Latest news with #EUCommission
Reuters
8 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
EU bars Chinese firms from most medical device tenders
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - The European Union will bar Chinese companies from participating in EU public tenders for medical devices worth 60 billion euros or more ($68.9 billion) per year after concluding that EU companies are not given fair access in China. The measure announced by the European Commission on Friday is the first under the EU's International Procurement Instrument, which entered into force in 2022 and is designed to ensure reciprocal market access. The new restrictions are likely to increase tensions with Beijing inflamed by EU tariffs on China-built electric vehicles, Chinese measures against EU brandy and curbs on exports of rare earths that the EU wants resolved by an EU-China summit in July. The Commission said on Friday that it would exclude Chinese companies from EU government purchases above five million euros. An EU official said, guided by figures of Medtech Europe, the EU medical technology market was worth some 150 billion euros in 2023, with public procurement accounting for a 70% share. Contracts of over 5 million euros were only 4% of tenders, but made up some 60% by value, the official said. Successful bids will have to ensure they include no more than 50% of medical devices from China. If there are no alternative suppliers, the exclusion will not apply. EU members backed the plan earlier this month. The Commission has previously said it found "clear evidence" that China favoured Chinese devices for hospitals and its tender conditions led to abnormally low bids that profit-oriented companies could not offer. A Commission official said the ban would cover medical equipment including imaging equipment, artificial body parts and medical clothing. China's commerce ministry has previously described the proposed EU measures as "protectionist", urging the EU to be fair and transparent and for both sides to resolve differences through cooperation and dialogue. The Commission said China had not proposed any corrective action to remedy the situation, but an agreement was still possible. ($1 = 0.8708 euros)
AsiaOne
11 hours ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Italy, pressed to boost defence spending, lashes at 'stupid' EU rules, World News
ROME — European Union budget rules are "stupid and senseless" and need to be changed to allow member states to boost defence spending as recommended by Brussels, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday (June 19). The EU Commission has introduced flexibility clauses to allow more investment in security, but Giorgetti said their current form penalises countries such as Italy, which are under a so-called EU infringement procedure for their excessive deficits. "It is essential to find ways to bring these rules up to date with the crisis we are experiencing so that they do not seem stupid and senseless," the minister said in a statement issued by his staff on the sidelines of a meeting with euro zone peers in Luxembourg. The title of the statement was blunter, saying Giorgetti called for changes to "stupid and senseless rules". Brussels has proposed allowing member states to raise defence spending by 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product each year for four years without any disciplinary steps that would normally kick in once a deficit is more than three per cent of GDP. The plan came amid growing pressure in Europe to boost military spending to deter a potential attack from Russia and become less dependent on the United States. Highly-indebted Italy is set this year to meet the Nato defence target of two per cent of GDP through a series of accounting changes, but an alliance summit next week is expected to raise the goal to five per cent of GDP. Giorgetti said that, under the Commission's scheme, member states not subject to the EU's excessive deficit procedure would be allowed to use the extra leeway on defence without breaching budget rules, even if their deficits rise above the three per cent of GDP ceiling. However, "member states already in the infringement procedure cannot use the same flexibility," he added. In this situation Italy is reluctant to use the EU flexibility clause because it would prevent it from lowering its deficit to 2.8 per cent of GDP in 2026 from 3.4 per cent last year, as planned. "Italy is committed to a timely exit from the infringement procedure and accepting the invitation to increase defence spending would forever prevent this," Giorgetti said. Rome is also wary of any move that could harm its improving reputation on financial markets, two government officials said. Last month, credit ratings agency Moody's upgraded Italy's outlook to "positive" after rival S&P Global raised the country's rating to "BBB+" from "BBB". Italy's preferred option would be the issuance of common EU debt to finance higher defence spending, one of the officials said, but such a plan would require support from the other bloc members. [[nid:716943]]
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Italy, pressed to lower deficit but hike defense spending, lashes at ‘stupid' EU rules
ROME: European Union budget rules are 'stupid and senseless' and need to be changed to allow member states to boost defense spending as recommended by Brussels, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday. The EU Commission has introduced flexibility clauses to allow more investment in security, but Giorgetti said their current form penalizes countries such as Italy, which are under a so-called EU infringement procedure for their excessive deficits. 