Open Europe press summary: 22 December 2008

Europe

Sarkozy refuses to attend EU Presidency handover;
Czech PM: Lisbon Treaty is not "one of the priorities of our presidency"
De Morgen reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to be present at the ceremony in Prague when the EU Presidency will be handed over to the Czech Republic, reportedly challenging the legitimacy of the Czech Presidency. Former French Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet has declared in Libération that, with regards to the Czech Presidency, "France and other countries will take initiatives: no one can prevent member states from meeting, notably at the level of the eurozone."

A leader in the FT argues that "At times of crisis, it certainly helps to have a heavyweight in the EU presidency." It continues, "Thanks to the present system of rotation, however, the Czech Republic must now take the chair. Many in Brussels fear business will grind to a halt." The article concludes that the "[Lisbon] treaty may well have the answer in replacing rotation with a semi-permanent president." Likewise, a leader in Saturday's Guardian argued that the French EU Presidency "has been a success" and that Nicolas Sarkozy "provided the best possible argument for replacing the current rotating presidency with an elected president."

AFP reports that Czech PM Mirek Topolanek said that "The Lisbon Treaty is not expressly one of the priorities of our presidency". Topolanek said he believed the Czech Republic will ratify the Treaty during its Presidency but added "If it does not, it will not be fatal."

Meanwhile, according to La Croix, an aide to Czech President Vaclav Klaus has dismissed demands to fly the EU flag over Prague castle, saying "the EU flag doesn't fly at the seats of the Heads of State of Italy, Belgium, Lithuania, Sweden or the United Kingdom. Also, one should understand the Czech sensibility with regards to this subject: for forty years, red flags had to be placed here, not only at official buildings but also at homes".
Guardian FT: Leader EurActiv Liberation Coulisses de Bruxelles La Croix

Wind energy not as effective at cutting CO2 emissions as previously thought;
Britain could be facing blackouts by 2015
The Sunday Telegraph reported that the wind farm industry has been forced to scale back the estimated carbon emissions savings achieved by wind power. The British Wind Energy Association, BWEA, had previously estimated that electricity from wind turbines 'displaces' 860 grams of carbon dioxide emissions for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated. Now it has revised that figure to 430 grams following discussions with the Advertising Standards Authority. Experts had calculated that 50,000 wind turbines would be needed to generate 15% of Britain's electricity, to help the Government to meet the EU target for a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2020. However, the paper wrote that this new CO2 estimate would double the number of turbines needed.

The chief of the National Grid, Steve Holliday, has warned that Britain could be facing power shortages as soon as 2015 as ageing coal and nuclear stations are retired from service, reports the Times. He called on the Government to introduce incentives to encourage fresh investment over the next decade to ensure stability in the power sector.

Meanwhile, the FT reports that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said the Government will not ban the construction of new coal fired power stations while new carbon capturing technology is being developed.

The CEO of the world's leading chemicals company BASF, Jürgen Hambrecht, has warned in FAZ that the recent EU climate package represents a danger for the competitiveness of European industry, saying it will cost his company over 100 million euros. He added that the idea that Angela Merkel would have given in to industry needs "doesn't make sense", adding that the contrary is true and that industry needs "clear and simple rules" for emissions trading certificates used in the Emissions Trading Scheme.Telegraph Telegraph 2 Times Times 2 FT RP.online Open Europe Events

European Commission plans to introduce quotas for recreational fishermen
The Sunday Times reported that the European Commission wants to introduce quotas for recreational sea anglers. The move is designed to protect endangered species such as cod, ling, pollack and shark. Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, has outlined plans that will see each EU state being given a quota for each protected species with governments then dividing this quota between commercial fishermen and anglers.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that at last week's EU Fisheries Council ministers agreed to a 30% increase in next year's fishing quota for North Sea cod, but will reduce catches for several other species. Fishing crews will have to install new nets which allow threatened species such as cod and hake back into the sea. The new nets are intended to reduce discards - the common practice of crews throwing fish back into the sea because the quotas have already been exceeded.
Irish Times BBC European Voice Sunday Times EUobserver EUbusiness

NHS already employing bureaucrats to manage Working Time Directive
The Sunday Times reported that the NHS is to employ a new layer of managers to ensure compliance with the Working Time Directive which states that doctors cannot work more than 48 hours in one week from next August.

