What happened in the EU in February 2020?
Brexit
As written in the previous newsletter, we're not done with Brexit. The British Prime Minister has a larger majority in his Parliament now, so he has more power. This will affect the negotiations, for example on who is allowed to fish around the coast of the UK.
When the UK decided to get its new passports (blue, not the EU colour anymore) made in Poland, many Brexit critics laughed. It's just one of these anecdotes you'll be hearing in the coming months.
Face recognition in the EU?
According to the Intercept, the police in the EU might get access to all the faces saved in the each other's databases. Now, they can only check each other's fingerprints and DNA.
Climate hypocrisy
It's the Commission's priority to tackle the climate. For example, it is thinking of raising a tax on the consumption of meat. Now, the European Parliament agreed with a proposal of the Commission to give a lot of money to gas infrastructure projects, which are not considered to be good for the climate.
Trade
Not only is the EU preparing itself for a trade agreement with the UK, it's also using it as a tool to influence other countries. Vietnam made a few reforms over the years, and will now be allowed to trade with the EU almost for free. So when a Vietnamese car producer wants to sell their car in the EU, it won't pay taxes at the border.
Recommended readings:
- The Spectator: Polarisation in the EU
- The Guardian: Climate and gas
- The Guardian: Fisheries and Brexit
- Reuters: Trade in South East Asia
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