Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports, including those from Luxembourg’s Arcelor plants Charles Caratini (archives)

Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports, including those from Luxembourg’s Arcelor plants Charles Caratini (archives)

Juncker slams Trump’s steel protectionism

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday said the EU would defend its own interests in response to any tariffs imposed on its steel exports to the United States. He was reacting to the announcement by US president Donald Trump that his administration will impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminium imports as early as next week. “We will not sit idly while our industry is hit with unfair measures that put thousands of European jobs at risk,” Juncker said in a statement. “The EU will react firmly and commensurately to defend our interests.” Alluding to Chinese flooding on steel markets, EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström said that the US “go-it-alone action” was not helping tackle the root cause of the global steel and aluminium sectors, which she says is “global overcapacity caused by non-market based production.”

 

Commission vows to tackle extremist internet content

The European Commission on Thursday called on major internet providers to take steps to stop the proliferation of extremist content on their sites or face the introduction of legislation to make them do so. Reuters reports that the commission has said it would assess the need for legislation within three months for what it described as “terrorist content” and within six months for other types of illegal content. The commission wants internet companies to react within one hour of terrorist content appearing online. European governments have said that extremist content on the web has influenced lone-wolf attackers who have killed people in several European cities after being radicalized. “While several platforms have been removing more illegal content than ever before ... we still need to react faster against terrorist propaganda and other illegal content which is a serious threat to our citizens’ security, safety and fundamental rights,” digital commissioner Andrus Ansip was cited as saying.

 

"Nee" campaigner to stand for ADR?

Our sister publication Paperjam has suggested that Fred Keup, the founder of the “Nee 2015.lu” initiative, will stand as a candidate for the ADR in this October’s elections. Keup was a leading voice against allowing foreigners the vote in national elections in the 2015 referendum. The Nee 2015 initiative has since been renamed the “Wee 2050” and campaigns in defence of the Luxembourg language. He is not yet a member of the ADR and had “no comment” for Paperjam, which has the news from a reliable source. The party will make an official announcement about its candidates on Friday.

 

EP condemns LGBTI conversion therapies

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to condemn the practice of LGBTI conversion therapies. Pink News reports that MEPs voted by 435 to 109, with 70 abstentions, to adopt text calling on member states to outlaw the practice. Sirpa Pietikäinen, vice-president of the Intergroup in LGBTI at the European Parliament, explained that currently only the UK, Malta and some regions in Spain have explicitly banned LGBTI conversion therapies. “Today, for the first time ever, the European Parliament is taking a stance against LGBTI conversion therapies. This report is an example of how the EU can be at the forefront of the fight for fundamental rights.” In another vote, adopted by 422-159 majority, the EP urged the Commission and member states to guarantee freedom of movement for same-sex couples and their families.