Open Europe press summary: 29 April 2009

Europe

Hague will not rule out retrospective referendum on the Lisbon Treaty
In an interview with the Times, Shadow Foreign Minister William Hague left the door open to the possibility of the Conservatives promising a referendum in their general election manifesto even if the Lisbon Treaty had already been ratified by the EU's 27 member states by then. He also repeated his promise for immediate legislation on a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if it had not been ratified by the whole of the EU by the time that the Conservatives took power.

He said the chances of the Lisbon Treaty not being approved by next year, with difficulties in the Czech Republic and Poland and Ireland still to hold a second referendum, were 50-50.

Mr Hague said that, if the Treaty had been ratified before a Conservative victory, the party would, nevertheless, spell out in its manifesto what action it would take to reverse European integration. Pressed on whether in those circumstances a referendum could still be promised in a Conservative manifesto, he said: "We would not rule anything in or out."

When speaking about the Conservatives' policy towards the EU, he said that on issues such as climate change, energy liberalisation and the single market they were "great enthusiasts". "Our difference is that we are not in favour of the institutional aggrandisement of Brussels," he said.

The Spectator's Coffee House blog argues that, "If they are thinking about a post-ratification referendum, then I think the key thing is that their manifesto makes it clear whether the result will be binding on the government."
Times Spectator: Coffee House blog Open Europe blog

Working Time Directive: Commission to press ahead with legal challenge against the UK over failure to apply EU rules for on-call time
There's further coverage of the breakdown in the negotiations between MEPs and ministers over the right to opt out of the EU's 48 hour working week. The break-down means that the opt-out remains in place until a new proposal is tabled by the Commission. However, the Telegraph reports that all 26 other EU member states are now expected to start making use of the opt-out, in order to avoid legal challenges being brought against them by the Commission. Most of these countries will use the opt-out to get around EU rules which count all time spent on-call as active working time - rules that have caused massive problems across Europe, especially for health and emergency staff working long hours of on-call duty. MEPs managed to block a proposal which would have revised these rules.

The article reports that up to 20 legal challenges against member states for failure to implement the on-call time rules will now proceed, after being frozen since 2004, including one case against Britain.

Euractiv reports that the new Commission has the option of drafting a new proposal from scratch when it takes office in the autumn. German Socialist MEP Mechtild Rothe is quoted saying, "We can only hope that the new Commission makes a new proposal very soon", adding that during the confirmation hearings of the new commissioners, working time was sure to play a prominent role.
WSJ Mail Telegraph Independent EUobserver BBC

EP committee approves proposal for harmonising rules for asylum seekers across EU
The Civil Liberties Committee in the European Parliament has approved a far-reaching proposal aimed at harmonising rules for asylum seekers across the EU. The proposal lays down standards on "reception condition", including guarantees that asylum seekers will recieve housing, food, clothing, health care, financial benefits, freedom of movement and access to work within six months of their arrival. In addition, migrants can only be detained as a last resort and must not be held in secure accommodation for more than 72 hours without a judge's approval. MEPs said the proposal is needed to improve the way the EU asylum system works and strengthen asylum seekers' rights.

According to the Express, under the proposal, member states would be compelled to accept a percentage of applicants in accordance with their population. This would mean the UK taking in 13 percent of all refugees arriving in the EU - or 22,500 of the 322,000 average arrivals over the last 10 years. Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn is quoted saying, "Economic migrants posing as asylum seekers would have an easy ride under these plans."

The full proposal will be voted on by the whole Parliament next week in Strasbourg.
European Parliament press release Express

Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on BBC Northern Ireland's Talk Back show, discussing the need for reform of the EU.
BBC Northern Ireland

UK hedge fund industry calls on UK Treasury to intervene against new EU regulation
The Telegraph reports that the European Commission is due to unveil its draft directive on regulation of hedge funds tomorrow, but industry leaders of hedge funds and private equity funds are demanding an intervention from the UK Treasury to force a delay and re-draft the regulations.

The article quotes a 'well-placed source' saying: "The Treasury is being asked to intervene as this is emerging as a classic "EU vs the UK" stitch-up." The paper reports that the industry in London want the directive to be based on the recommendations outlined at the G20 summit a few weeks ago, but leaks of the directive have suggested that it may be more onerous and along the lines demanded by critics in the European Parliament's Socialist group.

The WSJ reports that Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is to separately make nonbinding recommendations on how EU nations should regulate bankers' pay, for example that bonuses be linked to financial performance over a number of years.
Telegraph WSJ

ECJ ruling on compensation for Greek Cypriots means that British courts must enforce Cypriot law
The Telegraph reports that the ECJ has ruled that British Courts must enforce judicial decisions made in Cyprus, which uphold the property rights of Greek Cypriots who were forced out of the northern half of the island when Turkish troops invaded in 1974. The ruling means that thousands of Britons with property in Northern Cyprus could be forced to return their properties, or pay compensation to the original Cypriot landholders.
WSJ Mail

Czech Senate to vote on Lisbon Treaty in May
Javno reports that the Czech Senate is due to vote on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty on the 6-7 May. It is expected to be a close vote, following the collapse of the Czech government, but outgoing PM Mirek Topolanek said he expects the Upper House to approve the document.

