"Robust appearance": CDU politician McAllister calls for a tougher approach to China
Created: 05/26/2022, 20:27
By: Patricia Huber
In the Merkur interview, David McAllister talks about the Northern Ireland Protocol and the EU's China strategy.
© Janine Schmitz/Imago Images
The head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the EU Parliament, David McAllister, is calling for a realignment of relations between the EU and China in view of the Ukraine war.
Brussels – Discussions about the relationship between Great Britain and the EU continue to smolder more than two years after Brexit.
The British government is increasingly questioning the Northern Ireland Protocol.
But the treaty is of great importance for peace in the region.
In an interview, the former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony explains how the EU parliamentarian and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister (CDU) stands on the British demands for improvements, the consequences of the Ukraine war for relations between the EU and China with
Merkur.de.
McAllister: Northern Ireland Protocol 'will not be reopened'
Mr McAllister, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to improve the Northern Ireland Protocol.
How
surprised were you?
This debate in the UK has become apparent.
Nonetheless, I am watching these latest developments with great concern.
The protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland has been negotiated jointly by both sides for months.
In the end there was a compromise that both sides accepted.
The protocol is an attempt to square the circle.
It is the solution to a problem - the problem is and will remain Brexit.
In particular, the hard form of Brexit that the British government has chosen.
British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss is pushing for negotiations. What do you make of it?
The Northern Ireland Protocol cannot be renegotiated.
It is part of an international agreement, the Withdrawal Agreement, which came into effect on February 1, 2020.
Both sides have signed and ratified it.
It is about finding flexible and pragmatic solutions within the existing legal framework.
Instead of building up unnecessary threats, the British government is called upon to sit down at the negotiating table.
We want to talk in detail about the implementation of the protocol.
The protocol is not an invention of the EU.
These are rules that we gave each other.
So the EU is ready to discuss but not ready to renegotiate?
The log will not be reopened.
It provides a legally solid foundation on which we can find flexible, pragmatic solutions.
This requires a serious will to engage in dialogue.
McAllister: 'British government has everything in their hands'
What if the UK unilaterally withdraws from the Northern Ireland Protocol or even the entire Brexit deal?
Unilateral action by the UK government is unacceptable.
We have made it sufficiently clear: "Let's calmly talk about all possibilities".
The people and companies in Northern Ireland need planning and legal certainty.
Questioning the protocol in principle again and again is not expedient.
We need solutions to problems, not new problems.
The task now is to fully implement the technical details.
This is only possible through dialogue and joint solutions.
If there is to be no physical customs and internal market border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland then there must be a minimum level of controls in the Irish Sea.
This is inevitable to preserve the integrity of the EU internal market.
This requires trust on both sides.
Could the discussion or even a unilateral denunciation of the protocol endanger the peace in Northern Ireland?
We take note of this announcement by the UK Government.
So far it's just announcements.
The door to dialogue remains open.
When the British government presents a specific bill, it first has to go through the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
So this will take time.
Should London act contrary to the treaty, the two agreements offer us ways to retaliate.
There is a whole range of political, economic and legal instruments.
However, it is not in our interest to start a trade dispute with the UK.
Let's talk to each other - not about each other!
What would the worst case scenario be?
The worst-case scenario would be that the British side simply no longer applies the protocol or suspends elementary parts.
Within the framework of the trade and cooperation agreement, we have extensive legal means at our disposal to punish such violations.
What could such penalties look like?
It would be possible to suspend parts of the trade and cooperation agreement.
A particularly harsh option would be to impose tariffs or quotas on British imports - but all of this is deliberately formulated in the subjunctive.
It is my express wish that these steps not be taken.
The British government has everything in its own hands.
McAllister: Europe must become more sovereign in terms of energy policy
The Ukraine war has shown how important it is not to become dependent on a trading partner such as Russia. Is the EU now rethinking its trade relations?
The European Union's trade with Russia is not very broad.
Russia only produces a few end products that are attractive to us.
Energy and raw materials make up the majority of imports.
In recent years, some Member States have developed far too high an energy dependency on Russia.
This war is now causing us to overhaul our European energy policy at breakneck speed.
We continue to negotiate free trade agreements with various partners, such as Chile and Mexico and Mercosur.
In principle, I am also in favor of making a new attempt with India.
What about China?
Three English C's best describe our China policy: "Cooperate where possible, compete where needed, confront where necessary".
China is a cooperation partner for us in certain areas – for example in climate protection.
Without Chinese commitment, the global goals of the Paris climate agreement cannot be achieved.
China is an economic competitor.
Crucial to trade with China is that there must be equal terms on both sides.
The Chinese market is much more restrictive for our companies than vice versa.
Unfortunately, this has not improved in recent years.
But is China's policy in line with the values and norms of EU policy?
China is a systemic rival.
The communist leadership in Beijing has very different views on human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the media and freedom of expression, and democracy.
In addition, China has been increasingly aggressive in foreign policy for some time now, pushing the limits of rules-based global cooperation.
The EU is working on a new China strategy.
The core should be a robust and self-confident appearance towards China.
We must continue to work with China, but we must make it very clear that we are defending our interests and our values.
You also mentioned how important China is for energy policy. China builds a large part of solar modules. Isn't Europe in danger of slipping from one dependency to the next?
Within globalized supply chains, market players depend on certain products being produced elsewhere.
When dependencies get too big, you become vulnerable and that needs to be carefully analyzed and prevented.
Europe must also become more sovereign in terms of energy and industrial policy.
Ukraine war: “China is watching very closely”
So how should one deal with China?
When dealing with China, the unity of the 27 EU countries is crucial.
Compared to China, every country in the EU is small.
Together we stand for around 450 million people and the world's largest single market.
The format for the EU to negotiate with China is 27:1.
As soon as we start operating in smaller constellations of individual member states, we will be divided.
Dependence on Taiwan for semiconductors is large. What would be the consequences if China tried to attack Taiwan?
China is watching very closely how the West stands in solidarity with Ukraine, how we try to give full support to Ukraine and how we put maximum pressure on Russia.
This is being noted very carefully in Beijing.
Therefore, the way we position ourselves alongside Ukraine is a nod to other authoritarian regimes around the world.
Is there any way to pressure China not to even attempt a military attack on Taiwan?
Where China is clearly breaking rules, there must be a response from the political West.
That is why it is so important that we as the EU closely coordinate our China policy with the United States.
We will not agree with Washington on every detail.
But in the general lines we have to take a common position.
I therefore welcome the fact that there has been a dialogue between the EU and the US administration on China since October 2020.
But how can the EU and the US show China borders now?
We have to set clear boundaries.
A particular strength as a European is our market power.
China has a vested interest in being economically successful in Europe.
The war in Ukraine is also hurting China.
Should Beijing actively support Russia in the war or help to circumvent sanctions, this would have economic consequences.
We have to be vigilant and appear self-confident.
