‘Totally unfair’ that EU international locations earning money on vitality crunch: Former EU commissioner Breton – Talking Europe | EUROtoday

Breton is a former minister for the financial system, finance and business in France, and a distinguished commentator on political and financial issues.

He says he “strongly believes” that an settlement can be discovered between the US and Iran, and that this can be in Europe’s curiosity “especially because of what we see in terms of gasoline prices”.

“I say that it is totally unfair that EU member states are making money on the increase in energy prices, as most of them have a value-added tax (VAT) on that,” Breton says, declaring that the rise in costs “is artificial”.

He goes on: “They (member states) have to give back the additional money that they make, and especially for those who need the most support and help. We can think about farmers, we can think about truck drivers, we can think about anyone who is directly impacted.”

Asked about Peter Magyar’s beautiful victory within the Hungarian election – and the ouster of Viktor Orban – Breton emphasises Magyar’s dedication to restoring the rule of legislation in Hungary.

“The rule of law was a big, big, issue,” Breton remarks. “The former administration under Viktor Orban did not respect the rule of law. So the good news is that Peter Magyar is willing to change this. For us, what is important is that all member states follow our rule of law, because this is what makes us stronger together, and it is definitely the core of our project.”

On the journey ban issued in opposition to him by the US authorities, Breton says: “What I understand is that I have, unfortunately, been banned or designated as the mastermind behind the Digital Services Act. You know, I just did my job. What I did was not against anyone. It’s not against China, it’s not against Singapore, it’s not against the US. This is the same for everyone. By the way, the digital act has been voted at 90 percent by our MEPs. It has been voted by 27 countries. This is not about Thierry Breton. This is about Europe. So I understand that behind my case it’s Europe, of course, which is being targeted. And I really hope that we will come back to normality because there is a huge misunderstanding about what we have done together in our own European digital space.”

This version of Talking Europe additionally incorporates a report from FRANCE 24’s Clovis Casali on the aftermath of the momentous parliamentary election in Hungary.

Programme ready by Oihana Almandoz, Aline Bottin, Isabelle Romero and Perrine Desplats