Thursday, 8 December 2011
Summit
Summit prep is underway, the trickle of press and officials this morning will become a flood this afternoon. Genteel lounge lamps at the work stations, Martha Stewart must be here...
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Bad Russia, Bad, Bad Russia, Stop That Right Now!
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today: "The High Representative expresses concern about the detention of hundreds of protesters demonstrating after Sunday's Duma elections, and about reports of police violence against activists, journalists and bystanders. She recalls the need to respect freedom of assembly and expression. The High Representative also reiterates her support for the work of the OSCE / ODIHR election observation mission and its preliminary assessment, and expects Russian authorities to act on their findings."
Well, that's nice. Hopefully the EU won't use the same overwhelming insults it dropped on the Ukranian thugs when they conveniently imprisoned Tymoshenko... yes, the same Tymoshenko the E.Parliament, Council and Commission were all so sure would be released within days of her sentencing. Next time, MEPs might like to keep their Foreign Minister entertained in the Parliament's Mickey Mouse Cafe (this is it's real name...) for a month or two?
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
EPC EU-Brazil Post-Summit Briefing
I’ll start with a confession. I didn’t stay
for the whole event, there was a conference on Catalan SME strategy across the
street, it needed going to. Had there not been a Catalan SME conference across
the street, I would have been tempted to cross the street anyway; I don’t do “can’t
do” capitalism.
The Brussels-based European Policy Centre is a noble enterprise;
they bring together great minds and deep experience. The EU-Brazil Business
Summit, Post-Summit Briefing was as snappy as its title, and there was no
coffee beforehand to keep pulses racing. The panellists were thoughtful, and
their points were based on experience; but in an age when viable export
opportunities are limited and every open market should be embraced, the panel
just weren’t showing Brazil the love it deserves.
Put simply, the panel weren’t
American. They were largely Northern European, and oozing all the enthusiasm for
change that a Saville Row tailor can muster for Mumbai sweat-shop factory
fabrics. “Brazil,” went the sentiment, “if only they would fix everything
first, then we could do business.”
The reality check came from Embraer’s
President for Europe, Luiz Fernando Fuchs. Fuchs took the American approach and
used the occasion to showcase his company, his products, and their incredible journey
from corporate basket-case to quality-driven, ambitious, aircraft manufacturer.
Thanks Luiz, you made my morning!
The complaints from the panel went along the
lines of: the tax system, Brazil’s tax system, oh, the tax system…. Enough.
Hire smarter people. Work the system. If you don’t, the Brazilians will, the
Chinese will, the Indians will. They are more American.
Can do? Yes. Can do better Europe. Stretch or
starve.
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