Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Expel Arab squatters from the City of David

Hundreds of Arabs Rampage in Shiloach
Arab neighborhood
Are you really so woefully ignorant of history or just dishonest like other pro-Arab/Muslim propagandists? Silwan is Shiloach - the City of David (not Mohammud). Originally the Jewish Meyuchas family lived there:

"At the height of its growth, the community numbered approximately 150 families. This neighborhood was abandoned during the Arab uprising of 1936-1939. Evidence of Yemenite housing in the village can still be found in the indentations from mezuzot that remain on the doorposts of some of the homes." - City of David Virtual Tour

This Christian Zionist visited Shiloach when Jews first began their return there again, and I’ve been back many times with the Temple Mount Faithful who go to the Pool of Siloam to draw water during Sukkot.

Conflict in Jerusalem
They’ve placed barbed wire all around their “yard,” freshly tarred their roof, have an Israeli flag flying & are still clearing out all the junk the Arabs threw in there for the past 7 years. It was exciting to drive through that Palestinian village as they looked on. Earlier, being hot as usual, I started to roll down my window when they reminded me it’s better to be hot than get a stone in the face!

Silwan/Shiloach/City of David

Israel should utilize this opportunity to expel every single Arab family squatting in the City of David and make room for those who belong there - Jews!

Why do blacks destroy and devour?

“I have given my life to alleviate the sufferings of Africa. There is something that all White men who have lived here like I have must learn and know: these individuals are a sub-race. They have neither the mental or emotional abilities to equate or share equally with White men in any functions of our civilization. I have given my life to try to bring them unto them the advantages which our civilization must offer, but I have become well aware that we must retain this status: White the superior, and they the inferior. For whenever a White man seeks to live among them as their equals, they will destroy and devour him, and they will destroy all his work. And so for any existing relationship or any benefit to this people, let White men, from anywhere in the world, who would come to help Africa, remember that you must maintain this status: you the master and they the inferior, like children whom you would help or teach. Never fraternize with them as equals. Never accept them as your social equals or they will devour you. They will destroy you”

Attributed to Albert Schweitzer (I couldn't find any definite quote or source to confirm this quote, only a vehement denial by Dr Lachlan Forrow, President of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship).

Regardless of who said it, it contains too much truth for those indoctrinated in the humanist politically correct dogma to handle. Any objective review of African history proves people of white color built up those areas they colonized (as prophesied) and people of black color tore it down when left to themselves. Raped Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe ruins) and beleaguered South Africa testify against their dangerous denial.

However, this quote from Abraham Lincoln is confirmed:

"I will say, then, that I AM NOT NOR HAVE EVER BEEN in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white races---that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with White people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the White and black races which will ever FORBID the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the White race."

4th Lincoln-Douglas debate, September 18th, 1858; COLLECTED WORKS Vol. 3, pp. 145-146

"There goes the neighborhood..." now includes, "There goes the nation."


Fellowship with besieged white South Africans

Will we learn or is it too late?


Open Europe press summary: 30 June 2010

Open Europe is tonight hosting a book launch with Derk-Jan Eppink MEP, who will present and discuss his new book Bonfire of Bureaucracy in Europe, in Room 1, House of Lords, SW1A 2PW, 6.30pm - 8.00pm.

 

For information on this event, please contact Sofia Casselbrant on 0044 (0)207 197 2333 or sofia@openeurope.org.uk

 

Europe

 

EU officials predict that David Cameron will yield to EU demands for transfer of powers

The Telegraph reports that senior European officials have predicted that David Cameron will break his promise not to transfer powers to Brussels by yielding to plans for an EU "economic government" and increased regulation of the City. The article quotes a senior Belgian official, whose country is due to take over the EU's rotating Presidency tomorrow, saying the Prime Minister will ultimately back down now that the election is over: "We will wait until some weeks after the elections. It is sometimes easier to discuss after elections." The source observed that no EU agreements would ever be possible if all European leaders stuck to the "totality" of their election manifestoes, suggesting that the coalition agreement to oppose any transfer of power to the EU during this Parliament would be sacrificed.

 

The article also notes that Belgian officials, with strong French and German support, are pushing hard to set up new EU financial supervisors to police financial markets, with the power to dictate to regulators in the City of London, saying: "It is necessary to transfer some decisions away from national to European authorities".

