Von der Leyen’s speech – strengthening EU electric cars and longer protection for war refugees – News

  • EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the comments in her annual State of the Union address.
  • The speech focused on migration and energy policy.
  • Von der Leyen wants to reduce the EU’s dependence on countries like China in the production of electric cars and further promote wind power in Europe.
  • According to the President of the EU Commission, war refugees from Ukraine should be able to stay in the EU without any problems at least until 2025.

One focus of EU Commission President von der Leyen’s speech was energy policy. China’s state support for its electric car manufacturers has been causing problems for European companies for a long time. Von der Leyen is now announcing steps. Measures are currently being taken in several economic sectors to reduce the EU’s dependence on countries such as China and to protect domestic companies.

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Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.

Keystone/Julian Warnard

The EU Commission also wants to further promote wind power in Europe and speed up the approval process. The Brussels authority will present a package for wind power in Europe, working closely with industry and member states, said von der Leyen.

We will improve auction systems across the EU. We will focus on skills, access to finance and resilient supply chains.

The wind industry is currently facing a unique combination of challenges. «We will improve auction systems across the EU. “We will focus on skills, access to finance and stable supply chains,” said von der Leyen. The future of the clean tech industry must lie in Europe, said the Commission President. This is about more than one sector – “from wind power to steel, from batteries to electric vehicles”.

China’s cheap electric cars are flooding global markets


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The EU launches an investigation into government support for electric cars from China. “The price of these cars is artificially depressed by huge government subsidies – this distorts our market,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. That is not acceptable. World markets would be flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars. An anti-subsidy investigation can lead, for example, to punitive tariffs being imposed. Measures are currently being taken in several economic sectors to reduce the EU’s dependence on countries such as China and to protect domestic companies. In March, the EU Commission presented a proposal for a law on the supply of raw materials. This is intended to ensure that the EU does not remain dependent on imports from individual countries such as China for important raw materials.

Europe is open to competition, but not to an unequal race to the bottom, said von der Leyen. “We have to defend ourselves against unfair practices.” At the same time, she emphasized that it was essential to maintain dialogue with China. There are issues on which we need to work together. At a planned EU-China summit this year, she will take the position that risks should be minimized but not decoupled.

At the same time, she emphasized that it was essential to maintain dialogue with China. There are issues on which we need to work together. At a planned EU-China summit this year, she will take the position that risks should be minimized but not decoupled.

War refugees in the EU

The Commission will propose to extend the temporary protection scheme for Ukrainians in the EU, von der Leyen announced.

The four million people who have found refuge in the EU since the start of the war are still as welcome today as they were in those fateful first weeks. “Our support for Ukraine will last,” said the top German politician.

Extension of the regulations until 2025


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Shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU states activated the directive in the event of a “mass influx” of displaced people. It was last extended until March 4, 2024. The next extension would probably last until March 2025. It is extremely likely that von der Leyen’s proposal will be implemented. There was no veto from the member states when it was extended last year. The advantage of the rule is that those affected do not have to go through a lengthy asylum procedure. They also have the direct right to social benefits, education, accommodation and a work permit.

No information about your own future

In her speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not say whether she would seek another term in office after the European elections next June.

Von der Leyen only made general comments about the upcoming elections. It will be the moment to decide what future and what Europe voters want.

In order to be able to remain at the head of the EU Commission for another five years, the CDU politician von der Leyen would have to be nominated as the top candidate of the European EVP party family for the European elections, as things currently stand. In addition to the German CDU and CSU, this includes the Austrian ÖVP, the Italian Forza Italia and Spain’s conservative People’s Party PP.

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