Vincent Oehme

Freedom (dis)stands under pressure: Systematise Europeans independence and power

Regarding the last centuries we must admit that China does play an important role on the international stage. The People's Republic of China has experienced unprecedented economic growth worldwide. On a financially and economically basis, did China grown to the second largest trade partners of the EU. Thanks to the stabile and lawful Framework conditions, Europe is nowadays on of the most important markets for foreign direct investments from Chinese companies. China is also building up a political and military presence in the region. Therefore, does the politically, economically, and socially development of China plays an important Role for the EU.

Much more so, the project of the century, the "New Silk Road", has the ambition, in addition to strengthening global and economic influence, to give the political system of the People's Republic of China worldwide recognition in all its facets and with all its values. With the Belt and Road Initiative, the People's Republic of China is claiming to challenge the global canon of values of democracy, the market economy, and the rule of law for the first time since the end of the Cold War - sooner or later, Europe will have to face up to this systemic competition.

We state that the European Union has not provided an adequate, let alone comprehensive, response to the demands of the People's Republic of China. However, if we want to continue to strengthen the liberal world with democracy, a market economy and the rule of law, a clear foreign policy stance on the People's Republic of China is necessary.

The focus of the European Union's foreign policy should mainly serve the interests of the members of the Union. European foreign policy must focus on the region where the EU's interests lie, not as support for the USA's foreign policy aims.

What is the problem: The European Union is divided - because of the veto power of some single member states, who can overthrow whole agreements. This is having a negative impact on the decision-making process and the speed that solutions can be found in the European Union. We want to implement a concept where it is enough to reach a majority of member states to agree on specific treatments. 

The Global Gateway Project of the European Union can be seen as a rebranded deal of the already existing gate aid project of the EU and its member states. We cannot compete with the Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese government if we simply continue redirecting aid budgets. Therefore, we present some solutions, with which we can make the Global Gateway project financially, economically, and politically more effective and problem solving. 

When we commit to the solutions of Europe's Gateway Project, we will strengthen Europe's influence in the World. We will create a liberal alternative to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative by providing non dependable, European focused infrastructural projects, for example. Therefore, the EU targets especially the MENA, African, South American and Southeast Asian Region to provide this kind of support.

Microchips are the future

The world depends on the production and distribution of microchips. Taiwan is the leading nation in the production of microchips and thus indispensable for the global economy. China wants to be independent of Taiwanese and US technology and produce the best microchips on the market itself. This has several implications - if China manages to overtake Taiwan in this technology through its resources and technological progress, the island runs the risk of being directly hit by the military ambitions of the People's Republic. This would have massive implications for the European market, which is currently dependent on these resources and microchips. Only the Netherlands can currently be considered a valuable partner in the supply chain of microchip production, through its role in the production of the "printing devices of microchips".

Europe is a technological and innovative powerhouse. For this reason, it is a mystery why there are no inner-European ambitions to participate in the market independently and internationally or to form an active competition. In a "new world order" and in the future, it is of utmost relevance that Europe also becomes an independent market in order to be economically robust in case of crises. This results in the following demands:

- Massive expansion and extensive promotion of intra-European research and innovation in the field of microchip technology.

- Consideration of protectionist measures by the Netherlands. (Under pressure from the USA, they are already not supplying China) We must consider becoming less dependent on other trading partners.

- Promote the creation of critical infrastructure - i.e. production plants and research centres in the field of microchip technology.

- Expanding the exchange of information with Taiwan and the USA regarding research.

- Reduction of tax and bureaucratic hurdles for companies and research centres.

- Creation of offers in the area of "economic benefits" for companies contributing to research and development of microchip technology - creation of a European rewarding business location.

- Safeguarding research data through comprehensive cyber security and secrecy concepts to avoid theft of scientific innovation.

In Mannheim und Europa gehen wir Hand in Hand für eine bessere Zukunft. Unsere Stadt hat sich aktiv an bedeutenden EU-Projekten beteiligt, die zeigen, wie stark unsere Verbindung zu Europa ist. Unter anderem haben wir das Projekt "CODE24" erfolgreich abgeschlossen, das darauf abzielte, die Wirtschafts- und Verkehrswege entlang der TEN-V-Verkehrsachse Nr. 24 zu optimieren. Durch transnationale Zusammenarbeit konnten wir die Infrastruktur verbessern und die Umweltauswirkungen reduzieren.

Auch das Projekt "CASCADE" hat unsere Stadt geprägt. Gemeinsam mit anderen europäischen Städten haben wir Lösungen entwickelt, um Energieeffizienz zu steigern und erneuerbare Energien zu fördern. Aktuell setzen wir uns mit "ANIMA" dafür ein, Zuwanderern aus EU-Ländern eine erfolgreiche Integration zu ermöglichen. Durch gezielte Beratung und Unterstützung helfen wir ihnen, sich in unserer Stadt willkommen zu fühlen und ihr Potenzial zu entfalten. Doch unsere Arbeit ist noch nicht beendet. Wir stehen vor neuen Herausforderungen, sei es im Bereich der Infrastruktur oder der Zuwanderung. Deshalb ist es entscheidend, dass wir uns am 26. Mai an der Europawahl beteiligen und gemeinsam für ein starkes, geeintes Europa einstehen. Gemeinsam für ein starkes Europa. Gemeinsam für Mannheim.