Open Europe press summary: 23 January 2009

Open Europe is holding a debate entitled "EU communication policy: biased propaganda?", on Tuesday 27 January 2009 from 7 until 8.30 pm, in the offices of Libertas, Avenue de Cortenbergh 71, 1000 Brussels.

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Europe

Royal College of Surgeons: New EU working time rules will be "disastrous" for the NHS
Chief Fire Officer: EU working time rules will leave us "unable to provide the necessary cover"
The Royal College of Surgeons has warned that new EU rules that cap working hours for junior doctors at 48 hours will be "disastrous" for the NHS, the Telegraph reports. The restriction will come in to force in August under the EU's Working Time Directive (WTD).

The College warned that patients are being put at risk and the quality of their care is under threat as many hospitals are covering up failures to implement new rotas that comply with the Directive. It is calling for the Government to agree an opt-out to safeguard patient safety and highlighted that in America junior doctors work an 80-hour week and in Germany a 61-hour week has been agreed. In addition the College wants the EU's on-call rules, also part of the WTD, to change so sleeping at hospital does not count towards the working hours as it does currently.

A survey for the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) found more than half of trainees felt under pressure to falsify their hours and 80 per cent of respondents would support an opt-out of the WTD to protect training. ASiT said that 65 hours a week is required to gain the necessary training opportunities for junior doctors.

John Black, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said "There are simply not the surgeons in the UK to fill the gaps when every doctor's hours are cut to a 48 hour per week maximum. On the other, trainees are telling the college they cannot gain enough experience to progress on the shortened hours. The choice for the nation is clear - do we want patients of the future to be treated by a group of highly skilled and experienced surgeons; or be passed around a wider group of lower skilled surgeons with less experience?"

Alastair Henderson, Joint Director, NHS Employers, said that "compliance may not be possible by August 2009. In those circumstances arrangements which offer a derogation of up to 52 hours work per week for a limited time are being considered, subject to EU approval."

Separately, the BBC reports that Scotland's fire service is under threat from the potential end of the opt-out from the maximum 48 hour working week, which is currently being negotiated in the EU. Although also part of the WTD, this opt-out is a separate provision in the Directive to that of the working hours restriction for junior doctors.

Grampian Chief Fire Officer David Dalziel said the rules would prevent fire stations using retained staff, as most fire stations in Scotland are staffed by part-time fire fighters who have other jobs. He said, "A strict application of the directive will mean that they may often be left unable to provide the necessary cover. The stark fact is that in many of our remoter communities we simply don't have the critical mass of population that is required to maintain a full-time service. Surely it is wrong that the law of unintended consequences should be allowed to leave some communities without effective fire cover in this way."
Telegraph BBC

Former Spanish PM: "I do not think it is a good idea to make a country re-vote";
"The EU can function with its current institutions"
In an exclusive interview with Le Figaro, Spain's former Prime Minister José Maria Aznar states that the current economic crisis is "clearly not a failure of liberalism, but rather a breakdown of current regulatory mechanisms and of state intervention in a sector that is already highly regulated, the banking sector." He calls for, "more flexibility and freedom in the economy, lower taxes and expenses, more budgetary stability and less state intervention," while complaining that Europeans are doing the exact opposite, "which is why the USA will come out of the crisis before Europe."

When asked about whether Europeans should increase their military presence in Afghanistan, he answered that they should, as "one cannot be in an alliance, demand the benefits of the security it provides, and not contribute to it. Yet I don't think the Europeans will accept this invitation." On the possibility of establishing a European defence force, Aznar said "organising European defence outside of NATO is a pipe-dream. Better is one system which guarantees security, than two parallel systems which are a source of insecurity."

Le Figaro also raised the issue of the "No" vote to the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, asking Aznar how he thinks the EU could come out of this crisis. He responded by saying, "I do not think it is a good idea to make a country re-vote if it has said 'No' until it says 'Yes.' Europe doesn't have an institutional problem, it is more a problem of political leadership. During the French Presidency, we were able to see that the EU can function with its current institutions on the condition that it has an able leader and a direction in which to go."
Le Figaro

EU's 'butter mountains' and farm export subsidies return costing taxpayers £237 million;
Oxfam: EU is undermining the possibility of finding global solutions to hunger
The IHT reports that, as the price of dairy products collapses, the EU is to buy 30,000 tons of butter at a guaranteed price of 2,299 euros a ton, and 109,000 tons of skimmed-milk powder at 1,698 euros a ton at taxpayers' expense. In addition, the EU will resume its highly controversial export subsidies for a range of agricultural goods. The article notes that "two years after it was supposed to have melted away for good, Europe's 'butter mountain' is back."

The move has sparked fears over a rise in protectionism as the EU's decision to increase farm subsidies could "trigger a damaging spiral of tit-for-tat" measures around the world, according to the Times. The article quotes Philip York of New Zealand's Federated Farmers, saying "People need to be reminded that the 1929 share market crash did not directly create the Great Depression but politicians did. Protectionist legislation, like America's infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, became a template for protectionism copied around the world. Maybe we need to send all Euro MPs and their eurocrats some history books."

Elise Ford, Head of Oxfam International's EU office, said: "With such measures, the European Union is undermining the possibility of finding global solutions to hunger and to make agriculture work for the poor. It can unleash a series of responses from other countries that could be dangerous in the long-term.

