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EU rules force UK trawler to dump 5 tonnes of Norwegian fish
The Guardian reports that a British trawler has been filmed taking a boatload of endangered fish from Norwegian waters and dumping 5 tonnes back dead in the UK zone of the North Sea. The incident has sparked an international row and renewed calls for a reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
It is illegal to discard fish in Norwegian waters, but boats are forced to do so in European Union waters if they have caught the wrong species of fish or fish that are too small. Last year the EU estimated that between 40% and 60% of all fish caught by trawlers in the North Sea are discarded.
Environmentalists branded the system a "disgrace", whilst Norwegian Fisheries Minister Helga Pederson said that she would be pressing for a review, calling it "a massive waste of food and potential income".
Idea of all-party Lisbon Treaty vote committee ditched in Ireland
The Irish Times notes that a plan to establish a parliamentary commission to examine the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland has been rejected by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who instead suggested that the work should be carried out through the existing Committee on European Affairs. Kenny also suggested that the membership of the Committee could be extended to include "representation from both sides of the Lisbon Treaty debate."
Poland agrees missile defence deal with US
The US and Poland have agreed to put part of a US global missile shield and new anti-aircraft defences on Polish soil. The pact will also see one US-controlled unit of 96 short-range Patriot missiles accompanied by 110 US soldiers moved from Germany to Poland and a clause obliging the US to use military support in the event of an attack by a third party, governed by a process which is faster than the NATO solidarity clause. "The Poles do not want to be in alliances in which assistance comes at some point later - it is no good when assistance comes to dead people," Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said on Polish TV.
Meanwhile, Russia has taken an uncompromising stance on Georgia's breakaway regions. "One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state," said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
EUobserver notes that Germany, along with France, has so far been keen not to openly take sides in the Russia-Georgia conflict, and suggests that both parties hold responsibility for the outbreak in fighting. By contrast, the US has strongly condemned Russia's actions. Der Spiegel has a review of Polish press comments, and argues that there is deep concern amongst Poles that 'Old Europe' is appeasing Russia. "Old Europe isn't listening to Poles, Lithuanians and Ukrainians. Old Europe doesn't want to anger Russia, and doesn't see the integrity of Georgia's borders as something worth risking its relationship with Moscow over," Gazeta Wyborcza wrote.
The Economist argues that "the hard truth, for Georgians and others, is that pleas for military backing from the West in any confrontation with Russia are unlikely to be heeded." It calls for the EU to drop negotiations on a partnership agreement with Russia, and for NATO to admit Georgia and Ukraine.
Gerard Baker argues in The Times, "we should never forget what Mr Sarkozy and his EU officials got up to this week. There can be no clearer indication of the perils that threaten the West if the EU gets its way and wins more clout in the world. This, remember, is the same EU that wants to take over foreign and security policy from member states, an institution that is always eager to pump itself up at the expense of democratic institutions in those member states, but which crumbles into puny submission when faced with authoritarian bullying overseas."
Spiegel Economist EUobserver Deutsche Welle Spiegel BBC IHT Le Figaro Irish Times Economist Times Baker EUobserver European Voice Deutsche Welle Spiegel Spiegel
Recession looms for eurozone following "worse than anticipated" decline
The combined economies of the eurozone countries shrank for the first time in fifteen years in this year's second quarter; the Irish Independent says a full recession is likely to follow. The 0.2% fall in economic activity was worse than markets had predicted and dispels hopes that Europe would escape the worst effects of the US' economic problems.
Independent Times Irish Independent FT front page
Jyllands-Posten reports on plans for the creation of a special "Climate Commissioner", responsible for the EU's climate policies, such as the Emissions Trading Scheme.
AFP reports that a controversial 'snooping' law in Sweden, which will allow government agencies to tap all cross-border Internet and telephone communication, may violate EU law.
Serbian Minister Takes Kosovo court case to UN
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic headed to New York yesterday to seek UN support for his country's plan to challenge Kosovo's independence at the International Court of Justice. Although the Court's decision would be nonbinding, Serbia hopes a decision in its favour would avert further recognition of Kosovo and force renewed negotiations on its status.
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