 

The Belgian EU Presidency will also consider the issue of direct EU taxation, and quotes the government source saying: "We can also explore, for example, the financing of European projects via new sources of revenue". The source added that new types of taxation, such as levies on financial transactions or CO2 emissions, could part fund the EU budget, saying: "Couldn't these new types of income at least in part be channelled towards major European-level projects? This is a debate we should be holding. We shouldn't bury everything in national budgets."

 

A Reuters Deutschland article notes that Belgian Deputy PM Didier Reynards has hinted that he would not rule out proposing majority voting against a member state in order to advance EU financial supervision and regulation.

Telegraph Irish Independent Reuters.de

 

Commission unveils its plans for tighter economic governance;

Belgian EU Presidency likely to back plan to give Commission power to enforce sanctions

EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn will today present the Commission's proposals to strengthen economic governance in the EU. French paper La Tribune reports that the plans envisage a broader range of sanctions including the suspension of EU funds as well as the introduction of new measures for the assessment of member states' debt levels, notably the amount of "private debt" and the inflation rate.

 

According to AFP - which has seen a leaked working document - the temporary suspension of subsidies would be used as an "early warning" system for countries breaching EU debt rules. The article notes that the temporary withdrawal of voting rights is not mentioned by the Commission, since its introduction would require an EU Treaty change.

 

The incoming Belgian EU Presidency is likely to back recent ECB demands for the implementation of "semi-automatic sanctions", which would mean giving the European Commission the power to sanction member states directly in certain circumstances. A Belgian government official is quoted by AFP saying: "Since it's about giving the whole process some automaticity, it would not be abnormal if the Commission had the capacity to act for certain sanctions. Otherwise, [member States'] behaviour will not change".

AFP La Tribune Nouvel Observateur Irish Times Open Europe research

 

Markets slump over concerns for eurozone's banks;

ECB's anti-inflation strategy fails to convince

The FT reports that bankers have warned that the European Central Bank's decision not to renew its one-year emergency loans to financial institutions worth €442bn has stoked concern about the ability of some eurozone banks to access funding. Shares fell as a result and the euro dropped 0.5 percent against the pound, its lowest against sterling for 19 months.

 

The ECB's decision prompted an appeal from Spain's Finance Minister Elena Salgado, who said: "The ECB says it doesn't like governments telling it what to do. I simply say I hope on this occasion, as in others, the ECB will be aware of the needs of the Spanish financial system." In the Independent, David Prosser warns that "the withdrawal of the ECB support is another threat to the eurozone's economic recovery (and that of the UK, by extension)."

 

The FT notes that Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos has hit out angrily at rumours that Spain would need to draw on the eurozone's €440bn bailout package. "I say, let's trust the government. Don't listen only to rumours and to those who have an interest in spreading speculation," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the WSJ notes that the ECB's effort to convince the markets, and Germany, that it isn't printing money and risking inflation with its bond-buying program suffered a setback yesterday, when the bank failed to take in as much money from Europe's banking system as it spent on bond purchases. When the ECB began the program in May, it pledged to "sterilize" its purchases of Greek and other debt in Europe's troubled periphery by accepting an equal amount in interest-bearing deposits from banks, so that the total overall money supply would remain unchanged.

 

The paper also notes that EU officials have said that the number of banks that would be subject to a stress-test exercise will expand from just over 20 of the top banks to include a further 60 to 120 banks.

WSJ FT FT 2 BBC Irish Times Irish Independent City AM City AM 2 Independent: Prosser FT 3 FT 4 Telegraph WSJ 2 City AM 3 Handelsblatt

 

Greek Finance Minister: Greek debt restructuring "would have destroyed the euro"

In an interview with the WSJ, Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou has said that Greece expects to meet or even exceed its deficit targets this year. He added that he was "not worried about disruptive protests. Even though there will be protests, they are less than in other countries where fewer measures have been taken". Meanwhile, in an interview with Liberation journalist Jean Quatremer, when asked whether a restructuring of the debt would be less painful for Greece, Papaconstantinou said: "Above all, I think that a Greek restructuring would have destroyed the euro."

WSJ WSJ: Hanke Coulisses de Bruxelles Irish Independent IHT Guardian FT BBC

 

Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on Russia Today, discussing the austerity programmes around Europe and the eurozone crisis.

