Podcast appearances and mentions of jean claude junker

Chiến tranh Ukraina sẽ đưa phòng thủ chung châu Âu đi về đâu? Việc Nga xâm lược Ukraina đã thúc đẩy các nước Liên Hiệp Châu Âu tăng cường hợp tác trong lĩnh vực quốc phòng, vốn dĩ là một đặc quyền của từng nước. Nguồn tài trợ cho quân sự trong khối cũng vì thế đã tăng mạnh trong hai năm từ 5,6 tỷ euro lên thành 17 tỷ. Tuy nhiên, tranh luận về chính sách phòng thủ chung châu Âu luôn dai dẳng khi mà vũ khí Mỹ vẫn chiếm ưu thế tại châu Âu. Thượng đỉnh Saint-Malo 1998 : Nền tảng thực sựNgược dòng thời gian, Hiệp ước Maastricht năm 1992 đánh dấu sự ra đời một chính sách đối ngoại và an ninh chung (PESC), trong đó bao gồm cả chính sách an ninh và phòng thủ châu Âu (PESD). Tuy nhiên, theo ông Philippe Setton, cựu chánh văn phòng chuyên trách về Liên Hiệp Châu Âu của bộ Ngoại Giao Pháp, hiện là đại sứ Pháp tại Tokyo, thượng đỉnh Anh – Pháp ngày 03-04/12/1998 ở Saint Malo (miền bắc nước Pháp) là nền tảng thực sự cho phòng thủ chung châu Âu.Tổng thống Pháp Jacques Chirac trong cuộc họp báo chung với thủ tướng Anh thời bấy giờ là Tony Blair có tuyên bố : « Vào thời điểm thực hiện hiệp ước Amsterdam, thách thức lớn sắp tới chính là sự khẳng định của Liên Hiệp Châu Âu trên trường quốc tế thông qua một chính sách đối ngoại thật sự và một nền phòng thủ mà châu Âu có khả năng tự thực hiện khi cần thiết. »Cũng theo giải thích của ông Philippe Setton, trong kỳ thượng đỉnh đó, giới chức Anh Quốc đã chấp nhận ý tưởng phát triển một hệ thống phòng thủ châu Âu trong khuôn khổ Liên Hiệp Châu Âu. Nhà ngoại giao này không quên nhắc rằng phòng thủ châu Âu là chủ đề muôn thuở trong các phát biểu chính trị tại Pháp.« Điều mà họ muốn, trước hết là kéo dài tham vọng dự án châu Âu thông qua lĩnh vực quốc phòng. Đó cũng là vì Pháp muốn tận dụng sự tán đồng của Anh và nói chung, là tận dụng sự đồng ý của Mỹ, đặc biệt là chính quyền tổng thống Bill Clinton thuộc đảng Dân chủ. Tổng thống Mỹ đã tán đồng, hay ít ra là có một quan điểm khá khoan dung về việc phát triển một trụ cột châu Âu. »Những công cụ tài chính và pháp lýHiệp ước Lisboa năm 2007 có chính sách về an ninh và phòng thủ chung (PSDC), quy định điều khoản bảo vệ lẫn nhau và cho phép hành động chung. Việc Nga sáp nhập bán đảo Crimée năm 2014, rồi các cuộc tấn công khủng bố tại Pháp, Bỉ và Đức trong các năm 2015 và 2016, đánh dấu một bước chuyển lớn đầu tiên. Chủ tịch Ủy Ban Châu Âu lúc bấy giờ là Jean-Claude Junker đề nghị thành lập một quỹ châu Âu cho phòng thủ, kích hoạt nghiên cứu và cách tân trong ngành công nghiệp quốc phòng châu Âu nhằm xây dựng một nền phòng thủ châu Âu vững chắc.« Kể từ đó, công nghiệp vũ khí và nghiên cứu là những năng lực vượt ngoài khuôn khổ quốc gia, phòng thủ châu Âu sẽ phát triển ngoài PSDC, vốn dĩ thuộc phạm trù liên chính phủ. Phòng thủ châu Âu giờ thuộc về thẩm quyền Ủy Ban và Nghị Viện Châu Âu thông qua ngành công nghiệp, nghiên cứu, thị trường nội địa và mua sắm công », theo như giải thích của nhà nghiên cứu Elsa Bernard, giáo sư về Luật công, Đại học Lille, với kênh truyền hình quốc tế Pháp France 24.Từ năm 2019, Liên Âu lần lượt có các công cụ để xúc tiến chính sách phòng thủ như thành lập Tổng cục Công nghiệp Quốc phòng và Không gian (DEFIS), Quỹ Châu Âu về Quốc phòng (FED) ra đời năm 2021 với một nguồn ngân sách là 9,4 tỷ euro (giai đoạn 2021 – 2027) ; Quỹ Hòa bình Châu Âu (FEP) năm 2021 mà ngân sách ban đầu là 5,6 tỷ nay được nâng lên thành 17 tỷ euro.Chiến tranh Ukraina bùng phát là một bước ngoặt lớn cho phòng thủ chung châu Âu. Xung đột còn khẳng định hơn nữa nhận thức về lỗ hổng công nghiệp và công nghệ quốc phòng của khối. Tháng 3/2022, khối 27 nước thành viên công bố « la bàn chiến lược », ghi nhận sự cần thiết của việc « tăng cường tự chủ chiến lược của châu Âu ».Năm 2023, Liên Âu thông qua hai quy định : EDIRPA, khuyến khích mua sắm chung trong lĩnh vực quốc phòng và ASAP, xúc tiến sản xuất đạn pháo, tên lửa bằng chính ngành công nghiệp quốc phòng châu Âu. Một năm sau, tháng 3/2024, Ủy Ban Châu Âu đưa ra quy định mới EDIP, kèm theo một « chiến lược công nghiệp châu Âu về phòng thủ » (EDIS) nhằm « đầu tư nhiều hơn, tốt hơn, cùng nhau và tại châu Âu ». Do vậy, các cuộc đàm phán cho ngân sách 2028-2035 sẽ là thách thức to lớn, mang tính quyết định cho Nghị Viện Châu Âu mới, theo như nhận định của nhà nghiên cứu Elsa Bernard với France 24.Thế mạnh vũ khí của MỹLiệu rằng với những công cụ tài chính và pháp lý này, châu Âu có thể đạt được mục tiêu đề ra là một nửa hệ thống quốc phòng được mua tại châu Âu, và chấm dứt tình trạng nghịch lý là 2/3 sản xuất trang thiết bị quân sự châu Âu được xuất khẩu ra ngoài khu vực và 2/3 trang thiết bị quốc phòng của các nước thành viên Liên Âu là nhập khẩu từ bên ngoài ? Đây chính là những điểm khúc mắc gây trở ngại cho việc thiết lập một hệ thống phòng thủ chung.Ngay khi chiến tranh Ukraina bùng nổ, thủ tướng Đức Olaf Scholz thông báo tăng ngân sách quốc phòng và đặt mua 35 chiếc F-35 của Mỹ. Mới đây nhất là Ba Lan, ngày 27/05/2024, tuyên bố mua tên lửa hành trình tầm xa của Mỹ với tổng trị giá hợp đồng là 667 triệu euro để tăng cường năng lực phòng thủ, đối phó mối đe dọa Nga. Theo ông Peter Wezeman, chuyên gia về vũ khí tại Viện Nghiên cứu về Hòa bình (SIPRI) ở Stockholm, sự việc cho thấy ngành công nghiệp vũ khí trên thế giới vẫn « do Mỹ thống trị » (Les Echos ngày 23/11/2023).