Why do countries see a downside to the EU's green trade ambitions?

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Good morning. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Cyprus today to announce a sea aid corridor for Gaza in cooperation with the United States.

Today, my colleagues outline demands to scale back the EU's climate ambitions abroad, and our correspondent in Athens explains why private universities are the subject of so much debate in Greece.

Crossing the line (green).

Has the European Union gone too far in imposing its green agenda on the rest of the world through trade?

According to Holland, yes, write Andy Bounds and Alice Hancock.

Context: The European Union has passed a series of measures to incentivize trading partners to become more climate friendly, as part of a push for “open, sustainable and assertive” trade and to level the playing field with its companies, which are subject to tough sanctions. Climate legislation.

But The Hague says these things alienate developing countries that find their products banned on the EU market.

This “has had a clear impact on the EU’s reputation, international credibility and ability to achieve and deepen partnerships,” says a Dutch paper circulated to other member states and seen by the Financial Times.

“Existing tensions with trading partners also affect the EU's ability to build bridges, including the World Trade Organization,” he adds.

“The EU’s internal and external policies are more closely intertwined than ever before,” the document says.

Ministers and officials from several member states expressed similar concerns at a special World Trade Organization meeting in Abu Dhabi last week. Countries such as India and Malaysia criticized the European Union's policies.

Legislation highlighted by the Dutch includes the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which will tax some carbon imports, due diligence rules affecting supply chains, and the Deforestation Regulation, which bans products from deforested land.

A senior EU official defended the EU's trade measures, saying they were “highly complementary to other sustainability projects” within the bloc.

Tokozile Kassa, South Africa's ambassador to the European Union, said during an event in Brussels on Tuesday that the bloc must do more with its partners on trade policy, respecting their systems and environments rather than imposing its own standards on others.

Within the European Union, some measures have already begun to be rolled back.

EU governments are divided over the controversial due diligence law, which would force companies to take action on human rights and environmental violations in their supply chains.

But a vote on a watered-down version to persuade skeptics in Berlin, Rome and Paris to agree, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed for the time being.

Today's chart: Close

With Sweden finally joining NATO, the Western defense alliance now encircles almost the entire Baltic Sea, an important oil trade route for Russia and home to one of its fleets.

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After months of student protests, the Greek Parliament is preparing to approve a new law that opens the door to private universities in the country, writes Eleni Varvitsioti.

Context: For decades, various governments have tried unsuccessfully to establish private universities in Greece, and failed, as the concept was considered taboo for a long time. Thousands of students protested the latest attempt and occupied the universities.

Education Minister Kyriakos Pirakakis told Parliament yesterday: “Only Greece and Cuba prohibit the establishment of private universities.” He said Greece is losing capital as about 40,000 Greek students travel abroad every year, paying tuition fees to universities in countries such as Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Bulgaria.

The proposed legislation, backed by the centre-right government, aims to attract foreign universities to Greece from 2025. Their branches will adhere to a national examination system and charge tuition fees, but operate within a non-profit structure.

Opponents say this could undermine public universities, many of which already face funding problems, and jeopardize free higher education in the future.

“It is a misconception that introducing it will undermine and deprive public institutions of funds,” said Stella Ladi, an associate professor at Panteeon University in Athens and a professor at Queen Mary University of London.

“It is a long-standing perception and strong political ideologies that exist in parts of the country against private universities,” Ladi said.

Supporters of these changes say private universities could radically change public education, which is often criticized for being slow and old-fashioned.

“This may motivate public universities and the government to allow more flexibility and accelerate the internationalization and modernization of higher education in Greece,” Ladi said.

The bill will be voted on later today, and is expected to be passed.

What are you watching today?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Cyprus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ireland votes in two constitutional referendums, including cutting references to “women's lives within the home”.

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Figures for Russian LNG shipments to the European Union mentioned in yesterday's newsletter were incorrect due to a decimal error. The numbers have been modified in the electronic version.