Russia Today

 

Government warned it cannot meet proposed increase to EU emissions target

The Independent reports that the independent Committee on Climate Change has warned the Government today that it is not on course to meet its climate change targets for reducing carbon emissions. When the economy recovers, the Committee warns, the rate of reduction due will not be adequate to achieve the 34 percent reduction in CO2 (on 1990 levels) by 2020, to which the Government is already committed - or the 42 percent reduction to which it has said it will move if a tougher target can be agreed with the rest of the EU.

Independent

 

Belgian Presidency fears MEPs' demands may hold up agreement on EU budget

EUobserver reports that a senior Belgian official has expressed fears that MEPs may use their ability to sanction the annual budget, in order to extract more long-term demands from member states over the seven year financial framework, potentially leaving the EU without a format budget in 2011. The article quotes the official saying: "There is a real possibility of not agreeing a 2011 budget. As the first budget to be agreed under the Lisbon Treaty, it would not set a good precedent."

EUobserver

 

Commission looks into subsidising Europe's tourism industry

The FT reports that the European Commission will present a number of measures today to prolong the tourist season in order to help the European tourist sector recover from a two year crisis. According to the plans, measures will include improving offers and extending access to leisure services for disadvantaged people. The Commission document also raises the possibility of the creation of a new financial instrument aimed exclusively at backing tourism, according to EurActiv.

FT EurActiv

 

Belgian EU Presidency "ready to give more space" to Van Rompuy and Ashton

Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza notes that Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has said the Belgian EU Presidency will take a back seat and allow its former PM Herman Van Rompuy to take a leading role as EU Council President. He said: "We are ready to give more space to Herman Van Rompuy and [EU Foreign Minister] Catherine Ashton". The paper argues that this is bad news for Poland, which takes over the rotating EU Presidency in the second half of 2011, arguing that, "The shoes left by Belgium and Hungary may turn out to be too small".

GazetaWyborcza

 

The BBC reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's candidate, Christian Wulff, currently has a slight edge on opposition candidate Joachim Gauck in today's presidential election.

Irish Times IHT Guardian FT EurActiv BBC BBC: Hewitt blog FAZ Die Welt

 

CityAM reports that proposed EU rules will not allow bankers in Europe to take home more than a third of their bonuses in cash from the start of next year. A new watchdog agency for European banks will be tasked with deciding on the definition of a "large bonus", which would then be capped at one-fifth.

City AM

 

The German press notes that a recent draft proposal put forward by the European Parliament would "assassinate" Nutella, the hazelnut and chocolate spread. Under the proposal, foods with more than ten grams of sugar and more than four grams of fat per 100 grams will need to be marked with warnings as unhealthy food. The EP has denied MEPs want to ban the sale or marketing of Nutella.

Telegraph Die Welt Die Welt 2 Bild La Stampa EP press release

 

FAZ columnist: Citizens do not need happiness prescribed by the EU Commission

FAZ columnist Hendrik Kafsack writes: "Since the citizens have informed the EU Commission in the referendums in the Netherlands and France that they are not enamoured with the EU at the moment, the Brussels' authorities keep proposing various packets to make people happy." However, he argues that a mature citizen does not fit into the Commission's plan "because they could find out the tariffs for mobile phones, the amount of fat and salt in their food [...] and they could even know better than the authorities what is good for them."

FAZ

 

The Irish Independent quotes US President Barack Obama saying, "Because of the troubles we've seen in Europe, we're now seeing some headwinds and skittishness and nervousness on the part of the markets."

Irish Independent

 

In the FT, former EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland argues that "The cost of not having the euro would have been far greater over the past two years than the cost of having it has been over the past three months."

FT: Sutherland

 

Conservative Home notes that "the eurosceptic Tory Right" is well represented in the new Parliamentary Backbench Business Committee, which will help determine backbencher-initiated business in the House of Commons.

Conservative Home

 

The Irish Times reports that top US environmental lawyer James Thornton is taking legal action to force radical reforms in the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Irish Times

 

According to the IHT, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Michel Barnier will tomorrow push to oblige member states to accept patents in English, French or German, thus making it simpler for companies to validate their patents across the EU.

