Europe
Le Monde: Failure in trade talks could help Sarkozy persuade Irish to hold second referendum
There is continued coverage of the breakdown of the Doha trade talks. Le Monde has a piece on the "winners and losers" from the collapse. Among the winners, it lists Nicolas Sarkozy, who has "killed two birds with one stone," in that "he can boast about having defended the interests of French and European farmers, and he can now encourage the Irish to organise a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - the first having been lost, he says, because of the threats to Irish meat and milk." A separate piece quotes the French Minister for External Trade Anne-Marie Idrac saying of the collapse in the world trade talks: "It's not the end of the world."
The Irish Independent reports that Irish Farmers' Association President Padraig Walshe said farmers owed a debt of gratitude to Nicolas Sarkozy for helping to end the talks. Irish Junior Minister Martin Mansergh said the breakdown "will be a huge relief to Ireland's hard-pressed farm sector", and indicated that Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson could not be trusted, and was trying to use the talks to press the "British objective" of undermining the CAP. He then argued that the result at Doha showed how important it was for Ireland to engage with other EU countries, before warning that "The 'No' decision of the Irish people on the treaty has left Ireland, for the time being, in a more exposed and vulnerable position" regarding trade.
Meanwhile, Swedish Radio notes that Italy had threatened to block the EU's negotiation mandate if a new trade deal did not contain a special provision banning the production of parmesan cheese outside of Italy.
The Economist blog argues that the breakdown of the WTO talks show that global trade relations are no longer divided between richer and poorer nations, but that "mercantilist interests drive trade policy".
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Ganley: Sarkozy agreed that a Lisbon referendum in France would have been lost
EUobserver follows up yesterday's reports that the Irish government is considering a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in autumn 2009, and mentions Open Europe's July poll which found that 62 percent would reject the Treaty and that 71 percent don't want to vote on the subject again. The poll is also covered in Irish daily Western People.
EUobserver also reports that Declan Ganley, a prominent Irish campaigner, is currently touring Europe to try and establish a new anti-Lisbon political group in time for the 2009 European elections. If elected, Ganley plans to write a reader-friendly, 20-page EU treaty based on the US constitution to replace the 400-page long Lisbon text. Ganley reportedly told French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Dublin last week that French people would also have rejected the treaty if France had held a referendum. "You may be surprised to hear that he agreed with me," said Ganley.
The Irish Independent reports on splits between Ireland's pro-Lisbon parties, as recriminations set in over the failed campaign for the Treaty. Asked about a report that the Government is considering holding a second referendum in autumn 2009, Fianna Fail TD Mary O'Rourke said the proposal was the "lazy way forward" and an "insult" to the electorate.
Irish Times EUobserver Irish Independent
EU back-room deal could leave contaminated soil at hospitals and schools
EUobserver reports that schools, playgrounds, hospitals and other public sites with contaminated soil could remain polluted as the result of a back-room deal between Germany, France and the UK on European legislation covering soil degradation and clean-ups. Two years ago the Commission proposed a directive which would force governments to clean up contaminated soil; however it was vetoed at last December's European summit. Despite this France did promise to revive the directive during its presidency of the EU. Instead of pursuing the initiative through official channels it has recently come to light that France has been holding unofficial meetings to renegotiate the directive, but invited only the countries who previously rejected it (Germany, UK, Austria and Netherlands).
A leaked draft seen by EUobserver of changes sought by the main blocking countries shows that they are seeking to strip the bill of almost all of its key requirements. "What little substance was in the original directive proposal has now been gutted," said Pieter de Pous, a soil policy expert with the European Environmental Bureau. The changes to the document mean that instead of having to identify all contaminated sites, member states will now only have to identify problem sites which are being sold. This creates a significant risk considering many sites, such as hospitals and schools, are unlikely to be sold and as such will not be identified.
Guardian assesses Miliband's approach to Europe
Supposing a possible leadership challenge, the Guardian has a piece on what David Miliband stands for. On Europe, Mr Miliband is said to be optimistic about the EU's ability to meet global challenges and would like to see the EU as an "environment union". The paper also suggests that Mr Miliband is more pro-EU than Gordon Brown, though an observer is quoted as saying this is because "he's never had to sit through finance meetings with other European finance ministers."