Điều này thể hiện rõ trên bảng sắp hạng các hãng vũ khí lớn trên thế giới. Các tập đoàn vũ khí lớn của Mỹ chiếm các vị trí đầu bảng, tiếp theo là Trung Quốc, trong khi các hãng lớn tại châu Âu bắt đầu từ thứ hạng 11 trở đi. Thế mạnh này của Mỹ được giải thích bởi chiến lược sáp nhập các doanh nghiệp vũ khí trong những năm 1990 – 2000, hình thành 5 đại tập đoàn hiện nay là General Dynamics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman và Raytheon.Tuy nhiên, theo nhà nghiên cứu Jean-Pierre Maulny, trợ lý giám đốc Viện Quan hệ Quốc tế và Chiến lược (IRIS), với nhật báo kinh tế Les Echos, Hoa Kỳ còn có một công cụ khác rất hiệu quả, viết tắt là FMS, để có thể thực hiện nhanh chóng các hợp đồng bán vũ khí cho các nước khác:« Hoa Kỳ có thể bán vũ khí từ chính phủ cho chính phủ nhờ vào cơ chế Bán hàng Quân sự Nước ngoài (Foreign Military Sales – FMS), chứ không phải doanh nghiệp sẽ đi bán. Trên thực tế, chính phủ Mỹ sẽ trực tiếp trích từ kho dự trữ thiết bị để cung cấp cho châu Âu, trong khi ở hệ thống châu Âu, chúng ta có cơ chế được gọi là quy định về thị trường quốc phòng và an ninh, khiến hệ thống mua bị chậm lại. »Nếu khả năng giao hàng nhanh, nguồn dự trữ lớn là những nguyên nhân đầu tiên giải thích cho sự lệ thuộc của châu Âu vào nguồn cung vũ khí từ Mỹ, thì yếu tố chính trị giữ một vai trò không nhỏ. Tháng 6/2020, phát biểu tại Học viện Quân sự West Point (New York), tổng thống Mỹ lúc bấy giờ là Donald Trump có tuyên bố : « Chúng ta không phải là hiến binh của thế giới ».Washington thông báo muốn giảm đáng kể phần đóng góp của Mỹ cho ngân sách của NATO và châu Âu đã thấu hiểu thông điệp đưa ra, theo như nhận định của Jean-Pierre Maulny: « Về cơ bản, theo một cách nào đó, người ta đang mua sự bảo hộ của Mỹ cũng do bởi một bộ phận người dân châu Âu vẫn lo sợ rằng Mỹ sẽ rút khỏi châu Âu, bởi vì đối với Mỹ, kẻ thù của họ, đối thủ cạnh tranh của họ không phải là Nga, mà chính là Trung Quốc. »Những rào cản, đối thủ cạnh tranh khácChâu Âu không có hệ thống phòng thủ chung còn là vì mỗi nước có một nền công nghiệp riêng, vốn được nhà nước bảo hộ thông qua các hợp đồng mua sắm vũ khí, do vậy rất có ít sự cạnh tranh giữa những doanh nghiệp trong khối. Cũng theo vị trợ lý giám đốc IRIS, có rất ít sự phối hợp giữa các hãng sản xuất vũ khí. Theo ông, số doanh nghiệp sản xuất xe bọc thép còn nhiều hơn cả số các hãng sản xuất xe ô tô.« Nguy cơ cạnh tranh giữa các công ty luôn hiện hữu. Những tập đoàn này trong quá trình thực hiện hợp tác sẽ tỏ ra thận trọng, không muốn trao đổi về công nghệ, tìm cách tranh giành phân phối công nghiệp. Nếu có một sự hợp tác, đó chẳng qua là hợp tác giữa các công ty, còn sự hợp tác giữa các công ty vũ khí chỉ có thể thực hiện hiệu quả khi nào có hai công ty sáp nhập thành một. »Tất cả những khó khăn trên cũng không đồng nghĩa với việc không có sự hợp tác nào giữa các nước thành viên. Châu Âu có nhiều chương trình hợp tác sản xuất vũ khí chung từ cuối những năm 1990, đầu năm 2000, nhưng để đi đến hiện thực lại tốn quá nhiều thời gian, như trường hợp của chuyên cơ vận tải A400M, có thể di chuyển quân, hậu cần, thả dù binh sĩ và trang thiết bị, cũng như  tiếp tế trên không.Jean-Pierre Maulny nhắc lại từ khi bắt đầu có những thông số kỹ thuật đầu tiên cho đến khi đưa ra thị trường, chương trình sản xuất A400M mất đến 20 năm, một quãng thời gian quá lâu. Ngoài Hoa Kỳ, nhiều nước khác cũng bắt đầu dòm ngó đến thị trường vũ khí châu Âu như Hàn Quốc chẳng hạn.Theo các số liệu mới nhất, trong quãng thời gian có ba năm 2020-2022, một mình Hàn Quốc chiếm đến hơn 10% sức mua vũ khí của Liên Hiệp Châu Âu, đạt doanh thu từ 3 tỷ lên thành 15 tỷ, trong khi trong khối Pháp cũng là một nhà xuất khẩu vũ khí lớn, đứng sau Mỹ và Nga.Tương lai phòng thủ chung châu Âu sẽ đi về đâu ? Trong khi chờ lời giải đáp, nhiều dự án mới đang hình thành như hợp tác Pháp – Đức cho thế hệ xe tăng đời mới MGCS, sử dụng nhiều công nghệ tiên tiến, hay chương trình thiết kế chung chiến đấu cơ SCAF cho năm 2045, nhờ vào hỗ trợ từ quỹ 7,9 tỷ euro của Liên Âu.Câu hỏi đặt ra : Cái giá có được của việc biến những dự án trên thành hiện thực là một sự độc lập cho phòng thủ. Liệu châu Âu có can đảm đánh đổi ? Một điều chắc chắn: Phòng thủ châu Âu là một trong bốn chủ đề tranh luận chính cho kỳ bầu cử Nghị Viện Châu Âu 06-09/06/2024 !

