Open Europe press summary: 28 April 2009

Europe

Opt-out from EU's working week remains after negotiations between MEPs and ministers collapse;
MEPs vow to make new attempt to end opt-out in the autumn
PA reports that negotiations between ministers and the European Parliament over a proposal which would end the possibility to opt out of EU rules which limit the maximum working week to 48 hours have collapsed without any agreement being reached. This means that the opt-out remains, after the latest round of talks broke down last night.

Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla is quoted saying that he is "sorely disappointed" by the failure to agree revised working time rules. "I will now need to reflect (with fellow Commissioners) on this result, and decide what, if anything, we do next," he said.

Conservative Employment Spokesman in the European Parliament, Philip Bushill-Matthews said, "The result of the breakdown of negotiations is that the opt-out remains secure - until the next attempt to undermine it. The current Commission proposal for review automatically lapses, and it will be up to the Commission to come up with a new proposal."

Meanwhile, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Petr Necas, whose country holds the EU Presidency and who represented the other EU governments in the talks, slammed MEPs for blocking an accord which he said would have given employees greater protection. "The MEPs were not willing to accept a deal that would improve the employees' situation and, at the same time, lead to a more flexible labour market," he said.

In a press release from the European Parliament, Spanish socialist MEP Alejandro Cercas, who led the EP's drive to end the opt-out, is quoted saying "We have left the future open and hope to have a solution with the new Commission and the new Parliament." German MEP Mechtild Rothe added, "The opt-out cannot be forever."

PA quotes Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson saying, "The Working Time Directive as it currently applies in the UK is already costing the economy almost £4 billion every year. This would have risen to between £9.2 billion and £11.9 billion if the opt-out was lost. The Government should be applauded for not accepting such unreasonably high cost." Persson is also quoted warning that the new Commission taking office in the autumn could table another proposal.
BBC Open Europe blog EP press release El Mundo Open Europe research

Plans afoot to postpone decisions on Lisbon Treaty until after Czech's EU Presidency
The Irish Times reports that the Irish government has dismissed suggestions that the 'guarantees' it is seeking on the Lisbon Treaty could be agreed in July rather than June to avoid a potential showdown with Czech President Vaclav Klaus. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said yesterday it was "imperative" a deal is struck between EU leaders at the June European Council to maintain the tight timetable the government has set for organising a second referendum on the Treaty.

The article notes however that several EU diplomats privately expressed concern about the potentially damaging role the Czech President could play if he is allowed to chair June's EU leaders' summit in Brussels. "There are speculative conversations here about the possibility of holding an EU summit in July to deal with the Lisbon clarifications in case of a problem in June," said one EU diplomat.

On his Telegraph blog, Bruno Waterfield notes that it is likely that the EU will wait until the Czech's EU Presidency has ended on 30 June. Sweden, which takes over the EU presidency, will instead hold a special summit, probably on 23 July.
Irish Times Telegraph: Waterfield blog Irish Times 2

French Finance Minister criticises Commission proposals to regulate hedge funds
The FT reports that Christine Lagarde, French Finance Minister, yesterday hit out at proposed legislation to regulate hedge funds being prepared by the European Commission, saying that it did not go far enough. Paris has objected to the Commission's proposal that the EU should be able to hand out passports to trade in Europe to offshore funds. "The Commission wants to create a system of mutual recognition," Ms Lagarde said in an interview with the French daily Le Figaro. "This is the kind of system that will open the door to a fund from the Cayman Islands that has never been regulated by Europe. The danger is that this could become the Trojan horse of offshore funds."

The FT article notes that Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy will unveil the new regime tomorrow, which will focus on regulating managers of "alternative investment funds" (AIFs), rather than the funds directly. AIFs would cover hedge funds and private equity funds, as well as commodity funds and real estate funds.
FT FT: Leader WSJ

Cameron: You are "honour-bound" to keep your manifesto promises
The Telegraph reports on the launch of the Conservative Party's campaign calling for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and quotes David Cameron saying, "Where you stand on the referendum says a lot about your politics. It says a lot about how much you value trust between the government and the governed. I believe that if you make a promise in your manifesto, and the country votes on that manifesto, then you are honour-bound to keep that promise".
EU Referendum blog Telegraph EUobserver Irish Times Spectator: Coffee House blog Times

