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President Xi Jinping (center) walks out of the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, with French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) after a China-France-EU trilateral meeting on Monday.FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

President Xi Jinping rejected on Monday the so-called "problem of China's overcapacity", saying that there is no such thing either from the perspective of comparative advantage or in light of global demand.

It is hoped that European Union institutions will have a fair perception of China and adopt a positive China policy, he said.

Xi, who is on the second day of his state visit to France, made the remarks in Paris at a China-France-EU trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Elysee Palace, amid the commission's investigation into China's electric vehicle makers.

Xi said that China's leading edge in the new energy sector has been gained through openness and competition and represents advanced production capabilities.

It has not only enriched the global supply and eased global inflationary pressures, but also made important contributions to the global response to climate change and the green transition, he said.

Noting that China and the EU have extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation in the green and digital transition, Xi called on the two sides to properly address economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, and accommodate each other's legitimate concerns.

The Chinese president also told Macron and von der Leyen that the China-EU relationship, which enjoys a strong endogenous driving force and bright development prospects, does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party.

The two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, safeguard the political foundation of their relations, and uphold the basic norms of international relations, he said.

Xi also called for good preparations for a new round of the China-EU Summit and high-level dialogues in the strategic, economic and trade, green and digital fields.

It is important to make good use of China's visa-exemption policy for European countries and encourage people-to-people exchanges as well as cooperation on education and scientific research, in an effort to enhance popular support for and public opinion on China-EU relations, he said.

As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi said that China and the EU should continue to see each other as partners, stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, and work for the steady and sound growth of China-EU ties.

During the meeting, Xi also outlined China's position and proposals on the Ukraine crisis and the Palestine-Israel conflict.

He said that China, France and the EU all wish to see an early cease-fire and the return of peace in Europe, and all support the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The three parties need to jointly oppose the spillover and escalation of the conflict, create conditions for peace talks, safeguard international energy and food security, and keep industrial and supply chains stable, Xi said.

Speaking of the Palestine-Israel conflict, Xi said the pressing task is to realize a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible, the key priority is to ensure humanitarian aid, and the fundamental way out is to implement the two-state solution.

China is ready to work with the EU to support the convening of a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as soon as possible, he said.

According to a news release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the three leaders believe that the trilateral meeting has increased mutual understanding, built consensus for cooperation, and identified ways to address problems.

Macron expressed his delight in holding the meeting during Xi's third state visit to France, saying that it is both a continuation of the previous trilateral meetings and also what is urgently needed to address the various international challenges.

He also said that now more than ever, France and the EU need to strengthen cooperation with China, as this bears on the future of Europe.

Von der Leyen said that given China's weight in global affairs, it is important that the EU maintains good relations with China. This will determine whether global challenges such as climate change and the Ukraine crisis can be better addressed, she said.

She expressed the EU's wish to work with China in the spirit of mutual respect, seek common ground despite differences, enhance mutual trust, avoid misunderstanding, jointly uphold the international law-based order, and promote world peace, security and prosperity.

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EU urged to have fair perception of China - China Daily

The defence industry forum was held in Brussels to discuss cooperation and increase ammunition production for Kyiv in response to Russia's ongoing aggression.

The European Union hosted a defence industry forum on Monday in a bid to find new ways to supply Kiyv with much-needed weapons and ammunition.

Some 140 firms from 25 countries attended the event in Brussels, which was meant to link Ukraine's defence industry with those of the EU.

Industry representatives met to discuss how Ukraine's industry capacity for defence production could be better matched with that of Europe.

They also discussed how Ukrainian firms could amp up production and meet the country's needs at home. This would minimise transportation costs and allow the tools to be produced where they are needed.

We produce in Europe, but we should be able to produce in [Ukrainian] territory, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said, in order to save costs, to reduce delivery times and be closer to [Ukrainian] needs.

Supplying Ukraine's forces has proven to be a difficult task for the country's allies. More than two years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly targeted Kyiv's industrial capacities as one of its primary targets in a bid to weaken its resistance.

Our goal is to find extra funding for procuring from Ukrainian defence industry for Ukrainian armed forces, said Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin. Thats the fastest way we can help the frontline, he added.

The news follows a proposal for a European Defence Industrial Strategy. The strategy aims to preparedefence industrial readiness within the EU following the return of high-intensity conflict to the continent.

The plan also proposed 1.5 billion in funding to prepare the European defence industry, aiming to make the EU safer and benefit key allies, including NATO and Ukraine.

This is the first time the EU is hosting the forum. It was initially held in Ukraine in 2022, followed by the US the following year.

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EU hosts defence forum to rally its military industry behind Ukraine - Euronews

Ukraine is the priority for those who take the future of Europe and liberal democracy seriously, but there are two other battles that demand our attention.

Moldova and Georgia, the other European Union (EU) candidate countries that share a border with Russia, are currently caught in an onslaught of hybrid attacks aiming to undermine and ultimately destroy the blocs plans of enlargement to the East.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire former prime minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, referred to the EU and US as a global party of war at a government-organized rally on April 29. It marked an extraordinarily open attack on the bloc from the man who effectively leads the ruling party and whose country was offered candidate status only in December.