The Telegraph notes that the resumption in subsidies will cost taxpayers £237 million.
IHT Express Times Telegraph

ECB Board Member: Exiting the Euro could imply exiting from the EU
The WSJ carried out an interview with ECB Executive Board Member Lorenzo Bini-Smaghi, who said the ECB had not contemplated the eventuality of default of a member state, but that if a country did want to exit the eurozone, "The cost would surely be higher than staying. It would not only be a huge economic cost because, for instance, the [sovereign] debt is in euro, so it would [likely] increase in value. It would also imply exiting from the European Union. So it is also a huge political issue. And in the end no country would be willing to face this."

In the Irish Times, Jim O'Leary writes, "A decision to leave the euro zone would be a repudiation of such a core element of the European project it would run the risk of expulsion from the EU."

In analysis in the Telegraph, Diplomatic Editor David Blair argues that for some eurozone members, the ECB's interest rate is still too high and, "The most logical option would be for Greece and Spain to leave the euro".
WSJ: Editorial Telegraph: Blair EU Referendum: Blog Telegraph FT Irish Times: O'Leary Mail: Synon blog FT: Leader WSJ FTD FT Economist Telegraph

Commission under pressure to scrap planned quotas for recreational fishermen
The Telegraph reports that pressure is mounting on the European Commission to shelve plans to make weekend anglers a part of the Common Fisheries Policy. The article notes that the idea is to include any "recreational" anglers fishing "on a vessel in Community waters" into EU fisheries policy.

MEPs on the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee are due to hold a preliminary vote on the plan in April - but yesterday opponents reportedly vowed to force it off the agenda before then.
Telegraph

Czech minister warns European Parliament that outside pressure won't help ratification of Lisbon Treaty
EUobserver reports that Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra has told the European Parliament that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in the Czech Republic is a "domestic democratic process," and external pressure aimed at speeding up the process is not helping.

Mr Vondra stressed that Prague should not be pressured to speed up the process, as "the quality of the decision is the most important," rather than the timing. He added, "And any kind of pressure coming from outside is not helpful, I think. Give us a chance to go through that process." The article notes that the Czech parliament was expected to ratify the Lisbon Treaty at the beginning of February, but this timetable has slipped.

Europolitics notes that Mr Vonda also tried to reassure the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs that the comments made Czech PM Mirek Topolánek that the Lisbon Treaty was "worse" than the Treaty of Nice were simply an example of Czech humour.
EUobserver Prague Daily Monitor Le Monde

Economist: Iceland will be "bullied" if it applies to join the EU now
The Economist's Charlemagne column notes that, if Iceland is to apply to join the European Union then it is likely to do so before April because "As time passes, Iceland's chances may shrink". But, the article argues that if Iceland wants to join the European Union it may have to "move a bit" on the fisheries policy, and it will "be bullied, in subtle and unpleasant ways, if it applies to join the EU from its present position of weakness."
Economist: Charlemagne

Danish government could hold a referendum on the Euro in 2010
FT Deutschland reports that Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen will attempt to press ahead with a referendum over the Euro, probably at some point in 2010. Current polls suggest there is now a majority in favour of the Euro. Le Figaro reports that Christine Lagarde, French Minister of the Economy, was invited to Copenhagen as part of this drive, where she announced that, "The Euro had made Europe stronger during the crisis."
FTD Spiegel

European Commission threatens to block proposal for Northern Rock to step up lending
The Guardian reports that the European Commission is threatening to veto the UK Government's revised remit for Northern Rock. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes and her senior officials believe that the Treasury's move to extend the 2011 deadline for Northern Rock to repay its debts to the taxpayer, increase its lending activities and take on more staff may breach EU state-aid rules.
Guardian Telegraph Reuters

A letter in the Birmingham Post cites Open Europe's transparency initiative when arguing that it would have been outrageous for MPs to exempt themselves from Freedom of Information laws.
No link

A BBC journalist who spent a week living the life of an MEP writes that "most MEPs hate coming to Strasbourg", but that it is "hard to see" the practice of moving the European Parliament between Strasbourg and Brussels ending soon.
BBC

Libertas faces electoral hurdle in the UK over party name
The Irish Times reports that Libertas' attempts to field candidates for the European elections in the UK has hit an unexpected hurdle because another political party has already registered Libertas UK with the Electoral Commission. Libertas are attempting to field candidates across Europe in an attempt to turn the elections into a proxy referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Irish Times

PA reports that the UK is to receive £122 million from the EU to help smooth the integration of "third country nationals", as part of £700 million EU-wide integration plan.
No link

Lobby firm suspended from EU register
The FT reports that GPlus Europe, one of Brussels' most influential lobbying firms, is to be the first to be suspended from the EU's voluntary register. The firm, which lobbies for Gazprom, has been accused of failing to disclose the identity of three clients. GPlus Europe will be temporarily taken off the register, which was launched in June to promote greater transparency about the role of lobbyists in EU decision-making.FT
Deutsche Welle reports that the EU is in "disarray" over the relocation of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. IHT EUobserver Deutsche Welle

UK

UK officially in recession as Cameron warns of spectre of IMF bailout
Conservative leader David Cameron has warned that Britain is "running the risk" of having to apply for a bailout from the IMF, reports the Independent, as the economy was officially declared in a recession. The Irish Independent reports that Merrill Lynch has warned that sterling is trading at levels that could threaten its credit rating and said "The market is now pricing the pound in expectation of a downgrade".
Independent Guardian Mail Irish Independent Guide Fawkes blog BBC

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