Open Europe press summary: 24 October 2008

Europe

Prague warns Sarkozy: don't try to cancel our EU Presidency
The Independent follows up on reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy would like to become the economic "President" of Europe until 2010, overseeing a response to the financial crisis by the eurozone countries and Britain. The paper notes that Sarkozy has launched a diplomatic and media campaign suggesting that his current role as "conductor of the European Union economic orchestra", due to expire in December with the end of the French Presidency of the EU, should be extended informally, until the end of 2009.

The paper suggests that there are fears, particularly in Berlin, that Sarkozy may use such a role to impose more "dirigiste" and less free-market policies on the European economy. The Telegraph reports that Sarkozy has pledged "massive" state intervention in the French economy, defiantly ignoring EU competition rules, adding to German concerns raised over his calls for an EU sovereign wealth fund.

Le Figaro reports that the Czech Vice-Prime Minister, Alexandr Vondra has "denounced" Sarkozy's plans, stating: "No one can cancel the Czech Presidency. You can't change the official rules of the game without everyone's agreement". He attacked "the speculation of the eventual extension of the [French] Presidency" but admitted that, "if the Eurogroup agrees to be presided over by the French and to meet more often, we probably can't stop them, but it would not be a wise decision. It will be a step that will divide the EU more than unite it."

The Independent also suggests that Sarkozy's bid to incorporate the UK Government into the management of the eurozone may be a way of politically tying Britain closer to the euro.

Meanwhile, the Economist notes that, contrary to the argument that recent events show that Europe needs a permanent president, as proposed in the Lisbon Treaty, "it is possible to take precisely the opposite line over the Lisbon Treaty: that Mr Sarkozy's hyperactivism demonstrates that strong European leadership does not need a new institutional set-up; and even that to have had another worthy as permanent EU president would just have created another obstacle."
Irish Times EUobserver Independent Economist European Voice Telegraph Economic Times FT

Top EU official says partners are tired of "difficult" Irish;
Warns Ireland it must ratify soon in order to save its "image"
According to the Irish Independent, Ireland's highest-ranking EU civil servant, Catherine Day, has said that Ireland's 'no' vote has tarnished the country's image and damaged its ability to influence the EU. She told a parliamentary Committee on Ireland's Future on Wednesday that when Irish representatives at meetings try to voice concerns on issues other than Lisbon, the mood among other delegates is that "the Irish are being difficult" again. Day, who is the Secretary General of the European Commission, claimed the Irish government was not coming under any "undue pressure" to make a final decision, but added, "I do not believe that Ireland's image has been tarnished irrevocably, provided we are able to ratify in a reasonable time period."

She said she didn't think it was politically conceivable that the EU would "throw away" eight years of work because the Irish don't want to proceed. She said, "There is a sense of concern and frustration in other member states. Many years of debating went into it. I think the other member states are very keen to accommodate Ireland in providing reassurances. I don't see any willingness to re-open the treaty. The goodwill does not go so far as to changing the treaty.''
No link

Ireland under renewed pressure from Sarkozy to ratify Lisbon Treaty, as committee suggests abolishing legal necessity for referendums
The Irish Times covers Sarkozy's visit to the European Parliament this week where he again criticised the Irish bank guarantee. His speech was followed by MEPs passing a resolution that reiterated "respect" for the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, but crucially also for "the results of other countries' ratification procedures", expressing the hope that "a solution can be found which is acceptable to all before the European elections in June 2009".

Another Irish Times report suggests that Irish politicians are aware that calling a second referendum would be controversial. Dick Roche, Minister of State for European Affairs, said that "mind-boggling changes" had taken place since the referendum, which would "not make life any easier" for the Irish government. He also appeared to suggest that elements of the Lisbon Treaty may be ratified one way or another. "In the end of the day you have to make decisions which are right for the country as a whole and hopefully the people in the fullness of time will see that that is the case".

RTÉ's Europe editor Seán Whelan, quoted in the Irish Times, notes that pressure to ratify Lisbon is being felt even by Irish officials working in Brussels, who feel "beaten down and kicked" by the outcome of the referendum and perceive a "real but intangible" flow of influence away from the Irish. The Irish Independent reports that the negative fallout following the Irish no vote has been a "catalyst" for a review of the legal necessity to hold public votes on EU treaties, with the Oireachtas committee suggesting that in future controversial treaties such as Lisbon could be ratified by the Irish Parliament.
Irish Times Irish Times 2 Irish Times 3

Pro-Lisbon Treaty MEP: link between anti-Treaty group and US arms dealers is possible
In an interview with news site Euractiv, Irish Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke linked the Irish No campaign with US industrial-military interests. He claimed, "The idea of arms trade lobbyists funding 1.2 million euros towards ensuring a 'no' to Lisbon in Ireland is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility."
Open Europe blog Euractiv

"Churchillian" effort needed for Britain to meet EU renewables targets, say Lords
The Telegraph reports that the Lords European Union Committee has warned that if Britain is to meet the EU target of getting 15 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020, "Churchillian" effort will be required. Committee Chairman, Lord Freeman, said: "The target is achievable but only through a tremendous national effort on a Churchillian scale."

