PRESS RELEASE
EPP TRADE MINISTERIAL MEETING – FRIDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2022
This morning in Brussels, ahead of the FOREIGN AFFAIRS TRADE COUNCIL (FAC TRADE), seven EPP FAC TRADE participants met together, chaired by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of Ireland Leo VARADKAR.
Participants welcomed first-time minister Johan FORSSELL, representing the new Swedish government as Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and Gunda REIRE, representing Latvia’s government for the first time as Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis DOMBROVSKIS reported on progress in EU trade talks — including vis-à-vis the United States in the context of the upcoming next meeting, in Washington on 5 December, of the transatlantic Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
The EPP supports the Commission’s work with American partners, via the US-EU Task Force on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to ensure fair competition for EU companies once the US’s IRA comes into force. In the context of war and uncertainty, the upcoming 3rd TTC ministerial offers a chance to deepen ties with Europe’s trusted ally the United States: for example, on infrastructure and mobility, supply chains, green initiatives, labour rights, common standards and joint efforts, such as through investment screening and export controls, to push back against economic coercion.
EU trade policy will play a key role in Europe’s recovery and long-term growth. This is especially true for SMEs. EPP participants at this morning’s meeting reiterated the party’s support for fair and open, rules-based trade. They welcomed the recent conclusion to the EU’s deal with New Zealand. They also noted ongoing efforts regarding other deals, including vis-à-vis Australia and Chile.
Participants reiterated the EPP’s strong support for Ukraine, for protecting Europe’s food and energy security and for delivering on the EU’s crucial climate goals.
For more information contact:
Alexandra Henman
Deputy Spokesperson
+32 471 90 76 84
alh@epp.eu
Angelos Athanasopoulos
National and Regional Press Director
+32 471 90 76 35aa@epp.eu
The EPP Manifesto, also adopted at the 2012 EPP Congress in Bucharest, outlines the basic principles of the Party summarising who we are, what our values are, what challenges are we facing and what vision we have for the future. The Manifesto was developed in parallel to the EPP Platform document within the EPP Working Group 1 for “European Policy”.
The Party Platform was developed in EPP Working Group 1 for “European Policy” chaired by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS ?and EPP Vice President Peter HINTZE. The Working Group consists of delegates of EPP member parties who prepared and worked?on this document for more than two years and received input?from the drafting committee as well as senior and young experts. The document was adopted at the 2012 EPP Congress in Bucharest, thus replacing the Basic Programme of Athens from 1992.