EU health ministers to meet to discuss swine flu
The Czech Presidency has announced an emergency meeting of EU health ministers on Thursday, in response to cases of swine flu in Spain and the UK. EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said that people "should avoid travelling to Mexico or the United States unless it is very urgent for them" in order to minimise the risk of spreading the flu. However, the statement has received a lot of criticism, with many arguing it could have severe consequences on the transatlantic travel industry, while others have reminded that it is not the EU, but national governments that should issue travel advice.
EUobserver WSJ Irish Times Guardian El Mundo El País Le Figaro Times FT

European Socialists: Barroso will stay on even if we win
The FTD reports that Socialist group leader in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz MEP, has said that even if the Socialists were to win the European elections, there would be no Socialist or Social Democrat Commission President. FTD notes that Schulz's statement was unusual since in the past the Commission President was from the political block of the largest faction in the European Parliament.
FTD EurActiv

New study: French support for EU falling
Le Figaro and Cevipof have undertaken a study on the changing attitudes of the French population towards the EU. The study emphasises that France and Greece have experienced the sharpest decline in confidence in the EU and also cites the Eurobarometer survey, in which only 49% of French people said that France being a member of the EU was a positive thing. In 1987, 74% said that it was a positive thing.
No link

Peel: Icelanders want the euro without full EU membership
Writing in the FT, Quentin Peel looks at Iceland's potential membership of the EU and argues that "the potential sticking points on fisheries and farming could yet prove fatal." He goes on to say that "Opinion polls suggest that what Icelanders really want is to join the single currency, but not to sign up for full EU membership."
FT: Peel Telegraph: Hannan blog

An article in Handelsblatt notes that the EU's subsidy system for dairy farmers is backfiring. The EU is producing too much milk and so-called 'milk lakes' have returned.
No link

EU Ombudsman's annual report reveals lack of transparency within European institutions remains first concern
The annual report of the European Ombudsman reveals that the most common allegations examined concern a lack of transparency within the EU institutions. 3406 complaints have been received. One third involved transparency, while others were about refusal of information, unfairness, abuse of power, unsatisfactory procedures, negligence, avoidable delay, legal error, discrimination, and failure to ensure fulfilment of obligations. Most of the inquiries in 2008 concerned the European Commission (66%), followed by the European Parliament, the European Personnel Selection Office, and the Council.Europarl Tagesspiegel HLN Press release Ombudsman Report Ombudsman

Mary Ellen Synon's Mail blog looks at the cost of EU membership to Britain and cites figures from Open Europe's recent research on the cost of regulation.
Mail: Synon blog Open Europe research

Dutch governing party calls for EU budget cuts
According to De Volkskrant, the Christian democrat CDA party, which is leading the government, has said that the EU budget should be reduced by €23.2 billion, that there should be 15 percent less bureaucrats in Brussels (6,700 jobs) and that the EP's travelling circus to Strasbourg should be abolished.Volkskrant

The Brussels Sprouts column in Private Eye looks at MEPs' expenses and the report from former MEP assistant Flavien Deltort, which found that some MEPs do not even attend half the parliamentary sessions in the European Parliament.
No link

Gazeta Wyborcza reports that, on a visit to Poland today, Gordon Brown may try to secure Polish support for the candidacy of Tony Blair for the post of an EU President, which would be created if the Lisbon Treaty came into force.
Gazeta Wyborcza

The European Parliament has adopted an own-initiative report calling for the European Commission to tighten up how it deals with nanomaterials - materials less than a tenth of a micrometre in dimension, reports EurActiv.
EurActiv EUobserver

The Irish Independent reports that the Irish Department of Agriculture will publish on Thursday the details of EU grant payments to farmers made between October 2007 and October 2008.
Irish Independent

Writing on Labour List, Jon Worth argues the case for nominating Ken Livingstone as the UK's next EU Commissioner.
Labourlist: Worth

The Sun reports that Tom Wise MEP yesterday appeared in court on charges of money laundering and false accounting regarding his expenses claims.
Sun

The Mail reports that the European Council yesterday issued guidance to the UK over its deficit levels, and said that it expected the UK to take longer to get its deficit under control than Ireland, Spain and France.
Mail El Mundo

El Mundo reports that the Council of Foreign Ministers yesterday approved a proposal by the European Commission to establish a tribunal in order to resolve the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia.
El Mundo

UK

The FT reports that plans for a flat-rate attendance allowance for MPs have now been abandoned and reform of MPs' expenses will now wait until after a report by Sir Christopher Kelly, Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
FT Mail Times

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