It’s the 48th Edition of Brussels Brief* and we are back with transatlantic dandruff, self relections and Brexit apps (for Android only).

Appeasement. When Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain came back with a piece of paper form Adolf Hitler with a promise of peace and cooperation, those who were cynical were well-prepared for what was to come. In the modern era, appeasement much like warfare, is much more subtle and less obvious. Think Russian cyber-warfare and interference with western elections and then think German willingness to carry on with a gas pipeline. Then think Viktor Orban’s assault on the free media, civil society, and weakening EU institutions in Hungary and then the flagrant support of the EPP for its Hungarian contingent, Orban’s party. Then there’s Emmanuel Macron who is in the US galavanting with a US president that (aside from his historically obvious defects) threatens a trade war with the EU, supported Brexit and fans the flames of populism, but is being used as a pawn in Trump’s game. If Kim Kardashian (bet that got your attention) can see through the tactics of strongmen then so should the leaders of the European project. It’s time to get tough with the tough guys. If only appeasement wasn’t so appeasing.

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Collated and Curated over ‘Le Mellotron 24/7’ and a cup of hot something ☕ in Brussels Brief HQ.

“I like him a lot”

- Donald Trump

US President, air kisser-in-chief and fellow liker of French President Emmanuel Macron.

🔝 FRONT PAGE — Top News This Week

The Trump Whisperer. A handshake here, a kiss there (video), a bit of dandruff everywhere. In the first state visit under the Trump presidency, the US welcomed French President with all the pomp and circumstance expected of veritable protocolediplomatique. Luckily there were no burgers on the menu as the visit began with a dinner preceded by some tree planting and followed by some tough talk on Iran. Part of Macron’s visit raison d’etre was to convince Trump, the way only he can, of the importance of keeping the Iran nuclear deal in place. The EU has been warning Trump on this issue for a while, but only can Cousin Manu speak and shake the Donald. However it’s not all roses in the bromance, after a joint press conference where he lavished praise on the special US-French relationship, he duly went down Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill, where he addressed Congress on an anti-nationalism spiel that was seen to ‘throw shade’ on his gracious orange host. Whatever love is lost between the two leaders both know that their partnership is mutually vital. Trump needs to be seen by his less fanatical supporters that he can garner international support from someone moderate, and Macron can use his domestication of Trump to get one over on Angela Merkel as the EU’s voice with regard to the US and hence the rest of the world. No egos were hurt in the making of this visit. [The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Quartz, Washington Post, Euronews, The New Yorker, Reuters]

Balkan traffic. Balkanisation is traditionally a word used to describe separation and partition and not without reason. The nineties saw some of the bloodiest violence that Europe has experienced since WWII but now a tide has turned after a mutual charm offensive from the EU and several Balkan countries. On one side there are countries such as Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia that want EU membership and on the other side, the EU wants to include these in the club before Russia does. So much so that this week EU Council President Donald Tusk gave the strongest indications yet that their membership is in the pipeline with talks due at a summit in Bulgaria next month. However, Tusk will have to compete with Commission President Juncker’s previous assurances of accession by 2025. But it won’t be an easy ride for the diverging interests of the countries in question. All have had bilateral talks with the EU on and off in the past few years and issues, with current member states, such as the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece and the fact that Emmanuel MAcron is against expansion until there is reform. [PBS Newshour, Washington Post, Reuters, Euronews, RFERL]

💸 ITS THE ECONOMY, STUPID — Top Economic, Trade and Innovation News

Trade, tariffs and tacos. While Cousin Manu enchanted the US Congress with his oratorical skills, and included a few jabs at US protectionism the world kept moving. With the US distracted over continued battles with…everyone over global trade a continuing delicate balancing act is playing out as the Commission is seeking to be a neutral arbiter between the US and China, all while keeping the Trump-tariffs on steel and aluminium at bay while the other foot rest on the trade-speeder. Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström just closed a trade deal with Mexico finishing her three sided barter-sandwich which started out with Canada, followed by Japan and now finishing off with Mexico, having completely encircled the US while the Donald was distracted. The UK, not so easily distracted by dandruff and trees, is, ironically,now openly wondering if it can join the trade deal… post-Brexit. [Vox, Voice of America, Politico Europe, The Independent]

Sour music to delicate ears. The usual suspects in the tech industry has had it rough in recent years. After the rip Facebook got last week time has, yet again, come to Apple over what initially seems like a minor issue: buying music recognition app Shazam. In the age of data Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is concerned that Apple can use the acquisition of the app to gain further dominance over European ears and consolidate its market dominance. For now the biggest impact is the continued focus on role of tech companies in the modern economy, and of course who will be the next Avicii. [BBC News, Fortune, The New York Times]

🇬🇧 STATE OF THE (DIS)UNION — Brexit Stories

Customs, apps, and piracy: A Brexit roundup. Everything under the sun is affected by and will not work. As the UK government keeps its quixotic confidence on finding a solution for the Irish border the EU paints the reddest of red lines as to the insufficiency of the UK’s solution and the primacy of the importance of the border. A simple solution to the issue could be to remain in the Customs union (video), an idea that even entertained, will bring the wrath of the Brexit wing of Theresa May’s Tory party to scream and turn against her. Her party isn’t the only one to turn against her. The House of Lords voted on Monday by a vast majority to maintain the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as part of UK law. Also, the nurses are leaving in droves, and an information app designed to inform EU citizens living in the UK about their rights post-Brexit is Android only. Even piracy (or the prevention of it), a tradition for which Britain has long ruled the waves risks being lost to none other than Spain in a bout of terrible historical irony that only modern Brexit can bring. Is ‘cloud cuckoo land’ StopBrexit a possibility? [BBC News, The Guardian, Euractiv, The Independent, Associated Press, New York Times]

25%

The percentage of work left to reach an agreement for an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU, according to Michel Barnier.