IHT Handelsblatt

 




Open Europe is an independent think tank campaigning for radical reform of the EU. For information on our research, events and other activities, please visit our website: openeurope.org.uk or call us on 0207 197 2333.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Forming Opinions (II) (German Media Company WAZ in conflict in Serbia)

Newsletter 2010/06/24 - Forming Opinions (II)

ESSEN/SKOPJE/BELGRADE (Own report) - The Serbian Minister of the Economy, Mladan Dinkic is calling on the WAZ media group from Germany to leave Serbia because of its dubious intrigues. After a deal was revealed that was aimed at making the Essen-based company a leader on the Serbian market, Dinkic said that the WAZ cannot be allowed to take control of one of the country's most important daily newspapers, with "backroom business deals". The WAZ and its manager Bodo Hombach, (SPD), attempted, with the help of a front man, to buy, step by step, majority shares in the Vecernje Novosti, the country's largest selling daily newspaper. But the front man, a Serbian oligarch, does not want to turn over the shares in his temporary possession. A front man was needed for the deal because antitrust regulations did not allow the WAZ to buy the Serbian public opinion forming daily, Vecernje Novosti.
The German media group, headquartered in Essen, is the strongest West European company on the Southeast European press market owning up to 70 percent in several countries - padded by excellent relations to the political and business establishment.

more
http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56355

David Ben-Ariel on YouTube!

Open Europe press summary: 29 June 2010

On Wednesday 30 June, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, in Room 1, House of Lords, SW1A 2PW, Open Europe is hosting a book launch with Derk-Jan Eppink MEP, who will present and discuss his new book Bonfire of Bureaucracy in Europe. The book describes how the EU's obsessive focus on "ever closer union", neglecting its core tasks such as the single market, has led to the debt crisis which is now engulfing the continent.

 

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Sofia Casselbrant on 0044 (0)207 197 2333 or sofia@openeurope.org.uk

 

Europe

 

51 percent of Germans want the Deutschmark back

AFP reports that an IPSOS poll has found that 51 percent of German voters want to return to the Deutschmark, with only 30 percent wanting to keep the euro. 56 percent of those over 50 years old said they wanted the DM back and 42 percent of those between 16 and 29 shared this view.

 

Meanwhile, the WSJ notes that eurozone faces its next major test on Thursday when the European Central Bank's €442 billion of emergency loans expire. Some investors worry that vulnerable euro-area banks, unable to borrow in the interbank market, could have difficulties in replacing that funding, despite repeated assurances from the ECB that it will provide funds on similar terms, albeit for only three months, beginning Wednesday. The FT reports that Spanish banks have been lobbying the ECB to extend this three month programme, accusing the ECB of "absurd" behaviour in not renewing the existing scheme.

 

A Handelsblatt article, entitled "The ECB has to play fire brigade for Greece", suggests that the ECB will have to intervene in Greece's bond auction this week, with investors put off by Greek government bonds' junk status. In an interview with Le Monde Jacques Delpla - a former economic advisor to French President Nicolas Sarkozy - has said that debt repayments for struggling eurozone member states should be postponed by ten years in order to allow these countries to pursue necessary budgetary reforms: "The solution I suggest is therefore to encourage fragile countries to go on with their reforms without leaving the eurozone. In exchange, their debt payments could be postponed by ten years".

AFP WSJ FT Telegraph Handelsblatt Handelsblatt 2

 

Former French Foreign Minister: Commission's push for economic government potentially "a big and furtive leap into federalism";

Spanish Foreign Minister: "The times when Berlin could decide everything on its own are over"

Writing in Le Monde, former French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine warns against the implications of the European Commission's recent demands for an early review of member states' budgets. He argues: "Over the last weeks, the crisis has brought back to life among nostalgic federalists [...] the hope of a windfall. Their premise is: we have a single currency, the euro, which is managed in a federalist way. We must therefore do the same with economic policies."

 

He adds, "But what do they mean by 'federalism' (or 'integration')? [...] If the Commission means, under the pretence of an early review of the economic guidelines of the budgets, that governments would now be obliged to submit before a vote is expressed by national parliaments, replacing the latter in taking the final decisions [...] then this would be a big - and furtive - leap into federalism, desired by the eurocrats, but never accepted or ratified by the citizens. This would be illegitimate, and out of the Treaties".  

 

Meanwhile, Handelsblatt reports that Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos has warned Germany against trying to advance EU economic governance on its own. "Germany can make proposals, but it still needs the consent of 27 EU members," he said, adding that, "The times when Berlin could decide everything on its own are over." He also emphasised that Spain has never breached the Stability and Growth Pact and that Germany is one of the main beneficiaries of the euro.