I wrote this article for Moneyweek the day before the EU referendum, on June 22, 2016. I thought with everything that has happened since, as your Sunday morning thought piece, this was well worth re-reading and thinking about. It's amazing how many of these things remain issues, especially immigration, and how few have been properly acted upon.It's also amazing just how our leaders have failed us. Brexit was such an opportunity to “reset”, to start again, to re-design our country at a time when so many are craving change. In that regard, you would probably have to say that Boris was the biggest missed opportunity of the lot, especially given the mandate he had in 2019. I love Europe, but I want to leave the EUIt's obvious. But based on some of the things I'm reading on social media and elsewhere, it needs saying again. Voting to leave the European Union (EU) is not voting for Boris or Nigel or anyone else. The elected Conservative government will remain in power until there is another election, at which point we can vote for a different party if we so wish. This is simply a vote on whether we should remain part of the administrative body that is the EU. It does not mean you will no longer be able to travel to France. It does not mean your continental friends will not be able to come to the UK. And it doesn't mean we will no longer be able to trade with our European brothers.I should say, my grandparents were Italian. I speak five European languages, three fluently. I have lived several years of my life on the continent, and I do business with people in Europe all the time. I'm a europhile.And I want out of the EU. Here are ten reasons why.1. Centralised power is the wrong way to goPeople thrive most in societies in which power is distributed as thinly and widely as possible. In such environments they are happier, healthier, wealthier, freer, and they achieve more.The EU, by design, centralises power in Brussels. We are moving into an age of decentralisation and localisation. The EU is the wrong model for the times.2. Fringe nations perform better Since the inception of the EU in 1993, the economies of Norway, Switzerland and Iceland (even with its financial crisis) – the fringe nations – have on a per capita basis dramatically outperformed their neighbouring EU economies.We would be a fringe nation and that would suit us.3. Regulation should be localAround 65% of regulation is now set in Brussels. It is of a one-size-fits-all variety, and so often inappropriate to local circumstances. Rather than facilitate progress, regulation hinders it. Yet, once in place, regulation is hard to change. Rather than get cut, it is added to. We already have too much in our lives. What we need would be much better set locally, according to local needs and circumstances.4. The economic disaster that is southern EuropeWe now have 39% youth unemployment in Italy, 45% in Spain and 49% in Greece. These countries are unable to do the things they need to do to kickstart their economies because decisions are being taken on their behalf; not locally, but in Brussels. I cannot support with my vote an organisation that has inflicted such misery on its people. Reform of a bureaucratic organisation like that from within is an impossible undertaking.5. Immigration policy is becoming ever more importantThere are more and more people in the world and – whether it's those displaced by wars, by lack of water, by poverty, hunger or lack of opportunity – more and more of them are on the move. We are in a migration of people of historic proportions.The UK, in the way it currently operates, will struggle with immigration levels over 300,000 a year (and growing every year) for a sustained period. We don't have the infrastructure. I wonder how we get those numbers down. I'm not sure we can, either in or out of the EU. It is a tide in the affairs of men. But we are in a better position to do it with total control of our own borders and border policy.6. Trade deals are a red herringAs a percentage share, British trade with the EU, despite the single market, has fallen by almost 20% since 1999. British trade with the US, on the other hand, has grown. We have no official trade deal with the US.Here's a chart of exports for your delectation.There is no point having a common market if the economies of the countries you're in that market with are dying. 7. Further integration with the EU = economic declineWhen Britain joined the Common Market in 1973, the EU (as it is now) produced 38% of the world's goods and services – 38% of global GDP. In 1993, when the EU formally began, it produced just under 25%. Today the EU produces just 17%.The obvious explanation for this is the rise of the Asian economies, which have taken on a bigger share of global GDP. But why then has the US's share not fallen by as much? The US's share of global GDP stood at 30% in 1973, 27% in 1993, and stands at 22% today. That's a 55% drop for the EU versus a 27% drop for the US.Run away.8. Democratic accountability mattersThe EU is not a democratically accountable body. I didn't vote for the administrators and nor did you. I don't know who most of them are. If we want to vote them out, what do we do? We can't do anything. And if you want some idea as to the esteem in which they hold democratic process, how about this from the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker: “prime ministers must stop listening so much to their voters and instead act as ‘full time Europeans'.” Or how about another one of his remarks: “when it gets serious, you have to lie”. Just what you want in a president. Do you remember voting for him? I certainly don't.9. Land ownership and the Common Agricultural PolicyThere is no greater manifestation of the wealth divide in the UK than who owns land and who doesn't: 70% of land in the UK is owned by fewer than 6,000 people. Yet these people are not paying tax on the land they own, they are receiving subsidies for it. Landowners are being paid by the EU to own land. Of the EU budget, 40% goes on agricultural policy. This has created vast amounts of waste. It has propped up inefficient businesses that have failed to modernise. It has re-enforced monopolies which should be broken up. Worst of all, it has meant that African farmers have been unable to compete, depriving millions of a livelihood (not to mention cheaper food for the rest of us). I cannot endorse with my vote an organisation that does this and shows zero inclination to change its ways.10. The Common Fishing Policy60% of EU water is British or Irish. We have not been given any continental land (why should we be?), yet we have had to cede control of our waters to gain EU membership. What was once a huge industry and the largest fishing fleet in Europe has all but disappeared.The French, Italians, Spanish and Greeks had fished out the Mediterranean. They were given access to our waters and our quota was reduced to 13% of the common resource. The quotas system brought about the dreadful practice of discards (putting dead fish back in the sea), and reformed EU regulation now means that rather than being put back in the water, it is brought back for landfill instead. Let's have our waters back.I don't think it takes a genius to work out which way I'm voting tomorrow. Good luck with whatever you choose to do in what will be a historic occasion. I'm looking forward to it. I believe, in the event we vote to leave, once we actually do leave, we will experience an economic boom that will take everybody's breath away, to the extent that we will look back and wonder why we were even discussing it. Fingers crossed. If you think this article might persuade any of the many wavering, undecided voters, please share it with them.From next week, I'll be back with the usual investment thoughts and ideas.So … What do you think? How right was I? How wrong was I? Post your thoughts in the comments. Obviously, seven years on a lot has changed. With the benefit of hindsight, things now look very different. So many bad decisions have been made. But it's very interesting to look back and see where we were, where we could have been and where we are now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

