EU sets out plans to limit dollar reliance and boost euro

Brussels — The EU has set out plans to strengthen the international role of the euro as it seeks to erode the dominance of the dollar and lessen the bloc’s vulnerability to financial risks, including US sanctions.

The plan includes measures to help protect against currency shocks and allow greater scrutiny of foreign takeovers, according to a draft of the proposal obtained by Bloomberg. The plan to foster “openness, strength and resilience”, was earlier reported by the Financial Times.

“The extraterritorial application of unilateral sanctions by third countries has seriously affected the EU’s and its member states’ ability to advance foreign policy objectives, to honour international agreements and to manage bilateral relations with sanctioned countries,” the document says.

“At times, unilateral actions by third countries have compromised legitimate trade and investment of EU businesses with other countries.”

US President Donald Trump has imposed a slew of sanctions on individuals and countries — including China, Iran, Russia, North Korea and Venezuela — that have affected companies and payment services across the globe. The US has also pressured EU nations to abandon an alternative payment system meant to shield European trade with Iran from American sanctions.

In the case of China, tensions have escalated with the US’s latest move to delist three Chinese companies from the New York Stock Exchange and the blacklisting of Xiaomi, a smartphone maker.

The proposals come as the EU seeks to better protect its foreign policy and strategic interests, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic, which roiled global markets and sapped economic growth.

The document highlighted that falling valuations of European stocks raised the risk of some strategic firms being taken over, with the possible loss of technological expertise.

The document is set to be adopted by the European Commission on January 19, the day before US president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

The draft seen by Bloomberg is not final and its contents could still change before its adoption.

Bloomberg