'It is essential to find ways to bring these rules up to date with the crisis we are experiencing so that they do not seem stupid and senseless,' the minister said in a statement issued by his staff on the sidelines of a meeting with euro zone peers in Luxembourg. The title of the statement was blunter, saying Giorgetti called for changes to 'stupid and senseless rules.' Brussels has proposed allowing member states to raise defense spending by 1.5 percent of gross domestic product each year for four years without any disciplinary steps that would normally kick in once a deficit is more than 3 percent of GDP. The plan came amid growing pressure in Europe to boost military spending to deter a potential attack from Russia and become less dependent on the United States. Highly-indebted Italy is set this year to meet the NATO defense target of 2 percent of GDP through a series of accounting changes, but an alliance summit next week is expected to raise the goal to 5 percent of GDP. Giorgetti said that, under the Commission's scheme, member states not subject to the EU's excessive deficit procedure would be allowed to use the extra leeway on defense without breaching budget rules, even if their deficits rise above the 3 percent of GDP ceiling. However, 'member states already in the infringement procedure cannot use the same flexibility,' he added. In this situation Italy is reluctant to use the EU flexibility clause because it would prevent it from lowering its deficit to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2026 from 3.4 percent last year, as planned. 'Italy is committed to a timely exit from the infringement procedure and accepting the invitation to increase defense spending would forever prevent this,' Giorgetti said. Rome is also wary of any move that could harm its improving reputation on financial markets, two government officials said. Last month, credit ratings agency Moody's upgraded Italy's outlook to 'positive' after rival S&P Global raised the country's rating to 'BBB+' from 'BBB.' Italy's preferred option would be the issuance of common EU debt to finance higher defense spending, one of the officials said, but such a plan would require support from the other bloc members. (Editing by Alvise Armellini and Gavin Jones)
Reuters
20 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Italy, pressed to boost defence spending, lashes at 'stupid' EU rules
ROME, June 19 (Reuters) - European Union budget rules are "stupid and senseless" and need to be changed to allow member states to boost defence spending as recommended by Brussels, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday. The EU Commission has introduced flexibility clauses to allow more investment in security, but Giorgetti said their current form penalises countries such as Italy, which are under a so-called EU infringement procedure for their excessive deficits. "It is essential to find ways to bring these rules up to date with the crisis we are experiencing so that they do not seem stupid and senseless," the minister said in a statement issued by his staff on the sidelines of a meeting with euro zone peers in Luxembourg. The title of the statement was blunter, saying Giorgetti called for changes to "stupid and senseless rules". Brussels has proposed allowing member states to raise defence spending by 1.5% of gross domestic product each year for four years without any disciplinary steps that would normally kick in once a deficit is more than 3% of GDP. The plan came amid growing pressure in Europe to boost military spending to deter a potential attack from Russia and become less dependent on the United States. Highly-indebted Italy is set this year to meet the NATO defence target of 2% of GDP through a series of accounting changes, but an alliance summit next week is expected to raise the goal to 5% of GDP. Giorgetti said that, under the Commission's scheme, member states not subject to the EU's excessive deficit procedure would be allowed to use the extra leeway on defence without breaching budget rules, even if their deficits rise above the 3% of GDP ceiling. However, "member states already in the infringement procedure cannot use the same flexibility," he added. In this situation Italy is reluctant to use the EU flexibility clause because it would prevent it from lowering its deficit to 2.8% of GDP in 2026 from 3.4% last year, as planned. "Italy is committed to a timely exit from the infringement procedure and accepting the invitation to increase defence spending would forever prevent this," Giorgetti said. Rome is also wary of any move that could harm its improving reputation on financial markets, two government officials said. Last month, credit ratings agency Moody's upgraded Italy's outlook to "positive" after rival S&P Global raised the country's rating to "BBB+" from "BBB." Italy's preferred option would be the issuance of common EU debt to finance higher defence spending, one of the officials said, but such a plan would require support from the other bloc members.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ireland among nine countries demanding EU discontinue trade with illegal Israeli settlements
Ireland has joined eight other countries in writing to the EU Commission demanding urgent action to "effectively discontinue" trade with illegal Israeli settlements. It comes as Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring a draft scheme of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet next week with the aim of having it scrutinised by politicians before the Dáil summer recess. Confirming that the Government has joined several EU countries on Thursday to deliver "a clear message" to the European Commission, Mr Harris said: "We now urgently need proposals at EU level to effectively discontinue trade with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory." It is expected that a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement, which had been undertaken following a request by the Dutch government, could be published as early as tomorrow ahead of a crunch meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. However, there is now a concern among some members states, including Ireland, that taking action or imposing any trade sanctions could be delayed. Mr Harris along with his counterparts in Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden have now signed a joint letter asking the European Commission to examine how trade in goods and services linked to illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can be brought into line with international law. This follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly states that third countries must refrain from any trade or investment that helps sustain an illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Belgium foreign affairs minister, Maxime Prevot, said: "Upholding international law is a shared responsibility. In a rules-based international order, legal clarity must guide political choices. A united European approach can help ensure that our policies reflect our values."