I wrote this article for Moneyweek the day before the EU referendum, on June 22, 2016. I thought with everything that has happened since, as your Sunday morning thought piece, this was well worth re-reading and thinking about. It's amazing how many of these things remain issues, especially immigration, and how few have been properly acted upon.It's also amazing just how our leaders have failed us. Brexit was such an opportunity to “reset”, to start again, to re-design our country at a time when so many are craving change. In that regard, you would probably have to say that Boris was the biggest missed opportunity of the lot, especially given the mandate he had in 2019. I love Europe, but I want to leave the EUIt's obvious. But based on some of the things I'm reading on social media and elsewhere, it needs saying again. Voting to leave the European Union (EU) is not voting for Boris or Nigel or anyone else. The elected Conservative government will remain in power until there is another election, at which point we can vote for a different party if we so wish. This is simply a vote on whether we should remain part of the administrative body that is the EU. It does not mean you will no longer be able to travel to France. It does not mean your continental friends will not be able to come to the UK. And it doesn't mean we will no longer be able to trade with our European brothers.I should say, my grandparents were Italian. I speak five European languages, three fluently. I have lived several years of my life on the continent, and I do business with people in Europe all the time. I'm a europhile.And I want out of the EU. Here are ten reasons why.1. Centralised power is the wrong way to goPeople thrive most in societies in which power is distributed as thinly and widely as possible. In such environments they are happier, healthier, wealthier, freer, and they achieve more.The EU, by design, centralises power in Brussels. We are moving into an age of decentralisation and localisation. The EU is the wrong model for the times.2. Fringe nations perform better Since the inception of the EU in 1993, the economies of Norway, Switzerland and Iceland (even with its financial crisis) – the fringe nations – have on a per capita basis dramatically outperformed their neighbouring EU economies.We would be a fringe nation and that would suit us.3. Regulation should be localAround 65% of regulation is now set in Brussels. It is of a one-size-fits-all variety, and so often inappropriate to local circumstances. Rather than facilitate progress, regulation hinders it. Yet, once in place, regulation is hard to change. Rather than get cut, it is added to. We already have too much in our lives. What we need would be much better set locally, according to local needs and circumstances.4. The economic disaster that is southern EuropeWe now have 39% youth unemployment in Italy, 45% in Spain and 49% in Greece. These countries are unable to do the things they need to do to kickstart their economies because decisions are being taken on their behalf; not locally, but in Brussels. I cannot support with my vote an organisation that has inflicted such misery on its people. Reform of a bureaucratic organisation like that from within is an impossible undertaking.5. Immigration policy is becoming ever more importantThere are more and more people in the world and – whether it's those displaced by wars, by lack of water, by poverty, hunger or lack of opportunity – more and more of them are on the move. We are in a migration of people of historic proportions.The UK, in the way it currently operates, will struggle with immigration levels over 300,000 a year (and growing every year) for a sustained period. We don't have the infrastructure. I wonder how we get those numbers down. I'm not sure we can, either in or out of the EU. It is a tide in the affairs of men. But we are in a better position to do it with total control of our own borders and border policy.6. Trade deals are a red herringAs a percentage share, British trade with the EU, despite the single market, has fallen by almost 20% since 1999. British trade with the US, on the other hand, has grown. We have no official trade deal with the US.Here's a chart of exports for your delectation.There is no point having a common market if the economies of the countries you're in that market with are dying. 7. Further integration with the EU = economic declineWhen Britain joined the Common Market in 1973, the EU (as it is now) produced 38% of the world's goods and services – 38% of global GDP. In 1993, when the EU formally began, it produced just under 25%. Today the EU produces just 17%.The obvious explanation for this is the rise of the Asian economies, which have taken on a bigger share of global GDP. But why then has the US's share not fallen by as much? The US's share of global GDP stood at 30% in 1973, 27% in 1993, and stands at 22% today. That's a 55% drop for the EU versus a 27% drop for the US.Run away.8. Democratic accountability mattersThe EU is not a democratically accountable body. I didn't vote for the administrators and nor did you. I don't know who most of them are. If we want to vote them out, what do we do? We can't do anything. And if you want some idea as to the esteem in which they hold democratic process, how about this from the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker: “prime ministers must stop listening so much to their voters and instead act as ‘full time Europeans'.” Or how about another one of his remarks: “when it gets serious, you have to lie”. Just what you want in a president. Do you remember voting for him? I certainly don't.9. Land ownership and the Common Agricultural PolicyThere is no greater manifestation of the wealth divide in the UK than who owns land and who doesn't: 70% of land in the UK is owned by fewer than 6,000 people. Yet these people are not paying tax on the land they own, they are receiving subsidies for it. Landowners are being paid by the EU to own land. Of the EU budget, 40% goes on agricultural policy. This has created vast amounts of waste. It has propped up inefficient businesses that have failed to modernise. It has re-enforced monopolies which should be broken up. Worst of all, it has meant that African farmers have been unable to compete, depriving millions of a livelihood (not to mention cheaper food for the rest of us). I cannot endorse with my vote an organisation that does this and shows zero inclination to change its ways.10. The Common Fishing Policy60% of EU water is British or Irish. We have not been given any continental land (why should we be?), yet we have had to cede control of our waters to gain EU membership. What was once a huge industry and the largest fishing fleet in Europe has all but disappeared.The French, Italians, Spanish and Greeks had fished out the Mediterranean. They were given access to our waters and our quota was reduced to 13% of the common resource. The quotas system brought about the dreadful practice of discards (putting dead fish back in the sea), and reformed EU regulation now means that rather than being put back in the water, it is brought back for landfill instead. Let's have our waters back.I don't think it takes a genius to work out which way I'm voting tomorrow. Good luck with whatever you choose to do in what will be a historic occasion. I'm looking forward to it. I believe, in the event we vote to leave, once we actually do leave, we will experience an economic boom that will take everybody's breath away, to the extent that we will look back and wonder why we were even discussing it. Fingers crossed. If you think this article might persuade any of the many wavering, undecided voters, please share it with them.From next week, I'll be back with the usual investment thoughts and ideas.So … What do you think? How right was I? How wrong was I? Post your thoughts in the comments. Obviously, seven years on a lot has changed. With the benefit of hindsight, things now look very different. So many bad decisions have been made. But it's very interesting to look back and see where we were, where we could have been and where we are now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

