempt to parley with the Trump administration amid a raft of US trade threats that could seriously damage the EU economy Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium “He goes in peace,” EU Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters adding that Šefčovič would be “representing in a forthright way the European view that tariffs serve no one.”  Ahead of the meetings, the EU Commission has sought to play down Trump’s rhetoric about the size of the US trade deficit with Europe. In a paper published on Tuesday the EU executive stated that while the bloc exports €157bn more in goods than it imports from the US the EU’s trade surplus with the US shrinks to €48bn the equivalent of three percent of total EU-US trade.  the commission says that “our economies complement each other very well.”  “The EU is ready to find mutually beneficial solutions with the US on tariffs No specific offer on reducing tariffs has been made by either side,” stated the commission.  One of Trump’s complaints about EU trade policy while campaigning ahead of his election win last November was that the EU’s 10-percent duties on US vehicle imports result in fewer American cars on Europe’s roads the commission remarked that \"the US imposes a 25-percent tariff on pickup trucks — the largest segment of the US auto market accounting for about one-third of all vehicle sales.”  The Trump administration is threatening to lift its existing 2.5 percent tariffs on EU vehicles to 10 percent and his mooted imposing tariffs to match the value added taxes levied in the EU However, some EU lawmakers, including Bernd Lange the chair of the European Parliament’s international trade committee have suggested that the EU lower its auto import duties as a sign of good faith “We are prepared for all outcomes and have been preparing for more than a year,” Gill told reporters on Tuesday “VAT is not a tariff...and it’s not something that’s ever been in the scope of trade talks before,” said Gill adding that Šefčovič would raise this point with his American counterparts The EU trade commissioner is expected to meet with Trump’s nominees for commerce secretary and trade ...To read this story EU & the WorldGreen EconomyAuthor BioBenjamin Fox is a seasoned reporter and editor A tragic incident at Jami Waterfall in Maros The video shows the final moments before two teenage girls drowned on Friday and was recorded by one of the victims’ friends The video began with seven teenagers enjoying their time at the waterfall the joyful scene turned into a moment of panic when they tried to lie back in the water while still holding hands What had been a happy scene quickly became one of fear and desperation as they desperately searched for their friend According to detikcom the head of the Maros Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) confirmed that the bodies of the two victims Tazkiyah Wulandari (17) and Salsabillah Azahra Allisa Anggraeni (17) Their bodies were discovered about five meters underwater verified the video’s authenticity and explained that it captured the moment when the teenagers’ hands separated shared that the group of eight friends had visited the waterfall that day Only six of them chose to swim (Two men and four women) and then returned to the water just before the tragedy occurred Salsa recalled that just moments before the tragedy everyone had been laughing and having a great time A Search and Rescue (SAR) team managed to find the victims within 24 hours Salsabillah’s body was located at 7:39 a.m and Tazkiyah’s body was found shortly after at 7:50 a.m Both were discovered at a depth of five meters Head of Operations and Alert Section at the Makassar Search and Rescue Office emphasized the need for safety measures According to Dream.co.id both Tazkiyah and Salsabillah were members of the Maros District 2023 Paskibraka Salsabillah had been chosen as the flag bearer for the 78th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia at the district level in Maros The loss of Tazkiyah Wulandari and Salsabillah Azahra Allisa Anggraeni is an example of how quickly joy can turn into sorrow and the community are left to mourn and reflect on this heartbreaking event Watch the videos here: Mom Steals the Show at Marquee Singapore Dancefloor “Everyone’s a taxpayer” – Ethiopian Airlines denies claims of VIP treatment after woman was forcibly removed from ET308 flight “Some Heroes Wear Stethoscope” – Dr. Priya Praised for Saving Elderly Man’s Life with CPR at Delhi Airport If you have a story or a tip-off, email admin@wakeup.sg or get in touch via Whatsapp at 8882 5913 Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram Wake Up Singapore is a volunteer-run site that covers alternative views in Singapore If you can, please do consider buying a mug or two to support Wake Up Singapore’s work! Washington’s increasingly hawkish policy towards China and Beijing’s unwillingness to alter its export-led industrial model mean that Maroš Šefčovič’s trips to the US and China this week could prove futile (Photo by Rob Pinney - WPA Pool/Getty Images) About us | Advertise with us | Contact us Posted: 12 September 2024 | | No comments yet ITK Engineering’s MAROS technology aims to enhance train localisation and increase rail network efficiency through precise ITK Engineering has announced that it is advancing rail technology with its Magnetic Railway Onboard Sensor (MAROS) designed to enhance train localisation and increase network capacity without needing additional tracks The company has partnered with Lenord+Bauer As rail networks experience growing demand precise train localisation becomes crucial for optimising schedules and track usage ITK Engineering has been developing MAROS since 2020 to provide continuous reliable train positioning with track-specific accuracy ITK Engineering’s collaboration with Lenord+Bauer aims to accelerate MAROS’s development and deployment with over 50-years of expertise in rail sensor technology will contribute by developing the sensor unit while Ulrich Rink of Lenord+Bauer highlighted its potential to boost rail capacity and reduce carbon emissions MAROS uses a sensor mounted on the train to measure the unique magnetic properties of rail sections This data is matched to geographical locations using advanced software developed by ITK The system provides precise localisation without relying on additional technologies like balises or GNSS making it suitable for various rail environments Lenord+Bauer is responsible for designing the sensor unit ensuring it can withstand harsh rail conditions such as vibrations The sensor will be installed on the train’s bogie to maintain robustness and reliability The ITK and Lenord+Bauer partnership is also involved in the AutomatedTrain project under the Digital Rail Germany initiative Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) this project focuses on advancing fully automated rail operations MAROS represents a significant leap forward in rail technology promising improved efficiency and sustainability for rail networks worldwide , By No comments yet All subscriptions include online membership giving you access to the journal and exclusive content By By Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a40419b1b9af1d652748e8adc6dac3da" );document.getElementById("j0f0bb4fb4").setAttribute( "id" Write for us | Advertise with us Global Railway Review is published by: Russell Publishing Ltd.Court LodgeHogtrough HillBrasted © Russell Publishing Limited Website development by e-Motive Media Limited