In a letter to the Scotsman Jim Kilpatrick, National Officer for the Retained Firefighters Union, writes that last week's vote to end the UK's opt-out from the Directive has seriously threatened the future of the Retained Fire Service. Since almost all retained firefighters have another form of primary employment, training and working a minimum of two calls a week would push them over the 48-hour limit. He writes that his members are "extremely concerned that the EU will 'legislate their jobs away' with dire consequences for the communities they are committed to serving."
Scotsman: Letters Sunday Times

EU pesticide ban resisted by Government and farmers
The Independent on Sunday reported that Britain is to get its "toughest crackdown on toxic substances in food and the environment, despite determined resistance to the safety measures from Gordon Brown". The European Parliament has long been pressing, with strong cross-party support, for radical controls on toxic pesticides, despite opposition from some governments, especially Britain.

A deal has been reached between the Parliament and member states that will see a list of 22 particularly hazardous chemicals used in scores of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides gradually being phased out to avoid abrupt withdrawal from the market. However, the National Farmers' Union said that the measures - which will have to be confirmed by the Parliament and EU leaders early in the New Year - "will have a devastating effect on the horticultural industry and will see a reduction in crop yield and quality", and would also force up prices.
Independent

Former Colonel: UK Defence cuts linked to plans for European fighting force
The Sunday Express reported that cuts in the UK's armed forces are part of a Government decision to form a European fighting force, according to former Army Officer, Tim Collins. Labour MP Eric Joyce denied the Government wanted a European army, saying "We could have a European security and defence policy that works in tandem in some limited capacity with European allies, but we already have issues in persuading our European allies in persuading them to shoulder their part of the burden".
No link

EU enlargement set to slow next year
The EU's Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, has said in an interview that, "Next year will be an important litmus test of whether Turkey is serious about its EU accession perspective", reports the IHT. He also said it was likely that other Balkan states would apply for membership next year, following Montenegro's application, but urged them not to rush in because they first needed to show a track record of reform.

On his FT Brussels Blog, Tony Barber writes that 2009 will be a very "weary" year for the EU enlargement process, with Turkey, Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia's accession processes all stalled.

In its annual Democracy Index, The Economist has noted that the "spread of democracy has come to a halt" and branded several EU member states and candidate members as "flawed democracies", including, Croatia and Montenegro.
IHT FT: Brussels Blog Economist

Irish MEP: Irish 'no' vote on Lisbon Treaty was "a vote for a different kind of EU"
In a head to head discussion in the Irish Times, Mary Lou McDonald MEP writes that that No vote to the Lisbon Treaty was "a vote for a different kind of EU." She also adds that the declarations received by the Irish government at the EU summit are not legally binding and are "like the promises of a government at election time, made only to be broken."

On the other side, Europe Minister Dick Roche refers to the assurances given to Ireland as "legally binding" once they have been finalised, but offers no insights into how the assurances might enter into force.
Irish Times Irish Independent

Booker: EU continues to (illegally) appease Iran
In Sunday's Telegraph Christopher Booker highlighted the EU's continued outlawing of Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI), despite an EU court ruling that the ban is "unlawful". The UK, which first called for the group to be banned, has been forced to reverse its decision by a High Court ruling. However, the EU has continued to enforce its ban, defying an EU Court of First Instance ruling.

Booker argued, "If the politicians who run the European Union were found to be acting repeatedly in gross breach of their own law, to appease one of the nastiest regimes in the world...might this not be thought worthy of some attention?"
Telegraph-Booker EU Referendum

Brazil and EU try to arrange free trade agreement
The BBC reports that the global financial crisis and climate change are expected to dominate the agenda at a summit between Brazil and the EU in Rio de Janeiro. However, Le Monde writes that the EU is trying to negotiate a free trade agreement with the Latin America customs union Mercosur and, while Brazil is leaning towards such an arrangement, it cannot force the hands of its neighbours and fellow members.
Echos Le Monde BBC

The Belgian government resigned on Friday over the sale of the struggling bank Fortis to BNP Paribas in which Cabinet Ministers allegedly tried to influence a judge, reports the WSJ. The now ex-Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, has declared that he is not now a candidate to serve in the next government.
BBC WSJ Euronews

The weekend FT reported that the EU is to give Latvia up to 3.1 billion euros in financial assistance.
European Voice Reuters