230328PC Wann hört der Quatsch endlich auf?Mensch Mahler am 28. März 2023 Sie haben es wieder getan. Entgegen allen Beteuerungen, endlich mit dem Unsinn aufzuhören. Vorgestern, am Sonntag, hatte ich wichtige Termine. Ich habe verschlafen und war den ganzen Tag gerädert. Beim Tatort bin ich gefühlt das erste Mal im Leben eingeschlafen. Ballauf und Schenk waren totlangweilig. Aber daran lag es nicht. Ich fühlte mich völlig übernächtigt. Gestern bin ich um 5 aufgestanden, nicht um 6 wie gewohnt. Und das lag nicht an der präsenilen Bettflucht, sondern am Quatsch der Zeitumstellung. Ja, ich weiß, Gartenmöbel vors Haus, also die Uhr eine Stunde vor. 2018 hat die EU die Abschaffung der Zeitumstellung beschlossen. In einer repräsentativen Umfrage stimmte die Mehrheit der EU-Bürgerinnen für das Aus der ungeliebten Übung, die wir – und vor allem die Natur, die Industrie und die Verwaltung – zweimal im Jahr vollziehen dürfen. Allerdings haben sich gerade einmal 1% der Betroffenen an diesem europäischen Volksentscheid beteiligt. Der ehemalige EU-Ratspräsident Jean-Claude Junker verkündete damals stolz:„Millionen ... sind der Auffassung, dass es so sein sollte, dass die Sommerzeit in Zukunft für alle Zeit gilt. So wird das auch kommen, die Menschen wollen das, so machen wir das.“Weil sich die EU-Staaten wieder mal nicht einigen können, leidet die Natur, geht der Stromverbrauch nach oben, spielen die Computerprogramme verrückt, entsteht ein volkswirtschaftlicher Schaden in Milliardenhöhe. Natürlich gibt es Probleme, zwischen Portugal und Polen eine einheitliche Zeitzone zu definieren. Aber das sollte eine Aufgabe sein, die die hochdekorierte und -besoldete EU-Truppe zu lösen in der Lage sein müsste. Vermutlich ist der Druck aus der Bevölkerung nicht hoch genug. Also machen wir so weiter. 2024, 2025 und bis zum St- Nimmerleins-Tag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over three decades notated inside 62 little red diaries, now available as a book, are a great legacy to modern European history and to the art of note-keeping. David Harley first came to Luxembourg in 1975 as a translator, April Fool's Day as he fondly remembers. Through his life working within the European Union, he was Director of Press and Media, Spokesman of the President, Pat Cox (2002-2004), Secretary-General of the Socialist Group (2004-2007) and Deputy Secretary-General of the European Parliament, where he was responsible for overseeing the final adoption of EU legislation. Throughout this time, David kept a record of European history as he witnessed it, living through it as a man 'in the shadows', a humble 'bag carrier and note-taker'. Of course, he was infinitely more than this; his humbleness cannot mask his intelligence, but adds to it. It's no wonder people like John Hume used to visit him weekly, 4pm on Monday afternoons in his Strasbourg office to be precise, to 'fire off his frustrations'. David is a made to whom one could talk in confidence, knowing the right moves would be had, the right conversations would take place 'upstairs' on their behalf. David's diaries, now housed in the European University Institute in Florence, are dotted with anecdotes of leaders he's met: Blair, Schröder, Chirac, Berlusconi, to name but a few. He is interested in the contradictory nature of their characters. And his longevity to serve the European Union runs beyond many high-profile politicians, seeing the chain from one to the next, and how the trajectory of history waxes and wanes. David talks about how the EU staggers from crisis to crisis, and yet has had some golden periods which he witnessed: the introduction of the single market and the Euro. And through all the hard periods, the EU is 'characterised by resilience'. We talk about how the US views the EU, "The ignorance at the highest level of US politics of the EU is surprising." Whilst working at a consultancy in Brussels, David once hosted an American Ambassador in the EU for US-EU trade who observed: "In Palo Alto - the guys wake up and ask What am i going to innovate today? When people in Brussels wake up they say, What am I going to regulate today?" On meeting David, I reflect on the time I interviewed Jean-Claude Junker. Both have a link with history that we are losing if we're not careful to learn it and reflect on its teachings. More and more, our MEPs, those working in the EU institutions will be younger, without any connection to the reasons behind why the EU was created. For all the flaws one may find, as David says, "The cause is worth it." It's no wonder that in 2011, David Harley was awarded a CMG for services to international diplomacy by Queen Elisabeth II. Matters of Record - Inside European Politics - The Diaries of David Harley 1992-2010 can be purchased at Ernster in Luxembourg and also online. Get in touch! I would be so grateful if you would subscribe to the podcast, rate and review on Apple and Spotify! I'd love to know what shows you want more of, and what ideas or guests you enjoy so that I can tailor my show to suit your requests.