The speech, to an audience of state employees many of whom were bussed to Tbilisi from the regions was straightforward in its commitment to the repression of opponents of Georgian Dreams resurrected law on so-called foreign influence (referred to by protesters as Russias law for its similarity to the Foreign Agents Law which Russia adopted in 2012 and increasingly used to stamp out dissent.)

It bodes ill not just for civil society organizations targeted for their independence and criticism of the ruling party, but also for Georgias integration into the EU and NATO.

Defeated by widespread public protests last year, the Russian law was brought back in April, half a year before general elections scheduled for October 20.

That the government was prepared to resurrect the law months before the European Commissions decision on whether to recommend the start of accession negotiations confirms[MG1] that joining Europe and aligning with its fundamental values, is no longer part of the ruling partys vision. The EU has made clear that the law is an affront to its values and would derail Georgian accession.

The government had committed to honoring the Georgian peoples support for closer integration with Europe, but the pledge has been watered down in statements from the party elite, including another former prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili, who said Georgia is not ready for more Europe.

The interventions came after more than two weeks of huge protests by civil society groups and other opponents of the proposed law, suppressed by water cannons, teargas, and police brutality.

The prospects for Georgias democracy and European integration will depend on the perseverance of the countrys highly energized and independent civil society, which is also the main target of government attempts at suppression under the new law.

Parliamentary opposition is relatively weak, and vocal non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media are seen and treated as the ruling partys main competitors in the battle for influence over the population.

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Their influence is intensely disliked, not just by the Georgian Dream government, but also by openly pro-Russian right-wing groups.

Georgia is not alone in facing growing efforts to block its closer alignment with the West. There are also attempts by Russian proxies to steer Moldova off its chosen path of EU integration.

The countrys pro-EU President Maia Sandu will be standing for re-election on October 20, making it a crucial year for the countrys relations with the West. Sandus approval ratings have been undermined by economic hardship and challenges to reforming her impoverished country, which has only just weaned itself off dependence on Russian energy.

By holding a referendum on EU membership alongside the presidential election, Sandu and her party hope to energize the pro-EU electorate to come to the ballot box (polls suggest a plurality of Moldovans will vote in favor.) It may help increase the chances of her re-election, or at least fix the country on a path to EU integration.

There will be no shortage of challenges in the run-up to the referendum, as the opening salvos from the Russian state propaganda machine have clearly indicated. The separatist leaders of Transnistria, a strip of Moldova under Russian military control, will also provide cause for concern, especially if the Moldovan government implements plans to reduce energy imports from the self-declared republic.

Georgia and Moldovas populations have made clear their support for joining Europe, and should one or both be dislodged from the path to integration, the Kremlin will score a major victory.

Ukraine is not the only place where the future of democratic Europe is at the crossroads, and the EU will need to do everything in its power to support democratic forces in both Georgia and Moldova, enabling their voices and those of the majority of the population to be decisive and to outweigh Russias lavishly funded dark campaigns to oppose them.

The outcome matters first and foremost for them, but also for a Europe struggling to safeguard its Eastern neighborhood as an area where the values of democracy and human rights prevail over dictatorship and imperialism.

Marija Golubeva is a Distinguished Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). She was a Member of the Latvian Parliament (2018-2022) and was Minister of the Interior from 2021-2022. A public policy expert, she has worked for ICF, a consultancy company in Brussels, and as an independent consultant for European institutions in the Western Balkans and Central Asia.

Europes Edgeis CEPAs online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or viewsof the institutions they representor the Center for European Policy Analysis.

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EU in Tug-of-War for Georgia and Moldova - Center for European Policy Analysis

Europeans view immigration with increasing suspicion. Seven out of 10 Europeans believe that their country takes in too many migrants, according to a survey carried out by BVA Xsight for ARTE Europe Weekly, a project led by the French-German TV channel ARTE GEIE and which EL PAS has participated in, as part of the countdown to the European elections in June.

The survey shows that 85% of respondents feel the European Union needs to take more action to combat irregular migration. And only 39% believe that Europe needs immigration today.

The countries where most people consider immigration a problem are Bulgaria (74% of respondents), the Czech Republic (73%), Hungary and Cyprus (68% in both cases). Paradoxically, in Italy, the European country where the largest number of immigrants entered irregularly last year (157,652), only 44% of respondents viewed it as a problem and only 14% saw it as the main problem. In Greece and Spain, the second and third countries with the most irregular arrivals in 2023, respectively, only 11% of respondents considered it the issue of most concern to them, below the European average of 17%. However, Greece is the country where the most people (90%) believe their country takes in too many migrants.

These are some of the conclusions from a survey carried out online between March 27 and April 9 in the 27 member states, where 22,726 people over 15 years of age were interviewed, with a representative sample from each country. In addition to El PAS, the media organizations Gazeta Wyborcza, Internazionale, Ir, Kathimerini, Le Soir and Telex collaborated in the survey.