Recent research from Open Europe estimates that the EU renewables target and associated measures will cost the UK at least £9bn per year (£600 per family) and put one million extra people in fuel poverty.
Telegraph Open Europe research

Cohn-Bendit: German car industry should do what it's told by European ParliamentCo-President of the Green group in the European Parliament, and former revolutionary leader, Daniel Cohn-Bendit is interviewed on Euractiv. In response to a question on how to treat German industry, he said "I would tell them: 'Listen, too much is too much. We have been telling you for fifteen years now that you have to reduce the CO2 emissions of cars and you still haven't done so. Now you will do it, because regulation will oblige you to do so.'"
Open Europe blog Euractiv

Chris Huhne: European Arrest Warrant shows flaws in EU
Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne argues in the Independent that the European Arrest Warrant could challenge fundamental rights to freedom of expression and highlight differences in the legal systems of member states, and says that before it can be implemented "countries must be able to trust each other's legal systems and the responsible use of the warrant". Huhne calls for British courts to challenge the EU directive by refusing extraditions in certain cases where British law differs from other member states. He uses the example of Poland, from which a third of UK extradition requests originate, where some courts consider abortion as murder.
Independent

MEPs: X-ray body scanners a threat to human dignity
MEPs yesterday denounced EU plans allowing for passengers to be virtually strip searched by X-ray body scanners at airports, calling it a threat to personal dignity. They voted to delay the proposal until a further study has been conducted into its implications for privacy and health. The Times notes that, "MEPs called for safeguards to prevent the revealing images -- which penetrate clothing and leave little to the imagination -- from being stored or published, raising fears of a trade in embarrassing pictures of celebrities being sold for high prices." The EU Commission, which has proposed allowing the body scanners to be used at airports across Europe from 2010, said that passengers would still be able to opt for traditional metal detectors.
Times BBC European Voice

Commission forces Italy to soften immigration measures
The Berlusconi government has been forced into a climb-down on its immigration measures by "Eurocrats in Brussels", reports the Economist. Of the measures in its "security package", three of the main provisions have been dropped in order to comply with EU regulations.
Economist

MEPs call for end to "travelling circus"
MEPs returned to the repaired Strasbourg seat this week, and some renewed calls to end the "travelling circus" that requires them to travel from Brussels once a month, according to EUobserver.

EU Commissioner Margot Wallstrom admitted that it is a "negative symbol of waste of money" and that, "To travel is not the most practical thing we have been engaging in. It costs a lot."
EUobserver

Motorists fined under EU law for displaying national flags on number plates
The Telegraph reports that motorists who display national flags on their number plates have been fined, as EU rules permit only the display of the European Union symbol of 12 yellow stars on a blue background. It quotes Lorraine Mullally, Director of Open Europe, arguing that the use of EU symbols, instead of national ones, is part of a wider attempt to promote the idea of a common European citizenship.
Telegraph

The Coulisses de Bruxelles blog reports that Sweden is to ratify the Lisbon Treaty on 20 November.
Coulisses de Bruxelles

Nicolas Sarkozy is organising an "informal meeting" of the 27 EU heads of state and government to take place on 7 November in Brussels to prepare for the Washington summit on the global financial system. He said: "Europe must speak with one voice to have a chance of being heard."
La Tribune

The IHT reports that EU Telecommunications Commissioner Viviane Reding is scaling back her proposal to create a pan-EU telecoms regulator - but is not cancelling the plan.
IHT

EU formally renews ties with Cuba
The BBC reports that the EU has removed diplomatic sanctions imposed on Cuba in 2003. EU Commissioner Louis Michel described the event as "a turning point for EU-Cuban relations".
BBC

EU awards human rights prize to Hu Jia, a Chinese dissident.
Guardian European Voice IHT Telegraph

The European Court of First Instance has ruled that Iranian group People's Mujahedeen should be taken off terrorist blacklists.
IHT WSJ Telegraph European Voice

Bulgaria has worst media record in EU.
European Voice RSF (Direct link to rankings)

World

Major decline in shipping index, heralding decline in global trade
The Economist 'Free Exchange' blog notes that the Baltic Dry Index, a measure of commodity-shipping rates, fell to the lowest in more than six years yesterday, raising the possibility of "collapse" of commodity shippers and a slowdown in global trade comparable with the Great Depression.
Economist