In this long discussion, our Minister of Finance for Luxembourg talks about her background, and we also move onto important aspects of life today: indexation and taxation bands. Yuriko Backes experienced a wonderfully global upbringing: born in Kobe, Japan; went on to study at the London School of Economics, LSE; a Masters in Japanese Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS, London: and another masters in European political and administrative studies from the College of Europe in Bruges. Professionally, the list is long, interesting and always dedicated to diplomatic or political service. Madame Backes began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where roles included: - Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York - Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels from 2001 to 2006. - Deputy Head of mission at the Luxembourg Embassy in Japan from 2006 to 2008, and as - Deputy Head of the Directorate for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2016, Yuriko Backes was the diplomatic adviser and sherpa to Luxembourg Prime Ministers Jean-Claude Juncker and Xavier Bettel. 2016 to 2020 she was the representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg. From June 2020 until her appointment to the government, she served as Marshal of the Grand-Ducal Court. Now, of course, we know her as Minister Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance for Luxembourg. An International Mind Minister Yuriko Backes imbibed the childhood of an international family. She talks about the aesthetic, consensual culture of Japan. Her career developed naturally, she says, with multiple languages and respect for other cultures. She is very open-minded and loves “the differences and overcoming differences using communication as a tool”. It helps to find compromises in her current job, she adds. How do you know what path to follow? Well, after her studies which mixed international relations with Japanese history and sociology, then European Studies, Minister Backes says that they all contributed to being a diplomat. “But it's always the hand on experience later that makes the difference.” Over the years her CV has built up a base including the UN, European Institutions, diplomatic posts and more. Was there a best job? Diplomatically, she replies,“I've been very lucky and enjoyed every job I've done….and never counted the hours of work in the different jobs. One led to the next and the next.” “When Prime Minister Junker asked me to become his diplomatic advisor and sherpa that was a special moment in my career. Today as finance minister it's the most challenging [job] of them all” And what about the work load? What did she learn from her time as advisors to two Prime Minister? “Prime Ministers travel a lot. This gives you the time to discuss different issues, different dossiers. There's always so much to read, questions they will ask. You need to keep them up to speed as they cannot be constantly following the press. One needs to consider very carefully what kind of information will be most useful for them for a given meeting” “It's constant exchange” Do personalities change with power? Minister Backes spent three and a half years with Jean-Claude Junker towards the end of his career, and was assisting and advising Xavier Bettel as he started his premiership. “They grow into their jobs with experience.” Indexation We're set to have two or three indexations this year, which can cripple companies financially. Minister Backes explains why they chose to postpone one indexation to April this year, after tripartite negotiations last year, to make it a little more predictable for employers in an uncertain environment. If there's a third index this year government will compensate for the companies. “An important part of what we've done is to make sure we can assist and support companies as much as possible.” “The investment we did with solidarity two package is having results. We will be able to bring down inflation. Also with TVA being put down by 1%.” Statec shows it is having an impact. So what about talent acquisition? “I spend a lot of time thinking about talent attraction and talent retention” Minister Backes talks about the housing issue, “We need to try to drive the offer on the market to satisfy the demand”. International schools - the government has done a lot here with free education. But, she notes, “Not all problems in the world can be solved via taxation” If budget was no problem was would be the first thing you'd do? “I'd love to be able to provide the opportunity to people to invest in start-ups in green finance for example, the digital transformation. These investments could be deducted from their taxes. I think this is an inclusive way to go forward as a society.” Taxation bands “This is a taxation system that I inherited…I'm very well aware of the problem. In order to solve it I think it needs to be part of a larger reform of the taxation system. This year we are in a crisis mode so I have been focusing mainly on crisis management. “Before I joined the government they had decided jointly that this was not something they could deal with in this legislature because any kind of general reform of the taxation system takes time. “The tax system we have in Luxembourg needs to be updated to take into account how society has evolved. This really does takes time and takes a consensus in the country. Transition phase towards a new system, towards our way of living.” Minister Backes also talks about the role of women and how that has evolved. “I'm discussing this with the IMF. How women are perhaps disadvantaged in our tax system is of great interest to me and something I would really like to work on” Minister Backes underlined that the tax issue “may even take longer than one legislature with a transition phase. I would like to work on this though - it's fundamental for our country.” Addressing Paulette Lenert's comments on Prime Minister's New Year's interview that if there are any wage indexation changes, this should go hand in hand with a tax reform to redistribute wealth from top to bottom: “If we're going to increase the tax brackets this is not going to bring in enough money to have the huge support for lower income people. One does not pay for the other. We have a very big middle class and it's just simply not so easy. “This wonderful idea of increasing taxation for companies - I'm very skeptical about this because I think increasing taxation is not the way forward. We need to attract companies and talent attraction. Part of that is keeping companies here. It's only by having well established companies that are staying in Luxembourg that we can have companies paying good salaries. So it's in the interest of the people that we keep good companies here… I have to think long term.” Alongside being Finance Minister, Madame Backes is a great role model and advocate for women ‘daring to do'. She is in talks with the IMF about how women are perhaps disadvantaged with certain tax systems.

Luc Frieden served in Jean-Claude Junker's government for 15 years until his party, the CSV, were ousted from power. Since then, after a working hiatus in London, he has returned to his roots as a lawyer, with many other roles to keep his politically sharp mind engaged and of service to the country.

Luc Frieden served in Jean-Claude Junker's government for 15 years until his party, CSV, were ousted from power.

Luc Frieden served in Jean-Claude Junker's government for 15 years until his party, CSV, were ousted from power.

