Europe
New Open Europe Briefing: EU's Temporary Agency Workers Directive
Open Europe today releases a new briefing on the EU's proposed Temporary Agency Workers Directive, which the UK will come under pressure to accept at the EU Council meeting on June 9. Open Europe argues that even in its slightly watered down form, the Directive is a big step backwards and will hurt both the UK's and Europe's competitiveness.
In addition Open Europe argues that the Government's handling of the issue raises two questions. Firstly, it is not at all clear that the tripartite agreement between the Government, the TUC and the CBI will in fact deter other EU members from passing the Directive in a more stringent form. Secondly, this seeming return to 1970s-style corporatism raises wider questions - what right does the CBI have to reach agreement on behalf of all other business in the country? With smaller businesses likely to be hardest hit, surely they should have a right to be heard too?
Read the briefing here.
Conservatives to vote against Corbett proposals?
Conservative Home calls on David Cameron to order Conservative MEPs to vote against a proposal in the European Parliament that would make it more difficult for the Conservatives to leave the EPP. The proposal, which is being pushed by Labour MEP Richard Corbett, would make it harder to form official European Political Parties by raising the number of MEPs needed to form a group. This could prevent the Conservatives from forming a new group, and would probably prevent eurosceptic groups in the Parliament like UKIP from maintaining existing groups and receiving funding. England Expects reports on attempts to pack the Committee that voted on the report with supporters of Richard Corbett's proposals.
Corbett Blog ConservativeHome England Expects
EU accused of "strong arm" tactics in Ireland
The Mail reports that Brussels is using "strong-arm" tactics to pressure Irish voters into backing the Lisbon Treaty. It quotes Commission President Jose Barroso warning: "If there was a no in Ireland, it would have a very negative effect for the EU. We will all pay a price for it, Ireland included." A leaked memo revealed how Ireland's Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern had been assured that the European Commission would 'tone down or delay' any announcements 'that might be unhelpful'. These issues include defence, farm subsidies, and harmonising company tax. Neil O'Brien is quoted saying, "This is classic Brussels tactics. Stage one is to try to cover up what the grand project really means, then bully voters into accepting it."
Adrian Hamilton: EU supporters should hope that the Irish reject the Lisbon Treaty
In the Independent, Adrian Hamilton argues that "it is precisely because I am so committed a supporter of the EU that I dearly hope that the Irish reject the Lisbon Treaty in their referendum in a fortnight's time." He notes, "The great benefit of an Irish rejection at this last moment is that it would force the whole of Europe's leadership, and particularly that of the core countries, to face up to the fact that the enterprise lacks legitimacy which no amount of tinkering with treaties will make up. Rejecting Lisbon would not be the practical disaster its supporters suggest."
Sarkozy outlines French vision for an EU "immigration pact"
In documents seen by the FT, Nicolas Sarkozy has outlined his vision for an EU "immigration pact" which he will attempt to push through when the French takes up the rotating Presidency in July. The plans stress the need for tougher "readmission" deals with countries, allowing for more illegal immigrants to be sent home. In addition, asylum seekers may be required to apply for refugee status in advance. The plans also envision swift implementation of biometric visas and language lessons for new arrivals.
Theatre Producers could be fined if they do not tell audiences what they really thought about their productions, the EU warns.
The EU has given FIFA proposals for limits on foreign players "the red card".
European Parliament urges watering down of EU biofuel plans
Euractiv reports that the European Parliament increased the pressure on the EU Commission to water down controversial plans to raise the share of biofuels in transport to 10% by 2020, with MEPs calling for the target to be cut to 8% or scrapped entirely. A separate report from the industry committee said "heads of state and government put specific preconditions to be fulfilled, i.e. a) the production must be sustainable and b) second generation must be commercially available. Since March 2007, evidence is growing that these conditions will not be fulfilled. The 10% target must therefore be abandoned."
Dempsey: EU is not living up to talk of 'soft power' in Afghanistan
Judy Dempsey has a comment piece in the IHT, arguing that the EU's efforts at police training in Afghanistan are totally lacking. She argues that "For all the EU's talk about its support for soft power - for example, using diplomacy to resolve conflicts or providing vast sums of development assistance to rebuild societies - the Europeans have been unwilling to provide sufficient funds or personnel to create an accountable and well-trained Afghan police force."
The Commission has proposed lifting the ban on chlorinated chicken imports from the US, but certain member states, including France could block the move.
The US and Japan have launched a complaint against the EU over tariffs levied on high-technology goods.
EU's CO2 car advert rules threaten press freedom, media giants say
Europe's media giants have attacked EU proposals to slap environmental cigarette-packaging-style 'health warnings' on car advertising in newspapers and magazines. The European Publishers' Council, which represents major publishers and broadcasters, has warned that the advertising regulations, if adopted, would threaten the freedom of the press.
Ankara attacks French opposition to Turkish EU membership
Turkey has said that the reluctance of some member states to say clearly that it can be a full member of the EU one day is having a negative impact on the bloc's image in the country. Turkey should not become "hostage" to domestic politics in "some EU states," said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday, reiterating that full EU membership is the only option the country will accept. "It is one EU member state blocking us," when it comes to the opening of accession negotiations in some policy areas - or chapters, Babacan said.
World
Irwin Stelzer argues in the Spectator that the coming US Presidential election will be a real Left-Right contest, defined by fundamental differences between Obama and McCain in both foreign and domestic policy.
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