EU needs to be more competitive, focus on future technologies: Trade commissioner

ATHENS

The EU needs to be more competitive and hence focus on future technologies, the bloc's commissioner for trade and economic security on Thursday.

During a discussion on projection of European power at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Maroc Sefkovic said “we have to make sure we don’t outsource the development.”

Maintaining that the world is now entering a period that traditional negotiations, pacts and alliances will be tested, he emphasized that the EU needs to stay and act even more united to deal with the contemporary challenges.

Mentioning free trade deals recently concluded with Mexico and Switzerland as well negotiations in this direction with India, Malaysia and others, Sefkovic argued that the union remains a biggest trade bloc and fair, credible and predicable actor in global commerce.

Also speaking at the discussion, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan drew attention to the improving relations with the union, negotiations for visa liberalization agreement, European Peace Facility, European Monitoring Mission and advanced partnership program.

“When you are democracy, you want to be close to mainstream democracy,” he said.

Pashinyan recalled the negotiations with Türkiye to open the borders and full normalization in general and peace treaty with Azerbaijan.

This would contribute to prosperity of the EU by allowing undisrupted trade routes to the east, he said.