A retenir dans l'info de ce jeudi:- Brexit : un accord trouvé entre le Royaume-Uni et l’Europe, annoncent Boris Johnsons et Jean-Claude Junker. Mais ce midi, selon l’AFP, les unionistes nord-irlandais du DUP sont toujours opposés à cet accord. Suivre les infos en direct par ici.- Renoncement britannique à exiger l’identité des internautes qui consultent des sites pornographiques. Le gouvernement britannique souhaitait imposer cette vérification pour empêcher aux mineurs d’y accéder. Un projet très critiqué mais qui séduisait en France l’année dernière Marlène Schiappa et Mounir Mahjoubi. Un projet finalement abandonné. En France, le gouvernemnet planche désormais sur une charte de prévention de l’exposition des enfants à la pornographie.- Après Vincent Lindon, Fabrice Lucchini, Josée Dayan, Alain Souchon dézingue Paris devenue « sale et violente ». Au Figaro, l’artiste déplore incivilités au quotidien, trop de trottinettes mal garées, trop de travaux… Et d’affirmer : « J’ai envie de m’en aller de Paris, mais ça fait vieux con. De toute façon, je suis un vieux con, j’ai 75 ans… »- Imaginez un million d’abonnés à votre chaîne Youtube. Vous être un chef de file de toute une génération. Mais personne ne sait qui vous êtes… C’est l’histoire que vous raconte Manuel Pavard par ici. Il a rencontré le Nantais, qui veut rester anonyme, qui publie la chaîne YouTube de comptines pour enfants « Les Patapons ». C’est aujourd'hui l’une des plus grosses chaînes YouTube françaises.Anne-Laetitia BéraudCrédits sons : Longing – Joakim Karud/Musique libre de droits/Bisquit soul de Noodgroove – Fugue Icons8.com/La fourmi m'a piqué la main - Les Patatons/ Bruitage, loop : universal-soundbank.com Pour plus d'informations sur la confidentialité de vos données, visitez Acast.com/privacy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Germany's Ursula von der Leyen has been elected as president of the European Union Commission, becoming the first female to do so.She won on a platform of a greener, fairer and rule-based Europe, but not everyone is pleased. - Ursula Von der Leyen va prelua functia de presedinte al Comisiei europene la 1 noiembrie 2019, de la predecesorul ei, Jean Claude Junker. Doamna Von der Leyen devine astfel prima femeie care va conduce Comisia Europeană.

The House of Representatives last night voted almost completely along party lines to condemn President Trump’s recent comments about four progressive women of color recently elected to the House of Representatives. The final vote was 240-187, with only four Republicans and one independent who caucuses with the Republicans voting in favor. Trump tweeted over the weekend that Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib should “go back to the countries they came from.” Three of the four were born in the United States, and one was naturalized as a citizen even before the First Lady was. New reports have emerged showing that $40 million in humanitarian funds from the US Agency for International Development apparently have been diverted to pay for Venezuelan coup leader’s Juan Guaido’s effort to install himself as president. Meanwhile, the European Union is preparing targeted sanctions against Venezuelan security officials responsible for alleged human rights violations. Arnold August, an author who has written 3 books on US-Latin America issues and a journalist whose articles appear on web sites across the world, joins the show. Former German Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen was elected head of the European Commission yesterday and will replace Jean-Claude Junker on November 1. Von der Leyen is a member of the conservative bloc in the European Parliament and was elected with the support of the liberal bloc of which French President Emmanuel Macron’s party is a member. Von der Leyen is facing an ongoing scandal in Germany over concealing huge payments to outside contractors hired by the Defense Ministry. Brian and John speak with Sputnik news analyst Walter Smolarek. Big tech firms were under fire at a high profile Congressional hearing conducted by the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, raising the spectre of serious anti-trust action against Amazon and other tech giants. Meanwhile, negotiations between the major US automakers and the United Auto Workers Union are breaking down because the companies want concessions in case there is a recession. So are we headed into a recession? Richard Wolff, a professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and founder of the organization Democracy at Work. Prof. Wolff’s latest book is Capitalism's Crisis Deepens: Essays on the Global Economic Meltdown, joins the show. Wednesday’s weekly series, In the News, is where the hosts look at the most important ongoing developments of the week and put them into perspective. Sputnik news analysts Nicole Roussell and Walter Smolarek join the show. Wednesday’s regular segment, Beyond Nuclear, is about nuclear issues, including weapons, energy, waste, and the future of nuclear technology in the United States. Kevin Kamps, the Radioactive Waste Watchdog at the organization Beyond Nuclear, and Sputnik news analyst and producer Nicole Roussell, join the show.

Seit dem 1. Januar hat Rumänien die EU-Ratspräsidentschaft inne. Doch schon vor Amtsbeginn gab es Bedenken an der Tauglichkeit Rumäniens. Und das unter anderem von EU-Kommissionspräsident Jean Claude Junker. Florian Eder von Politico ordnet die Ratspräsidentschaft Rumäniens ein. Moderation: Philipp Weimar detektor.fm/was-wichtig-wird Podcast: detektor.fm/feeds/was-wichtig-wird Apple Podcasts: itun.es/de/9cztbb.c Google Podcasts: goo.gl/cmJioL Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0UnRK019ItaDoWBQdCaLOt

2018 was the year of the pay gaps and the last of the year is the race pay gap which is larger than the gender pay gap. We caution against knee jerk conclusions as the reasons are bound to be multifactorial. The gender pay gap for instance is mainly due to differences in behaviour between men and women. Similarly New Year's resolutions with sudden large virtuous changes are too big a leap to navigate safely and reliably. They are an example of goal setting which are illusionary needs and as such are vested with fear of failure, stress and avoidance , disaster if you fail as well as anticlimax if you succeed. Rather changes need to be small and incremental, thus many small changes leading to a much larger sustainable change over time. Finally what do Jean-Claude Junker and Donald Trump have in common? Listen and find out.

2018 was the year of the pay gaps and the last of the year is the race pay gap which is larger than the gender pay gap. We caution against knee jerk conclusions as the reasons are bound to be multifactorial. The gender pay gap for instance is mainly due to differences in behaviour between men and women. Similarly New Year's resolutions with sudden large virtuous changes are too big a leap to navigate safely and reliably. They are an example of goal setting which are illusionary needs and as such are vested with fear of failure, stress and avoidance , disaster if you fail as well as anticlimax if you succeed. Rather changes need to be small and incremental, thus many small changes leading to a much larger sustainable change over time. Finally what do Jean-Claude Junker and Donald Trump have in common? Listen and find out.

Der Ex-SPD-Parteivorsitzende Sigmar Gabriel kann offenbar gut verhandeln und bekommt für seine Arbeit beim Holtzbrinck-Verlag so viel Geld, wie viele Journalisten nur Träumen können. Die AfD will der Digitalkonferenz Republica die staatliche Förderung entziehen und die Bloomberg Berichterstattung zu den angeblich platzierten Chips in Servern unter anderem von Apple und Amazon hält sich immer weniger. Außerdem: Noch-Spiegel-Chefredakteur Klaus Brinkbäumer hat einen neuen Anwalt. Der geht aber leider parallel gegen die Recherchen des eigenen Blatts vor. Wir sprechen bei Unter Zwei zudem ausführlich über die Musikindustrie und wie sie sich durch Streamingdienste wie Spotify und Apple Music im Laufe der Zeit verändert hat. Bonus: Hier äußert sich der Musikwissenschaftler Hubert Léveillé Gauvin zu seiner Analyse: https://sz.de/1.4155727 Walulis zu Spotifys Marktmacht: https://youtu.be/GAt6aCwfP9M Außerdem sprechen wir über die fortschreitende Facebookisierung von Instagram und die Ergebnisse der ARD/ZDF Onlinestudie, die ihr hier nachlesen könnt: http://www.ard-zdf-onlinestudie.de Stephan Dörners Kritik an der Unterscheidung von Online und Offline: https://t3n.de/news/ardzdf-studie-begriff-online-1116941/ Tool-Tipp: „Hey Siri, wie sind die Ergebnisse der Sonntagsfrage?“ https://www.henning-tillmann.de/2018/10/hey-siri-sonntagsfrage/ Seh-Tipp: „Werkstattgespräch“ von Jan Böhmermann, Ralf Kabelka und Moritz Neumeier aus der Staatsoperette Dresden https://youtu.be/Uc-_9U4gVsk Lesetipp: Der Spiegel über das Verhältnis der Geschlechter im eigenen Verlag – jetzt und in der Vergangenheit: http://spon.de/afkJ4 O-Ton von Jean-Claude Junker kommt aus dem "Falter Radio": https://www.falter.at/falter/radio/1b412e0c56b1461c9ecc4d01537f6c78/eu-kommissionsprasident-juncker-im-interview-spezialepisode ------------------- Feedback nehmen wir über Twitter, Instagram oder unterzweipodcast@gmail.com an. Wir freuen uns über Bewertungen bei iTunes & Co. ------------------- Musik: “Funk Game Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Used under CC 3.0

Hoy analizamos cómo se presenta el panorama de las eleccione catalanas a escasos días de su celebración, el 21D. También hablamos sobre la presunta financiación ilegal de Ciudadanos, según afirma una filtración de Anonymous, las declaraciones de Jean Claude Junker respecto a la necesidad en la Unión Europea de una inmigración masiva y, por último, el informe PISA más reciente. Con José Luís Escobar y Iago Mejuto. Conduce Juan Carlos Barba. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Au printemps 2017, Jean-Claude Junker, président de la Commission européenne, faisait une plaisanterie sur le déclin de la langue anglaise dans la perspective du Brexit. En effet, à la suite du départ annoncé du Royaume-Uni, plus aucun État membre de l’Union européenne n’aura l’anglais comme langue officielle. Quel sera alors le nouveau rapport de force linguistique en Europe tandis que les institutions européennes utilisent 24 langues officielles, l’anglais, le français et l’allemand étant les plus utilisées? Ailleurs dans le monde, l’accroissement du nombre des locuteurs francophones peut-il faire du français la langue la plus parlée sur la planète d’ici 2050? Arnaud Decroix en discute avec Kathleen Stein-Smith, enseignante à l’Université américaine Fairleigh Dickinson.

Au printemps 2017, Jean-Claude Junker, président de la Commission européenne, faisait une plaisanterie sur le déclin de la langue anglaise dans la perspective du Brexit. En effet, à la suite du départ annoncé du Royaume-Uni, plus aucun État membre de l’Union européenne n’aura l’anglais comme langue officielle. Quel sera alors le nouveau rapport de force linguistique en Europe tandis que les institutions européennes utilisent 24 langues officielles, l’anglais, le français et l’allemand étant les plus utilisées? Ailleurs dans le monde, l’accroissement du nombre des locuteurs francophones peut-il faire du français la langue la plus parlée sur la planète d’ici 2050? Arnaud Decroix en discute avec Kathleen Stein-Smith, enseignante à l’Université américaine Fairleigh Dickinson.

Ringo Starr says it’s time to get on with Brexit, German elections and Jean-Claude Junker’s big speech. Our Europe Editor, Katya Adler and our Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg, pop in for a chat as well.

I ny episode av Taxcast møter du varsleren som viste hvordan staten Luxembourg har hjulpet multinasjonale selskaper å slippe unna med så lite som 1% skatt.Nå risikerer varslerne Antoine Deltour og Raphaël Halet, og journalisten som først skrev om saken, Edouard Perrin, både bøter og fengselsstraffer. President i EU-kommisjonen, Jean-Claude Junker, mener Luxembourg ikke har gjort noe galt. Han var imidlertid både statsminister og finansminister i det lille storhertugdømmet da avtalene ble laget.I tillegg til Antoine Deltour hører du:Tove Ryding, koordinator for skatterettferdighet i organisasjonen Eurodad fortelle om sweetheart dealsSven Giegold, tysk politiker som representerer De Grønne i EU-parlamentet og grunnlegger av Attac Tyskland fortelle om varslervernJarle Aarbakke Tollaksen, tidligere masterstudent ved Universitetet i Oslo og politisk nestleder i Krfu, som har undersøkt politiske faktorer som gjør at stater blir skatteparadiserRomain Deltour, bror til Antoine Deltour og medlem i Support Committee for Antoine DeltourMusikk: bensound.com (http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music)