THE Irish Sun sat down with European Commissioner Michael McGrath in his office in the Berlaymont building in Brussels last week.
The ex-Irish Finance Minister was last year given the Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law portfolio by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen[/caption]
Proposals will be taken forward next year to help protect consumer rights in an online environment[/caption]
The wide-ranging brief sees him deal with everything from gangland crime, consumer protection to cracking down on social media influencers.
At the same time, the Commission is dealing with a trade dispute with the US as well the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Here, Michael McGrath gives The Irish Sun’s Head of Content, Mark May, his assessment of some of the current issues facing Ireland and the EU.
ON TARIFFS
AN agreement is needed as soon as possible and we’re doing everything we can to get one. The US side is very clear on what the EU position is, what our expectations are.
We are a trusted partner, a very reliable partner. US trade is beneficial for European companies and US companies.
Businesses crave certainty, predictability and stability and we want that as quickly as possible.
Negotiating comprehensive trade agreements or settlements can take a long time.
So it may not be possible to have a level of detail that you would normally have in a trade agreement completed by July 9, but hopefully we can have the outline of an agreement that can provide the stability we need.
ON OTHER MARKETS
WE are finding the EU is being reached out to increasingly by countries all over the world who view us as a reliable partner, a tough negotiator but one that honours deals once they are made.
Others want that certainty so we are in negotiations with a number of countries in Asia Pacific.
We are always expanding the network of trade agreements we have.
It’s in the region of 44 trading agreements with about 76 countries and we are confident that will be extended.
It’s not possible to replace the US as a trading partner nor is that the objective.
But we also have to look at opportunities elsewhere and we’re pursuing every option.
ON BIG TECH
THE Digital Services Act is our digital rule book. There are various actions underway against companies in areas such as product safety, consumer protection law, child protection and the protection of electoral integrity.
So we defend the DSA as vital for our overall architecture of the digital space and we continue to uphold and apply it without fear or favour.
It doesn’t just apply to American companies (as has been claimed by the Trump administration), it applies to European and Asian companies as well, and we continue to apply in an objective and fair ended manner.
The DSA does not target companies from any particular country. It is equally applied.
We reserve the right to set legislation in the European Union and to apply it in an objective and even-handed manner.
ON GAZA
WE need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We need the full restoration of access for humanitarian aid, including by the international organization. We also need the release of all the hostages by Hamas.
What we are witnessing in Gaza is abhorrent and it is untenable. The international community has to work together to find a solution.
We need an urgent ceasefire and we need the trucks that are waiting at the border to be allowed to enter Gaza.
It is unconscionable that we are watching scenes of children who are clearly malnourished and emaciated while thousands of trucks of food and medicine are waiting at the border.
Israel needs to allow those trucks into Gaza so that lives can be saved.
ON THE ECONOMY
I KNOW from my previous role there are a range of economic forecasts published by member states, including by the Irish government, which is forecasting continued growth, for the economy.
Similarly we recently had the commission forecasts for the European economy which are predict growth.
We would like it to be higher growth and that’s why we are a very serious around the competitiveness agenda.
The issues of trade have been to the fore and are complex and changing, but there are levers that are within our control and that is maximizing the potential of the EU single market.
Although a recession is not forecast, you never know what can happen with an economic shock. But maximizing the potential in the market is largely within the control of the EU and its members.
ON DYNAMIC PRICING
I WILL be developing the Digital Fairness Act. We will bring forward proposals next year to help protect consumer rights in an online environment and also focus on the protection of minors.
It will look at issues such as addictive design, dark patterns, the role of social media influencers, and child protection issues in the context of certain video games.
MEPs have raised the issue of dynamic pricing and we have given a commitment that we will examine it.
It doesn’t mean it was necessarily lead need to a ban but, at a minimum, more information is needed for consumers joining a queue to buy concert tickets.
European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath has vowed to develop the Digital Fairness Act[/caption]