Court rules against ban on Turkey's governing party
Turkey's highest court yesterday ruled against the demands for the governing Justice and Development party (AKP) to be banned, following allegations of Islamist tendencies. Six of the eleven judges voted in favour of outlawing the party - one vote short of the seven required for the party to be banned. A ban would have brought down the government, forcing elections for the second time in a year, and plunging Turkey into political chaos. However, Court President Hasim Kilic added that the court would still be sending the party a "serious warning" by cutting its Treasury funding in half, adding that "I hope the party in question will evaluate the outcome very well and get the message it should get".
After yesterday's ruling, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "A great uncertainty blocking Turkey's future has been lifted," adding that he would "continue to protect the fundamental principles of our republic". Labour Minister Faruk Çelik hailed the decision as "a victory for Turkish democracy".
The ruling could also boost Turkey's long-stalled EU membership bid. In Brussels officials expressed relief at the verdict. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Reuters that "Despite everything, this is a good day for Turkey and for Europe", and urged the government to resume economic and social reforms to meet EU standards after what he called "wasted time for reforms" during the political uncertainty of the past two years.
FT Boland Deutsche Welle The Times BBC Reuters IHT Independent Cockburn Guardian Tisdall WSJ
EU to adopt tougher sanctions on Iran
Reuters reports that the EU will adopt tougher sanctions on Iran next week. The changes will encourage EU financial institutions to "exercise restraint" on export credits, and allow its navies to inspect all Iran-bound ships, going beyond sanctions already set by the UN Security Council in an earlier resolution.
The Economist on Walloon poll
A piece on the Economist blog explores the recent Walloon opinion poll, suggesting that it and coverage of its findings may be misleading. The poll found that one in two Walloons would be in favour of joining France in Belgium was to break up, but the Economist identifies problems such as selective sampling (Brussels' French-speakers were left out) and selective questioning (there was no question on independence). The article also looks at the reasons behind the reported Walloon sentiment, suggesting that joining France may be an attractive option as it could serve as a replacement patron for Brussels.
Economist Certain Ideas of Europe blog
EU rule leaves blue flag beach coated in sludge
One of Britain's best beaches has been left coated in a thick black sludge from thousands of tonnes of rotting seaweed after council officials were told they could be breaking EU rules if they remove it. The local council has been warned that it will be prosecuted if it removes the sludge and causes damage to nearby chalk reefs, which are protected by a special European designation. However due to other rules and regulations on waste management the council is struggling to find any areas to dump the waste, leaving the beach unusable.
Kosovo has begun issuing its first passports as an independent state; however, it remains unclear which of the 7 EU states which do not recognise Kosovo's independence will accept the documents.
The WSJ reports that the EU's strict regulations on genetically modified crops could create continent-wide shortages of soybeans, a crucial part of the diet of Europe's livestock.
Prospect's Brussels Diary predicts that "whole swathes of the French economy" could be in for generous treatment from the EU Commission, in a bid to win over President Sarkozy to support a second term for Barroso as Commission President.
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It has been reported this week by The Observer and The Scotsman that Chief Whip Geoff Hoon is possibly being lined up as the UK's next EU Commissioner. The move is apparently an attempt to dissuade Mr Hoon from organising a leadership challenge to embattled Gordon Brown.
World
Israel's PM announces resignation
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced yesterday that he will not run in his party's primary election in September, and would step down afterwards to allow his successor to form a government. Mr Olmert's popularity had dropped to below 20 percent during the war in Lebanon in 2006, and is again extremely low following a recent string of corruption allegations and police interrogations. He has reportedly said to now be dedicating himself to clearing his name.
The announcement has raised serious doubts and fears over the prospects for peace efforts with both the Palestinians and Syria, particularly since recent progress in talks with the Palestinians have depended on the close bond Mr Olmert has forged with President Mahmoud Abbas.
UK
Miliband triggers media speculation over Labour leadership
Foreign Secretary David Miliband yesterday sparked intense speculation in the UK media as to whether he intends to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership. An article in the Guardian yesterday by Mr Miliband failed to mention Mr Brown and was seen by many observers as the opening move in a leadership bid. A press conference in the afternoon failed to dampen speculation when Mr Miliband refused to rule himself out of any leadership contest.
Mr Miliband's actions drew a furious response from 'allies' of Mr Brown who called Mr Miliband "disloyal" and "self-serving". Sky News reports that Mr Brown is being urged by friends to sack the Foreign Secretary. Meanwhile it is reported that Health Minister Ivan Lewis has openly criticised Mr Brown for being too "timid". The criticism follows calls from two Labour MPs for Mr Brown to step down.
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