Meanwhile, Le Figaro reports that in the Czech Republic 150 speakers will embark on a non-stop 7 hour reading marathon of the entire Lisbon Treaty in order to demonstrate that it is readable, despite its complexity. The event will be held several days before the Czech Senate is due to vote on the Treaty.
Javno

According to Le Monde, during a press conference in Prague, outgoing Czech PM Mirek Topolanek has cast doubt over the ability of the new government to lead the EU, saying "It is evident that with the end of this government and its departure it is also the Czech Presidency (of the EU) which is coming to an end".
No Link

European Parliament amendment would render French internet piracy law illegal
Le Monde reports that on 6 May the European Parliament will vote on a text which contradicts the internet piracy draft law in France. If approved, the amendment would mean that "no restrictions can be imposed on the fundamental rights and liberties of consumers without a judicial decision". Numerous groups and member states support this amendment, but France's UMP party remains strongly opposed as it would completely contradict the Hadopi law they are currently trying to pass. The French National Assembly is due to re-vote on the draft law today, following its rejection on 9 April due to abstentions.
Le Monde WSJ

Banking secrecy within EU could be coming to an end
EUobserver reports that the deadline for the end of the transitional agreement which allows Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria to opt out of automatic sharing of banking information with other member state tax authorities is approaching.
EUobserver Deutsche Welle Wiener Zeitung Baseler Zeitung Handelsblatt Standaard

Barber: MEPs risk shooting EU-Canada free trade talks in the foot
On his FT Brussels blog, Tony Barber argues that the European Parliament's impending decision to introduce a blanket ban on the trading of seal products throughout the EU is "not exactly the best climate in which to pursue a liberalising trade deal, one might think." He notes that, "If the European Parliament goes ahead with the ban, the Canadians have made it clear that they will start an action at the World Trade Organisation."

Barber concludes that "the EU is presenting a picture of itself that looks suspiciously as if the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing."
FT: Brussels blog

Sarkozy gives Zapatero some advice on how to lead the EU
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has advised Zapatero not to be naïve with regard to Europe, during a bilateral summit in Madrid on Tuesday, El Pais reports. During a speech to the Spanish Parliament, Sarkozy emphasised the need to protect farmers and not allow products into Europe from countries which "do not respect environmental, moral and social rules", which in his opinion "is not protectionism".

According to the Guardian, Sarkozy also advised Zapatero that one of his priorities should be to ensure that Europe has a stronger economic government. Zapatero said "I can't see a single market, a single currency, then not see an economic government with powers, with tools".
El Pais Le Monde Guardian EUobserver

Commission reluctant to chase up member states' budget deficits
Handelsblatt reports that although the economic crisis has caused high budget deficits in several countries, EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Alumia will not impose any penalties, at least until the autumn. The article notes that, on top of the countries which already exceeded a deficit of 3% in 2008, five further member states will violate the threshold of the Stability and Growth Pact in the next two years, namely Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Germany. The article notes that Almunia may be forced in to taking action against nearly all the EU's member states.
Handelsblatt

Telecommunications companies challenge EU roaming decision
The Irish Times reports that a group of mobile phone companies are challenging a 2007 EU decision which caps the cost of calls when customers are using their phone abroad. The article notes that if the firms are successful, "it would also cast doubt over a similar law capping the cost of mobile internet and data services when travelling, which was only passed in Strasbourg last week."
Irish Times

Lithuania's economy has shrunk by 12.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2008.
EUobserver

The Guardian reports that former Cabinet Minister Peter Hain has warned that the BNP could qualify for up to £2 million in funding from the EU if it wins six seats in the European elections in June.
Guardian Guardian: Hain

Sri Lanka has refused to allow the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, to enter the country today on a joint mission with his British and French counterparts, sparking a diplomatic row with the EU.
Times

Prospect Magazine's Brussels diary notes that June's European elections may give a boost to Tony Blair's chances of becoming EU president, "if he's willing to discover his socialist roots."
No link

Albania has formally submitted an application to join the European Union despite a call from the European Commission to wait until after the European elections in June.
Deutsche Welle

In the Times, Brownen Maddox argues that Iceland should explore all alternatives to full EU membership in order to strengthen its hand in potentially "painful" accession talks.
Times: Maddox

An article in the WSJ looks at European fiscal stimulus measures and suggests that social unrest in the EU could rise if the measures fail to show effect.
WSJ

In an interview with Le Monde, French Socialist MEP Catherine Trautmann argues that "the European Parliament cannot be a place for recycling national politicians who are searching for a job". The comment was made in reference to Rachida Dati, the former French Justice Minister who is now standing in a safe seat for the UMP in the European elections.
Le Monde

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