5 ms·

I am pleasantly surprised. I always thought of Brussels as the city where decisions go to die; that the EU discusses everything, poses for pictures and solves

I am pleasantly surprised. I always thought of Brussels as the city where decisions go to die; that the EU discusses everything, poses for pictures and solves nothing. Then, in less than a month we have the trade deal EU-Mercosur and this one with India. Maybe the Europeans can actually solve problems, after all.

snowpid 9mo ago
1.) These trade deals were discussed for 20 years. 2.) Politics always needs discussion of loosy "all people that matter" 3.) EU by definition has a broad definition of "everyone matters". That's why it is lame but that is why it is interesting for countries outside of the EU becoming a member. 4.) EU does get things done. Maybe you don't read the news (where do you live?)
- diego_moita 9mo ago
  Well, I take 1-3 as evidence for my point. It is funny that it took less time for South Americans to create the Mercosur and for the Pacific countries to create the trans-Pacific partnership than to negotiate any trade deals with the EU. > where do you live? Latin American living in Canada.
  - snowpid 9mo ago
    my first points are about slowiness which is different to "nothing done". The EU has a wide array of free trade agreements. "Latin American living in Canada." Probably thats why you dont read about EU laws. Today Commission investigate into Google for breaking the DMA. The DMA itself is a very important piece of law.
  - Symbiote 9mo ago
    You can see the news the EU reports here, in case you are interested: https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events/news-and-stories_en https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events/news-and-st... Of course that's probably not including things that aren't progressing for whatever reason. Otherwise, a lot of this isn't of much interest to someone on another continent.
etyhhgfff 9mo ago
Wait EU-Meecosur is currently on ice, because France is against it and they brought it up to the highest EU court to decide. I expect something similar with the India Deal, there is always some form of Veto in the EU that makes it very hard to act as a unit.

snowpid 9mo ago

1.) These trade deals were discussed for 20 years. 2.) Politics always needs discussion of loosy "all people that matter" 3.) EU by definition has a broad definition of "everyone matters". That's why it is lame but that is why it is interesting for countries outside of the EU becoming a member. 4.) EU does get things done. Maybe you don't read the news (where do you live?)

diego_moita 9mo ago
Well, I take 1-3 as evidence for my point. It is funny that it took less time for South Americans to create the Mercosur and for the Pacific countries to create the trans-Pacific partnership than to negotiate any trade deals with the EU. > where do you live? Latin American living in Canada.
- snowpid 9mo ago
  my first points are about slowiness which is different to "nothing done". The EU has a wide array of free trade agreements. "Latin American living in Canada." Probably thats why you dont read about EU laws. Today Commission investigate into Google for breaking the DMA. The DMA itself is a very important piece of law.
- Symbiote 9mo ago
  You can see the news the EU reports here, in case you are interested: https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events/news-and-stories_en https://european-union.europa.eu/news-and-events/news-and-st... Of course that's probably not including things that aren't progressing for whatever reason. Otherwise, a lot of this isn't of much interest to someone on another continent.

etyhhgfff 9mo ago

Wait EU-Meecosur is currently on ice, because France is against it and they brought it up to the highest EU court to decide. I expect something similar with the India Deal, there is always some form of Veto in the EU that makes it very hard to act as a unit.