Beyond the data on migration, health is the biggest concern for Europeans (41%), followed by the war in Ukraine (38%). The environment and inflation are tied in third place at 24%. Each country also presents some unique features when it comes to the order of priorities. In France, purchasing power is a top concern; in Poland people are particularly focused on security; the Irish are notably preoccupied with housing and Spaniards are very worried about unemployment.

This picture of Europeans concerns emerges one month before more than 400 million people from to the 27 countries of the European Union are called to vote in the elections to the European Parliament, which will be held between June 6 and 9. Voters will elect 705 MEPs in a chamber whose composition will be key to deciding issues such as pushing or stopping a policy of self-defense, and the promotion of measures for the green transition under threat by the far right, which is forecast to perform well at the polls.

On the economic front, 73% of those surveyed feel optimistic about their personal future, although 57% believe that the economic situation in the EU has worsened and 63% feel the same way about their own country.

Only a third of respondents believe that EU decisions have a positive impact on their lives. And there is only one country, Portugal, where the majority (51%) highlighted the positive influence of the EU on their lives. Portugal is followed by Spain, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania, all of them with 43% positive responses. At the opposite pole, France and the Czech Republic (21% in both cases) are where the smallest number of people believe that the EU affects their lives favorably, followed by Hungary (24%) and the Netherlands (26%).

In the population as a whole, only 9% admit to feeling more European than their own nationality. In several of the member states that joined the EU most recently, citizens recognize that, when they vote, they prioritize their national needs over European ones: Romania (82%), Bulgaria (81%), Greece and Latvia (79% in both cases). However, the majority of countries would like to see the common European policy strengthened, especially in defense (72%) and immigration (70%).

Pollsters believe the survey paints a portrait of a Europe divided between those who worry more about the end of the world security and the war between Russia and Ukraine and those who focus more on end of the month issues. The first group includes Estonia, Finland and Poland, who are closer to the Russian borders. The second group, more concerned about the loss of purchasing power, encompasses France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

The war that began with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 might have served to reinforce the feeling of belonging to the EU. But it did not turn out that way. Only 14% of citizens say they feel more European now than before the invasion of Ukraine. And 15% of those surveyed consider themselves less European since the beginning of the conflict.

The survey shows that 62% of Europeans fear an imminent war with Russia, a fear that is felt most strongly in the countries geographically closest to the invading country, such as Poland, the Baltic States, Finland and Romania. Only 30% think that Europe has enough military resources to respond to a possible attack. Although 61% believe that the EU should strengthen its support for Ukraine, a similar majority (63%) believe that a ceasefire should be negotiated.

Fully 63% of Europeans are in favor of Ukraines accession to the EU. However, the countries most favorable to negotiations with Vladimir Putin (Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria) are also the most reluctant to the admission of Ukrainians into the European club.

The environment occupies, along with the loss of purchasing power, the third place among the top concerns of Europeans. Last year was the warmest on Earth since records began in the 19th century. For 82% of respondents, this is an important problem. And for 43%, the fight against global warming is a priority, especially in southern Europe Malta, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain where droughts and heat waves are felt most keenly.

The measures that generate the most support to combat climate change are those decided by governments and the European Parliament, such as the reduction of pesticides (60%) or massive investment in public transportation (57%). However, decisions that involve changes in individual behavior, such as increasing taxes to reduce personal vehicle use, are well received in only 21% of cases.

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Seven out of 10 Europeans believe their country takes in too many immigrants - EL PAS USA

The European Union Commission issued a statement Monday announcing they will end six years of rule of law proceedings brought against Poland. President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, in what she called a culmination of Polands diligent work and unwavering commitment to reform.

The Commission initiated proceedings under Article 7 of the European Union Treaty against Poland in 2017, which provides mechanisms to address violations of EU values by member states. The Article 7 procedure involves several stages, including an acknowledgment of the breaches within a state, recognition of the serious nature of the breach from all other governments and, finally, a vote on sanctions. The procedure was initiated against Poland in 2017,when it was under the Law and Justice (PiS) government. The PiS government had brought in a number of reforms, including restructuring of the courts, ending the mandate of sitting judges prematurely and favouring appointees that were friendly to the ruling party. This led to allegations that the PiS were acting in an unlawful manner, and the EU Commission argued that the moves compromised the separation of powers and entailed serious hindrances to the application of EU law.

Since his election in 2023, Tusk has promised to restore legal order and worked to improve relations with Brussels, including the creation of an action plan of nine proposed laws to reinstate judicial independence, as well as commitments to comply with rulings from the European Court of Justice. By February, the EU Commission had unblocked 137 billion that had previously been denied to Poland.

The Polish government welcomed the announcement, with Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar stating on X that Poland is [consequently] bringing back rule of law. We are determined and devoted to our common European [values].

President Von der Leyen said:

Today, marks a new chapter for Poland I congratulate Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government on this important breakthrough. It is the result of their hard work and determined reform efforts. The ongoing restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our Union as a whole. It is a testament to the resilience of the rule of law and democracy in Europe.

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EU Commission ends rule of law proceedings against Poland after six years - JURIST