Europe
MEPs to vote on whether to end the UK opt-out from EU working time rules;
New Open Europe briefing shows the move could cost the UK £2,300 per household
MEPs will today vote on a proposal which could end the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive. In a new briefing, Open Europe has estimated that ending the opt-out could cost the UK economy between £47.74 billion and £66.45 billion by 2020, with a middle estimate of £57 billion. This is more than £2,300 per household and more than five times the UK's annual contribution to the EU budget.
Open Europe's estimates were featured on the BBC Today programme, the BBC website and on Mark Mardell's Euroblog. Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted on PA, arguing "We're in the middle of a recession, which both businesses and the public sector will be paying off for years to come. It would be crazy for the European Parliament to choose now to start making EU working time rules even more of a burden."
On his blog Mark Mardell notes that "Gordon Brown risks a humiliating defeat at the hands of Labour members of the European Parliament", adding that today's "vote will be tight". Earlier in the week, Business Minister Pat McFadden warned it would be a "real mistake" to end the opt-out. Mardell notes, "The Labour MEPs are split and some sound rather tortured about their decision. Formally they have a meeting at 0900 before the vote a couple of hours later, but I think many will do what they want to do, whatever the group decides as a whole."
It is reported that the European Commission has said the opt-out should stay, arguing it is now used by at least 14 other countries.
BBC BBC Today (2.06 minutes in) BBC-Mardell Open Europe Blog Open Europe Press Release Open Europe Briefing Dziennik
Sarkozy expects Lisbon to come into force "only one year late" whilst criticising Czech President for failing to fly EU flag
The BBC reports that outgoing EU President Nicolas Sarkozy told the European Parliament yesterday that he expected the Lisbon Treaty to come into force "only one year late". The French President said, "If things happen as I want them to happen, the Lisbon Treaty will become a reality only one year late."
EUobserver notes that Sarkozy told MEPs that he favoured a Europe of nation states. He said, "We shall not build Europe without the [nation] states. As European as you may be, Europe is not the enemy of nations." The article notes that Sarkozy also reiterated an argument he made last week about increasing the powers of the European Commission President.
Euractiv reports that Sarkozy debated with MEPs over the main issues faced by the six-month French Presidency, such as the financial crisis, the Georgian conflict and the EU's climate and energy package. Sarkozy said, "We are starting to change the way we do things in Europe: talking less and doing more".
Meanwhile, Bruno Waterfield notes on his Telegraph blog that Sarkozy has joined attacks by MEPs on Czech President Václav Klaus for refusing to fly the European Union flag from Prague Castle. "It was a wound, it was an outrage to see that flags had been taken down from public buildings," said Sarkozy.
EUobserver Deutsche Welle Irish Times Irish Times: Leader IHT BBC Telegraph-Waterfield: Blog EurActiv Coulisses de Bruxelles Blog
Irish assurances of Lisbon Treaty re-run are a "pyrrhic victory"
The Irish Broadcasting Complaints Commission has revealed that 21 of 22 complaints it received about broadcasters during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign alleged bias in favour of the Yes campaign, reports the Irish Times.
A comment piece in the Irish Times by Antonio Bar, a Professor of European constitutional law, argues that assurances received by Ireland in return for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty are a "pyrrhic victory" because the retention of one Commissioner per country is a "clear step backwards in the process of rationalisation and simplification of the EU." It goes on to add that other areas that were outlined by PM Brian Cowen as concerning the Irish people, such as social issues and taxation, were never under threat so there was no need for guarantees, which "is why they have been so easily granted".
Irish Times Irish Times: Comment Irish Independent Irish Times 2
Government uses scrutiny 'override' in Lords 24 times in a year
The House of Lords EU Select Committee has published its Annual Report 2008, which shows that between July 2007 and June 2008, the Government gave agreement in the European Council to an EU proposal that was still under scrutiny in the house on 24 occasions. Matters on which the Government used the 'override' include an EU military operation in the Republic of Chad and in the Central African Republic, restrictive measures against Iran, and a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.
Annual Report
MEPs back Commission's proposals to liberalise defence market
EUobserver reports that MEPs have approved a Commission proposal aimed at harmonising and simplifying national rules on defence procurement. The current Nice Treaty provides that internal market rules are not applied to the defence market, allowing member states to exclude defence contracts from EU procurement rules. In addition, there are currently 27 national licencing procedures, obstructing the transfer of defence equipment between countries.
The new proposal will introduce a European system of licences which will be uniform and applicable throughout the 27 member states. Licences will nonetheless be granted at the national level, with governments free to impose sanctions if the contractor fails to respect the licensing conditions.
EUobserver
EU court backs Emissions Trading Scheme
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) does not discriminate against steel makers, reports the IHT. ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, claimed that the emissions scheme unfairly excluded the aluminium and chemical industries which put steelmakers at a "complete disadvantage". The decision eliminates any concern that the EU may need to rewrite the rules of its carbon trading market.
IHT European Voice
Sweden criticises Commission over bank rescue rules
Sweden's Finance Minister, Anders Borg, fears the eventual European economic recovery may be weak, reports the FT. He lays the blame at the feet of the EU bureaucracy who he says are dithering in the face of the financial market paralysis: "We as a union have not done enough to restore the credit channel."
FT
The European Parliament yesterday voted to allow Britain to keep its imperial measurements, rather than force the adoption of the metric system, reports the Times. The concession to allow imperial alongside metric measurements was due to expire next year.
BBC Express Mail AFP Times
EUobserver reports that a vote on the EU's climate package in the European Parliament is expected to go smoothly today, despite some criticism in a debate yesterday, with the EU Environment Commissioner urging MEPs to raise their objections in their own countries.
EUobserver
EU dealt a blow over pharmacy ownership
The European Commission's plans to open up pharmacy ownership in Germany and Italy have been dealt a blow by the European Court of Justice which ruled that restrictions were "justified by the objective of protecting public health", writes the WSJ.
WSJ
EU moves towards mandatory lobbyists register
The EUobserver reports that a joint working group incorporating both the Parliament and the Commission will attempt to establish a central list of EU lobbyists, currently numbered at over 15,000.
EUobserver
World
Fed slashes interest rates to near zero
The US Federal Reserve has cut its base-rate to "a range between 0 - 0.25%". As a result, the dollar fell to a 10 week low against the Euro yesterday.
FT FT2 FT: Martin Wolf FT4: Comment FT 3 Independent Independent: Comment BBC BBC Peston: Blog
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment