Anti-coercion instrument: the European Union assumes its trade power and acquires an effective deterrent against potential blackmail from third countries

Renew Europe welcomes today’s provisional political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the anti-coercion instrument. This new element of our trade toolbox originates in great part thanks to the work of MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne on the EU Trade Enforcement Regulation. The European Union continues to assert its open strategic autonomy and to assume its trade power in an uncertain global context.

With this instrument, the European Union will be able to respond to coercive measures from third countries whose aim is to interfere with the interests of the EU and its Member States, as China did recently with Lithuania. Dialogue will continue to be the key to finding solutions with the third countries behind such measures. However, in case of failure, the European Union cannot remain helpless and must be able to take countermeasures.

Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (L'Europe Ensemble, France), Renew Europe MEP and shadow rapporteur on this dossier said:

"With today's agreement on the anti-coercion instrument, the European Union is strengthening itself and asserting its open strategic autonomy in an uncertain global context. We have and will continue to advocate dialogue with our partners. However, the EU must be able to defend its interests and it will now have an effective deterrent against blackmail by third countries. This is a victory for the EU, the Parliament and the Renew Europe group which has been carrying this demand for many years, in particular through the Enforcement Regulation that I had pushed for".