António Cotrim / Lusa
The former Minister of Finance, Maria Luís Albuquerque
To avoid espionage: European Commission believes that there is a risk of Russian or Chinese surveillance and replied measures put into practice on travel to Ukraine and China. However, Trump’s “Trojan Horse” visits his friend in the US.
The European Commission has provided disposable mobile phones and basic portable computers to some responsible for the United States, including the Portuguese European Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerqueto avoid the risk of espionagereported the newspaper.
Commissioners and senior European employees scheduled to travel to spring meetings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank next week received these new guidelines, according to four people linked to the lawsuit mentioned on Monday by the British newspaper. According to these sources, the Measures replicate those used on trips to Ukraine and Chinawhere standard computer equipment cannot be taken to countries for fear of Russian or Chinese surveillance.
“They are concerned about the possibility of the US entering the commission systems,” said one of the sources.
Turn off the mobile phones and put them on special covers
US President Donald Trump accused the European Union (EU) of being created to “harm the US” and announced 20% reciprocal tariffs on block exports, which later reduced to half over a period of 90 days. Brussels and Washington are involved in Delicate negotiations in several areas where It would be convenient for each of the sides to collect information about the otheralso mentioned the Financial Times.
SEFCOVIC, the EU Commerce Commissioner, held a meeting with the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick in Washington, in an effort to solve a growing trade war.
Three commissioners will travel to Washington for the IMF and World Bank meetings from April 21 to 26: Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner of the Economy; Maria Luís Albuquerque, Financial Services Commissioner and Union of Savings and Investments; and Jozef Sikela, who deals with development assistance.
The commission has confirmed that it has recently updated its security board to the US, but said no specific instruction on the use of disposable phones was given in writing, according to the Economic Journal.
The sources cited by the newspaper also said that guidance for all those traveling to the US included a recommendation that They should turn off personal mobile phones on the border and place them on special covers to protect them from espionage if left without supervision.
The almost impossible mission of Meloni
Giorgia Meloni
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Melonithis week seeks to assume themselves as the intermediary between the EU and the United States in the middle of business war, with a visit to the White House immediately followed by a reception to the US Vice President.
The leader of the right and far-right government of Italy and the Post-Fascist Party Brothers of Italy, and near Trump -He was the only head of government of the EU to be present in his inauguration last January-performs an official work visit ”to Washington on Thursday, immediately returning to Roma to receive Vice President Jd Vance on Friday.
The same period of tariffs has opened a diplomatic and negotiating window that the Italian Prime Minister-the first European leader to meet Trump since the ‘pause’ announcement at rates-wants to enjoy it.
However, many analysts consider that Meloni faces a almost impossible missionand its trip to the White House is looked with reservations by some European partners, with France on the head, and severely criticized by the Italian opposition, which accuses the Prime Minister of being Trump’s “The Trojan Horse” and the magnate Elon Musk – who is also very close – within the European bloc.
“If we start having bilateral conversations, this dynamic [de unidade europeia] which is present at this moment will eventually break. It is a risk that has been present from the beginning, because we know that Donald Trump has a very clear and simple strategy: dividing Europeans. Given this risk, we have to be united, because Europe is strong only if it is united, ”French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci recently commented.
European diplomatic sources consider that the visit is not problematic as long as Meloni is not limited to conveying his national message, but also “the official EU line.”
Criticism of Meloni’s travel to Washington are rebutted by the Italian government, with sources from the Prime Minister’s office to ensure that it “does not go to Washington to undermine European process, but to use its good relationship [com Trump] to help facilitate European negotiation. ”
The European trumps that Meloni takes
As negotiations, Giorgia Meloni should show opening in Washington to a Increased purchase of liquefied natural gas United States by Europeans, as well as support to the idea that a substantial part of the funds funded with European debt to Joint Purchase of Military Equipment by several countries is intended for the US.
Several analysts point out the proximity between them, even at the ideological level, but point out that the Italian Prime Minister will allegedly represent the interests of the EU, a block that Trump repeatedly broken.
Although officially the Community Block supports Meloni’s initiative, with the traditional argument that all diplomatic efforts to avoid climbing the trade war are welcome, Brussels and ‘heavyweights’ such as France and Germany refuse to be on the sidelines of Washington and will follow the developments of this bilateral meeting.
On Monday, a European Commission spokesman, noting that the negotiation of commercial agreements is the exclusive competence of the community executive, but maintaining that all contacts are welcome, ensured that President Ursula Von Der Leyen has been in “regular contact” with Meloni in relation to this mission.
