Open Europe press summary: 12 November 2008

Europe

Czech President: freedom and democracy "will not be enhanced" by Lisbon Treaty;
German MEP: Czech Republic "could be bigger problem than Ireland"
The Irish Times reports that Czech President Vaclav Klaus yesterday met with Declan Ganley, the head of Irish anti-Lisbon group Libertas, while on an official visit to Ireland. During the meeting, he said he was not happy with what he described as attempts by Europe to "forget the Irish referendum and to change the result". The paper also reports that Klaus has warned against a move towards "supranationalism" in Europe and said that, "I'm afraid that freedom and democracy will not be enhanced by the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty."

President Klaus denied that the meeting with Ganley breached protocol during the official state visit, but stated that if Ganley won the European elections, he would be "the first one to congratulate him", according to EUobserver.

Meanwhile, German MEP, Jo Leinen, has warned that the Czech Republic "could be a bigger problem than Ireland" for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, according to EUobserver. The MEP accused Klaus of playing a "postponing game" on Lisbon, ensuring that it would not be ratified by the time the Czech Republic takes over the Presidency on January 1 2009. A British MEP, Andrew Duff, has also stated that, "until they ratify, the Czech EU Presidency will not have credibility and authority." He also stated that, "We certainly ought not to apologise at all for putting pressure on the Czech parliament", adding that the sooner they ratified the Treaty, "the better the prospect for persuading the Irish to alter their mind would be."
Irish Independent Irish Times EUobserver EUobserver 2

Irish Foreign Minister: No pressure from EU over ratification of Lisbon but farmers grants may be threatened by No vote
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has declared that there is "no question" of Ireland's EU partners seeking to pressurise the government over the Lisbon Treaty, reports the Irish Times. He also stated that there was no question of renegotiating the Treaty because there was "no appetite" for it among other member states after so many years of negotiation.

Meanwhile, the Irish Independent reports that Martin has warned that the Irish 'No' vote on the Lisbon Treaty may result in a loss of EU grants for Irish farmers. Martin stated that Ireland had previously punched above its weight in EU negotiations, but with the EU budget review launching this week, he claims to be worried about Ireland's "negotiating strength".
Irish Times Irish Independent

European Parliament strikes further blow to UK opt-out on working time
FAZ reports that the European Parliament's Social Affairs Committee has supported a motion removing the clause in the Working Time Directive which allows member states an opt-out of the 48-hour week. The paper notes that the Committee favours removing the clause after three years. However, in June, the UK had been granted the prospect of an eight-year transition.
No link

MEPs embarrassed to ask US Congress about Libertas funding
EUobserver reports that MEPs will ask the US Congress whether Declan Ganley's Libertas group received US funds for its No campaign against the Lisbon Treaty, in a visit to the US in December. However, it notes that this will be done in a low profile manner in order to avoid embarrassment. British MEP Jonathan Evans expressed concerns that the whole affair might end up hurting the European Parliament's reputation.
EUobserver

Head of UK accounting watchdog threatens to quit over EU rule change
The Guardian reports that the head of Britain's accounting watchdog threatened to quit yesterday if the EU pressed ahead with plans to tear up strict valuation rules and allow banks to avoid write-downs of billions of pounds on sub-prime lending losses. Sir David Tweedie, chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board, told Treasury Select Committee MPs that moves by Brussels to weaken fair-value rules - also known as mark-to-market rules - would force him to consider his position.
Guardian

Stoiber: Reducing EU bureaucracy is not easy
Seuddeutsche Zeitung reports that a year after becoming head of the EU's High Level Group on Better Regulation, Edmund Stoiber has commented on the group's progress, stating that reducing EU red tape is "not as easy" as people imagine.
No link

EU scraps regulation on misshapen fruit and vegetables
EU regulations that dictate the size and shape of fruit and vegetables are to be scrapped today following mass protests from supermarkets, grocers, and farmers, and after it emerged that up to 20% of the British harvest is wasted in order to comply with the rules. However, the infamous straight banana regulation will remain in place, because the EU claims that there were no objections to the rules.
Times Irish Times Daily Mail Telegraph BBC

Denmark is "bearing the cost" of being outside euro, according to Nils Bernstein, governor of the country's central bank.
FT

Irwin Stelzer: EU leaders should not push for another Bretton Woods at G20 summit
European leaders have given America a 100-day deadline to agree to their plans for 'global governance' of the financial markets, Irwin Stelzer writes in the Telegraph. He warns against any EU plans to replace American-style capitalism with a European model because "such protectionism has in the past turned crises into deep recessions."
Telegraph-Stelzer FT

EU Foreign Ministers' letter to Obama contains "wish list" for US foreign policy
The Guardian reports on the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Marseille on Monday, where a six page letter to US President-elect Barack Obama was drafted "demanding a new transatlantic relationship of equals between the US and Europe". The letter contained a suggested list of foreign policy priorities for the new administration and called for reform of the UN and the expansion of the G8 group of industrialised nations.
Guardian

Independent broadcasters in Ireland have called for changes in rules covering referendums like the Lisbon Treaty, requiring that both sides get equal representation.
Irish Independent

Barber: Naval mission to Somalia will enhance EU's self-image
On the FT's Brussels blog Tony Barber writes that the EU's naval mission to Somalia - the EU's first ever naval mission - will make "quite a difference" to the EU's self-image. French Defence Minister Hervé Morin is quoted saying, "This operation is proof that a Europe of defence is starting to take shape."
FT: Brussels Blog

The European Commission is set to announce plans for tougher regulation of credit rating agencies.
BBC

Kosovo has rejected a deal agreed by the EU, Serbia and the United Nations that would have seen a 2,000-strong EU mission to oversee policing and justice sent to the region.
Irish Times