Welcome to EU Tweets of the Week. This week, Google hit with massive fine, Japan and EU sign on the line and Trump-Europe relationship in serious decline.
On Wednesday Europe’s own Auntie Trust, Margrethe Vestager slapped Google with a €4,34 billion fine for abuses involving its Android mobile phone operating system.
Fine of €4,34 bn to @Google for 3 types of illegal restrictions on the use of Android. In this way it has cemented the dominance of its search engine. Denying rivals a chance to innovate and compete on the merits. It’s illegal under EU antitrust rules. @Google now has to stop it
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) July 18, 2018
American EU Dude asked “Does Android Scheme of Electric Search?”
“Does Android Scheme of Electronic Search?” https://t.co/IliACpMr3F
— American EU Dude (@AmericanEUDude) July 18, 2018
Danny Kemp noted that Google has beaten… Google to take the new record for an EU anti-trust fine.
Google has beaten… Google to take the new record for an EU anti-trust fine
— Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) July 18, 2018
Eric Maurice learned how to stand firm when interviewing a commissioner who slaps €4.3bn fines from reporter Ole Ryborg!
How to stand firm when interviewing a commissioner who slaps €4.3bn fines, by @OleRyborg! pic.twitter.com/WM4mlq9TVX
— Eric Maurice (@er1cmau) July 18, 2018
Lewis Croft noted that when asked, Vestager confirmed she is a woman and works with tax.
.@vestager confirms she is a woman and works with tax.
— Lewis Crofts (@lewis_crofts) July 18, 2018
Nick Gutteridge said When she’s finished talking I fully intend to ask a question about the variety of products in Brussels’ vending machines and what this tells us about EU competition law.
When she's finished talking I fully intend to ask a question about the variety of products in Brussels' vending machines and what this tells us about EU competition law.
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) July 18, 2018
And Craig Winneker had to Google Bing.
Just had to Google Bing pic.twitter.com/x9ypx4yL6M
— Craig Winneker (@CraigWinneker) July 18, 2018
International Trade Department of the EU tweeted this AWESOME gif to announce they’ve signed the Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, the biggest-ever EU trade deal.
🇪🇺🇯🇵 We've signed the Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, the biggest-ever #EUtrade deal creating an open trade zone of 600+ million people. 😄🎉
📸🏯 The signing ceremony in Tokyo.👉 https://t.co/lo4uidUdMR
🤓🔎 See what's inside the deal.👉 https://t.co/rg0viAQXcR pic.twitter.com/x1sK7hjFrd— EU Trade 🇪🇺 (@Trade_EU) July 17, 2018
Jean-Claude Juncker and PM Abe Shinzo also announced reciprocal data adequacy. “We are shaping global standards and upholding the fundamental right of data protection,” said Juncker.
With PM @AbeShinzo, we have just concluded negotiations on reciprocal #data adequacy. The #EU and #Japan will create the world’s largest area of safe data flows. We are shaping global standards and upholding the fundamental right of #dataProtection.” https://t.co/lqfKUeELul pic.twitter.com/CcIOQJrV4M
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) July 17, 2018
Omer Tene praised the deal but added the center of the data privacy world is shifting ever further from the US. Time for Washington to act.
With the EU and Japan agreeing on mutual #adequacy, the center of gravity of the data #privacy world is shifting ever further from the US. Time for Washington to act. Congrats to privacy friends in Brussels and Tokyo! @VeraJourova @BrunoGencarelli https://t.co/r2pN0oCnYn
— Omer Tene (@omertene) July 17, 2018
Shehab Khan pointed out that the UK is walking away from one of the largest free trade deals in history covering nearly 1/3 of the world’s GDP.
So as the EU and Japan sign one of the largest free trade deals in history which covers nearly 1/3 of the world’s GDP, the UK is walking away and being told by the US that a trade deal seems unlikely….
— Shehab Khan (@ShehabKhan) July 18, 2018
While John Clark highlighted the textual differences with this stark image.
On the left, a full copy of the recently signed #EUJapan Economic Partnership Agreement, on the right the UK #WhitePaper.#BrexitChaos #BrexitReality #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/3nnEb82LPc
— 🇪🇺John Clark 🇪🇺 (@CivisEuropeae) July 17, 2018
Finally it’s Europe versus President Donald Trump this week as thousands of people gathered to protest his arrivals in London and Helsinki.
Ana Navarro noted that Trump got a bigger crowd to protest him on foreign soil, than the one he got to attend his inauguration in America.
Trump got a bigger crowd to protest him on foreign soil, than the one he got to attend his inauguration in America.
Oh, and he got a giant Trump is a Baby balloon too. https://t.co/3acpLDwoIY
— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) July 13, 2018
Mika Brzezinski loved that the Trump baby balloon even had Little hands holding a cell phone. Talk about art imitating life.
The Trump baby balloon even has Little hands holding a cell phone. Talk about art imitating life. A big blown up baby in diapers holding a cell phone! Wow the Brits are not holding back on their feelings.
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) July 13, 2018
Yup the Brits were not holding back.
Peter Grant pointed out that if you’re offended by the Trump baby balloon but you weren’t offended when Trump mockingly impersonated someone with Cerebral Palsy, you really do need to take a long hard look in the mirror.
Can I just say that if you're offended by the Trump baby balloon but you weren't offended when Trump mockingly impersonated someone with Cerebral Palsy at one of his rallies, you really do need to take a long hard look in the mirror.
— Peter Grant MP (@PeterGrantMP) July 13, 2018
Comedian Frankie Boyle thinks Trump supporters pretty angry about this giant baby balloon, probably because it’s not in a cage.
Trump supporters pretty angry about this giant baby balloon, probably because it’s not in a cage
— Frankie Boyle (@frankieboyle) July 12, 2018
Richard Engel noted that a common theme at London protests was Putin controlling Trump.. and this was before Finland meeting.
A common theme at London protests was Putin controlling Trump.. and this was before Finland meeting pic.twitter.com/dBsrgw9KlP
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) July 18, 2018
And of course thousands protested in Helsinki as well as Sampo Sauri reported.
Thousands protest against Trump and Putin in sunny Helsinki. #HelsinkiCalling #HELSINKI2018 #HelsinkiForHumanRights pic.twitter.com/mtv6xGw2F5
— Sampo Sauri (@samposauri) July 15, 2018
And the blimp image made another appearance.
Look, who is coming out if the blimp! #Helsinki protest ahead of #Trump #Putin summit pic.twitter.com/r0WW8p7b5b
— Bernd Thomas Riegert (@RiegertBernd) July 15, 2018
But despite everything, Donald Tusk stresses that America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.
America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 15, 2018
This week we are supported by Acumen Public Affairs. Check out their timeline for preparation ahead of the EU elections next year @AcumenPA.
It might seem quiet as we're winding down for summer, but there's much more to come. Is your organisation ready for the EU institutional changeover? 🇪🇺🗳️#EUelections2019 pic.twitter.com/OP9ZRhD09W
— acumen public affairs (@AcumenPA) July 19, 2018
And that’s it for this week. Join guest host Haley Broughton next week for more protests and bro-fests in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere. And I’m back again in September – happy holidays.