Trade and Geopolitics: trade policy as a driver for EU competitiveness and resilience in a turbulent era

Recent global trade volatility and geopolitical instability have highlighted how Europe’s prosperity, autonomy and security can be exposed to global shocks and render Europe vulnerable. In this event, Olof Gill, Deputy Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission and Spokesperson for Trade, Economic Security & Customs, discusses the EU’s efforts to navigate geopolitical turbulence and major trade disruption. Mr Gill explores the European Commission’s focus on achieving a robust and resilient trade policy that promotes Europe’s prosperity, security and autonomy. Olof Gill is Deputy Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission, and Commission Spokesperson for Trade, Economic Security & Customs. He began his career as a journalist before taking on roles in the European Parliament, and later the Irish government. In his current position he plays a public-facing role, communicating the EU perspective on high-profile trade and geopolitical priorities, including relations with the US, China, India, and Mercosur region. An Irish-Swedish national, he has worked at the Commission for over a decade, contributing to EU policy and communications strategies on prominent topics including Brexit, Covid-19, and the war in Ukraine.