You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Coming up after the news on the BBC World Service, it's Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

My guest today has a reputation for being a formidable details guy and a safe pair of hands inside

the EU's executive branch, the European Commission. Valdis Dombrovskis is a former

Latvian foreign minister and prime minister who is serving his second term as an EU commissioner.

His first portfolio was the euro. Now he's responsible for trade. He also

serves as a commission vice president. In short, he is a top Eurocrat with a tough job

fighting the EU's corner on a host of thorny world trade issues. And the EU too is now making more assertive noises,

suggesting that it too is prepared to get tough in defence of its own economic interests.

But do the EU's 27 member states have the political unity and common interest

necessary to project global power in this era of realpolitik.

Well, Commissioner Valdez Dombrovskis joins me now from Brussels.

Welcome to Hard Talk.

Good afternoon.

Here, let me quote to you something you said when you were given the trade portfolio in

September of last year. You said,

we are currently in turbulent waters as regards global trade relations with the US and relations

with China. I would put it to you that when you're in turbulent waters, you need to be a strong

swimmer. Do you think the EU is a strong swimmer right now?

Well, indeed. First of all, EU is the largest trading bloc in the world, not only in terms of

trade volumes, but we also have a most comprehensive set of free trade agreements than any other

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