Open Europe Press Summaries

22 May: EU directive to cause UK blackouts?

22 May 2008

Europe

The Express reports that many coal-fired power stations could shut down in the UK due to a new EU environmental directive which could cost the industry more than £2.7 billion. This, and the closure of ageing nuclear power plants, would force Britain to depend much more on gas imports from unreliable countries like Algeria and Russia. Ian Fells, the Emeritus Professor of Energy Conversion at Newcastle University, said: “By about 2020 we could be about 23 gigawatts short of power generation, which is about one-third of our total. As you get to 2015 or thereabouts, unless we replace quite a slice of this energy, we could have blackouts. I am alarmed by this. The default position is to build more gas-fired power stations, but in terms of security of supply that is disastrous.”

The Guardian reports that industry experts have warned that the UK needs to step up its construction of offshore wind farms if the country is to meet the EU target of 15% of energy coming from renewables.

Express Guardian

Prominent European politicians call for EU-wide financial ‘super regulator’

The Telegraph reports that a group of prominent European politicians from the socialist camp have written an open letter to the EU Commission calling for an EU-wide ‘super regulator’ of the financial market. The letter warns of the “social risk” posed by modern capitalism and says that the current financial crisis is “a failure of poorly or unregulated markets”. The article notes that, “The fulminating text is the clearest evidence yet of the mounting drive for an EU-wide ‘super regulator’, which would reduce Britain's Financial Services Authority to a regional branch - and pose a grave threat to the City of London.” Signatories include former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, France's Lionel Jospin and Michel Rocard, and former Commission chief Jacques Delors.

Telegraph

MEPs have backed a proposal that would allow the EU to set criminal penalties for the first time - for environmental crimes.

European Voice

Hannan: Lib Dems “hypocritical” U-turn hurts Lords

On his Telegraph blog, Dan Hannan looks at how the Libe Dems voted against an “in or out” referendum in the Lords, despite Nick Clegg arguing in the Commons that “The positional we took was that the referendum, which we wanted to see take place, was a referendum on the big question about Europe, which is whether we stay in or out.” He argues that the Lib Dems cannot come across more hypocritical than they already have, but that their U-turn hurts the legitimacy of the House of Lords.

Telegraph blog

Europe attacked for failing aid targets

EUobserver reports that the EU is risking embarrassment on the global stage for falling 75 billion euros short of its promised target to help the poorest nations by the end of this decade, according to a report by a coalition of anti-poverty groups. The study to be presented today by leading aid NGOs, such as Oxfam International, ActionAid and CARE International, suggests that figures provided by national capitals in recent years were "distorted and over-flattering”. France, Germany, Greece, Austria, Italy and Portugal are singled out as the countries with the clearest tendency last year of inflating official figures for assistance. It argues that the EU should now sign up to a rigorous annual timetable to meet agreed goals.
EUobserver

The Mail reports that the European Court of Human Rights is to hear a case over whether a chimp can be declared a person and therefore be protected by human rights legislation.

Mail

Irish unions back Lisbon Treaty

EUobserver reports that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has given its backing to the Lisbon Treaty. In the Spectator Dan Hannan predicts that if there is a no vote in Ireland EU politicians will use "lawyerly creativity" to implement 95% of the Lisbon Treaty.

EUobserver Spectator

Westminster accuses SNP of move to ditch EU fishing policy

Scotsman

EU starts to wobble on biofuels target

FT blog

The European Parliament has adopted a report calling for tougher EU environmental targets and more research into biofuels. It also said global temperature rises should be kept “well below” the EU objective of limiting the global temperature increase to less than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels.

European Voice

The European Parliament has approved a plan to stop MEPs employing family members. However, the move will not have legal force.

Mail BBC

Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet endorses a 30-point anti-crime package, aimed primarily at clandestine immigrants.

Guardian Independent IHT

Guardian: EU temp worker rules help Government to manifest “Labour purpose”

In the Guardian, Seumas Milne looks at New Labour’s “embrace of market dogma”, reflected in how it has implemented EU rules on post office liberalisation and working time. A leader in the Guardian argues that pushing through the EU’s temporary workers directive could address growing class gaps anxieties and give the Government a chance to show that it has “a distinctively Labour purpose”.

Guardian Guardian

The OECD estimates that global food prices will not drop back to “pre-crisis” levels for at least the next 10 years.

FT IHT

Poland and Sweden to pitch 'Eastern Partnership' idea

EUobserver reports that Poland and Sweden are to unveil joint proposals for a new Eastern Europe policy at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on 26 May. The "Eastern Partnership" envisages a multinational forum between the EU and neighbouring states Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which would aim to negotiate visa-free travel deals, free trade zones for services and agricultural products and strategic partnership agreements. It would be run by the European Commission and financed from the 2007 to 2013 European neighbourhood policy budget. A Commission official would be appointed as its "special coordinator." Along with France, Germany and the Netherlands, the UK has voiced initial support for the idea.
EUobserver

EU ends 18-month-long deadlock over Russia

EU countries yesterday agreed to begin wide-ranging new negotiations with Russia. Areas singled out for co-operation included science and technology education and training, the customs area, crime, transport, energy and telecommunications, environment and culture. The talks are expected to last at least a year and any agreement will have to be ratified by all 27 EU member states, making it unlikely to enter into force until 2011.

IHT Euobserver

In the FT Kishore Mahbubani from the University of Singapore argues that "Europe is a geopolitical dwarf" and that Europe's leaders need to pay much more attention to the rise of Asia.

FT

The FT reports that senior allies of Angela Merkel are backing plans to curb “excessive” executive salaries in Germany.

FT

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