🏢 BRUXELLES MA BELLE — News about the city

Without parole. The saga surrounding fugitive Salah Abdesalam has come to a fore…for now The Belgian born national accused of being the only survivor of a group of terrorists that committed the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels in 2016 has been convicted in a Brussels court to 20 years in prison. The conviction comes as a result of a shootout that Abdesalam had with police when he was captured after fleeing to back to Belgium after the Paris attack. This trial had given hope to some of the victims’ families in that they might learn the reason for the attacks but the convict’s silence may have something to do with the fact that he is currently being held in France for his role in those attacks. [Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Euronews]

Dough factory. Like Kanye, we’re not saying you a golddigger, but make sure you’re getting paid your fair share. According to a study by Vacature and Leuven University, in 2017 the average wage in Belgium was calculated at €3,401 per month before tax, around €2,000–2,200 per month after tax.The minimum wage is one of the best in Europe at €1,590 coming behind only to Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Interns also have some benefits in Belgium, with a minimum of 751 that should be paid but this is flouted by even some of the biggest companies. Of course, if you’re a Eurocrat in one of the gilded cages around Brussels, you don’t have to worry about that thing called tax and you even have a handy salary calculator to make sure you’re keeping up with the Jones’ / Mullers / Martins / Rossi’s of the eurobubble. [Expatica, EU Training, The Independent]

BONUS: Dirty poor and congested. According to a survey by the bulletin the vast majority of expats in Brussels complain about crazy traffic, dirty streets and seeing too many homeless. See more cheery results here. [The Bulletin]

✂️ EXTRA — From The Cutting Room Floor

Mr. Zuckerberg, open up this highway. Keen observers of news in recent months have not gone by unaware that data is the new black. While the US is reluctant to embrace new regulation and EU regulation is aiming at preventing abuse small-nations, big tech-players Estonia and Finland have unfolded a new initiative; X-road, asafe digital highway promising no digital casualties relieving data-jams. The new system will allow for sensitive information, like taxation or medical information to easily be shared across borders making without the risk of foreign (Russian) interference. The new system is in principle open for other countries to join but for now, the freedom of information between the two countries have torn down the final Berlin Wall in Europe. [Bloomberg]

Dark money, dark secrets. The migration crisis hitting European shores in recent years has resulted in a solution process that can, at best, be described as improvisational and willfully ignorant at worst. One such darker side of the EU’s attempts at curbing migration flows to Europe has been side payments to Turkey, but also to other partners including the Sudanese authorities including the secret police, not a newcomer to “enhanced interrogation”. Although denying any direct involvement and claiming to only conduct the cooperative operation with immigration authorities, the facts on the ground speak a clearly different language even going so far as the Sudanese security forces profiting from smuggling migrants into Europe. Transparency is all the rage these days in EU circles, time to self-assess. [The New York Times]

BONUS: Got that Shazam ready? With the recent spell of sunshine hitting Europe summer suddenly seemed a lot closer, and summertime means festivals. Get your gear and Interrail pass ready for a summer of festivals from Boomtown to Bergen. [Wired]

💡 OPINION — Top minds muse on the European project

10 steps to dominate my democracy. The European Union has long prided itself on being a guarantor of democracy and human rights around the world but now the time has come to do a bit of house cleaning. Although he secured less than half of the votes in the recent parliamentary election on April 8. Victor Orban, the EU’s very own dictator, and his party got more than two-thirds of all parliamentary seats through some skilful manipulation and unfair play according to David Koranyi and Chris Maroshegyi. Labelled as unfair by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (the OSCE), rampant cronyism seeing long-time friends of Mr. Orban enriching themselves, it is time for the European Commission and the European Parliament to get serious with Mr. Orban who seems happy enough with EU infrastructure funds coming his way but less so when having to respect European values. Most Hungarians voted to get rid of Mr. Orban. The EU should remember that. [Euronews, European Council on Foreign Relations]

🎧 PRESS PLAY — Media Corner

🔊 Podcast of the Week. Get a reporter and an Opera singer together and you just might have the secret to podcasting success. Young podcast ‘The Europeans’ is hot on the scene and nominated for a Charlemagne Youth Prize. [The Europeans]

🎥 Video(s) of the Week. What’s the deal with Sweden? When last year Donald Trump invented a terrorist attack as a way to highlight an immigrant problem there, everyone shook their head in disbelief at even the thought of violence in the idyllic Scandinavian country. Fast forward to 2018 and upcoming elections a recent spike in street violence has had some in the country asking whether immigration is linked to it. [The Independent, BBC Newsnight]

✏️ Cartoon(s) of the Week. Earth Day, Macron and Merkel, Europe in need of renovation [Cagle.com]

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