EIAS LATEST

Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Vietnam – The EU’s Yellow Card

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices have been a critical challenge in Southeast Asia due to their environmental impact and related economic losses, resulting in the weakening of coastal communities. Notwithstanding the efforts being taken at the national level, mitigation and addressing the issue has proved to be challenging in Vietnam. The European Union (EU), a crucial trading partner for the country, has been pressuring Vietnam to combat IUU fishing. With the 5th EU inspection approaching in October 2024, Vietnam has been positively ramping up its efforts. What further action needs to be taken to lift the EU’s yellow card? How can the root causes of IUU fishing be addressed and how can the EU effectively provide adequate support in tackling this?

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The EU’s Semiconductor Dilemma: What Does it Take to Regain Strategic Autonomy?

To counter a looming change in balance of global power, the US and the EU have adopted respective de-risking measures, whereby supply chains are diversified and onshored to decrease strategic dependencies against China’s geoeconomic leverage. As China’s semiconductor ecosystem grows more strategic, and US measures more pressing, the EU must wager its position between a democratic ally to Washington and a willing trade partner to Beijing. More importantly, to preserve its technological advantage in the semiconductor industry, the EU needs to regain its strategic autonomy.

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EIAS Newsletter August 2024

As the summer comes to an end and September approaches, we are excited to share our latest publications and upcoming activities with you in the August edition of our EIAS newsletter.

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From Landlocked to Landlinked: Transport Connectivity Development in Lao PDR

In December 2021, after five years of construction work, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) inaugurated its first major high–speed railway line. A feat of technology in a landlocked, mountainous country, the Laos-China railway links the capital Vientiane to the Chinese border in less than three hours. A year and a half later, in April 2022, the section was extended by almost 1,000 km to connect the Laotian capital with Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southern China. Designed to open up the country economically to its partners in Southeast Asia, this railway line is shaping the future of Laos as a country at the confluence of many regional and international influences.

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Reassessing Dependencies: The EU’s Path to De-Risking in Light of China’s Industrial Ambitions

China’s industrial policies are reshaping global trade dynamics, prompting the European Union (EU) to reassess its approach towards risk mitigation. As China strengthens its domestic supply market, particularly in high-tech and renewable energy sectors, EU policymakers are progressively facing pressure to decrease their reliance on China in sectors like critical minerals, magnesium and lithium. Amidst rising geopolitical tension and increasingly proactive action towards addressing the climate crisis, industrial policies have moved to the forefront and have gained traction worldwide, exerting significant influence on the international market. As a consequence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the concept of ‘de-risking’, which has emerged as a major term among policymakers. The approach underscores the imperative for enhanced understanding, communication and common agreement between China and the EU to foster fair competition globally.

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