 

A separate Handelsblatt article reports that the incoming Belgian EU Presidency will be giving priority to budget consolidation, according to EU diplomats. Belgium reportedly wants to give more competences to EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn and is in favour of taking into account the whole debt position of a country when enforcing sanctions.

Handelsblatt Le Monde Open Europe research

 

Belgian Presidency raises possibility of eurozone going it alone on financial supervision

Handelsblatt reports that the incoming Belgian EU Presidency wants a compromise on EU financial supervision by October at the latest. Belgian Deputy PM Didier Reynders has also said he wants to reach a compromise on the AIFM directive. The article notes that both projects are currently blocked, because the UK Government fears for the City of London, but that the Belgian Presidency may explore the possibility of the eurozone 'going it alone' on plans for financial supervision.

 

Furthermore, Belgium and Luxembourg want to introduce an EU-wide CO2 tax, which would serve to directly fund the EU budget. Most other member states are opposed to a direct EU tax. However, EUobserver reports that many Belgian policymakers believe the detailed agenda for the Presidency, which was created by the current caretaker government, could be at risk if a new government were formed quickly.

Irish Times EUobserver EurActiv Handelsblatt

 

Handelsblatt reports that Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has warned against a unilateral EU financial transaction tax, favoured by France and Germany, saying, "the danger of the European financial industry migrating is too great".

Handelsblatt

 

UK's bid to meet EU renewable energy targets dealt blow

The Guardian reports that, in a blow to the UK's bid to meet EU renewable energy targets, figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that the proportion of electricity supplied from renewable sources such as wind and hydro power fell by 7.5 percent in the first three months of this year compared to 2009. The EU targets require the UK to produce 15 percent of its energy from renewables.

 

Sir David King, a former Chief Scientist to the Government and Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University, said the figures highlighted the need for new nuclear generators to help cut emissions and keep power supplies reliable. "We can't rely too heavily on wind because it always requires a gas-fired turbine to be able to be switched on to provide alternative energy," he said.

Guardian Open Europe research

 

In response to the news that the new House of Lords' expenses system will be operated on a per diem basis, Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph pointing to the experience of the European Parliament, where MEPs were caught "signing in and sloping off". He added, "The idea of a per diem allowance eliminates a lot of accountability."

Telegraph Open Europe research

 

Handelsblatt suggests that tomorrow's German presidential election no longer presents a danger to Angela Merkel's Chancellorship, with her favoured candidate Christian Wulff expected to win.

Handelsblatt WSJ

 

BMA Chairman: EU doctors must be tested before working in the UK

The Telegraph reports that, in a speech on the opening day of the BMA's annual conference in Brighton, Dr Hamish Meldrum said that it was wrong that foreign doctors from within the EU did not face the same scrutiny as British doctors. He said: "We seem to be able to do little or nothing to check that doctors from overseas - especially from Europe - meet the proper standards of language and competence."

Telegraph Mail

 

Sarkozy will oppose "discounted" CAP, French Agriculture Minister says

In an interview with Les Echos, French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire said he will try to persuade other EU member states to adopt the French approach during the debate on the reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He said: "Two visions will clash: the first one supports a 'discounted' CAP, and wants the EU to produce at the lowest costs possible, regardless of the consequences for health, for the environment and for product standards. This is not our choice. Our President [Nicolas Sarkozy] defends an ambitious agricultural policy resting on full health security, on the safeguard of the environment and on aid for struggling areas [...] But all this has a cost, and requires real harmonisation of rules".

Les Echos

 

EU's Data Retention Directive under attack from privacy groups

Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet reports that while the European Parliament is pushing for an extension of the EU's Data Retention Directive, the European Commission is under pressure to discard the Directive altogether. In a letter sent to Commissioners on 22 June, more than one hundred European organisations are calling for the repeal of the Directive. Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom has told Svenska Dagbladet that a repeal of the Directive is unlikely, but that she will undertake a review of it and present her findings later this year.

Svenska Dagbladet Svenska Dagbladet: Letter to Commissioner Malmstrom Computable

 

EU legislation has 'enshrined the working methods of the big four auditors'

Writing in Belgian daily De Tijd, Peter Vandewalle, a Belgian Certified Public Accountant, argues that the EU's 2006/43/EC Directive regulating statutory audits of annual accounts "has largely emerged due to the lobbying of the major accounting firms", to the detriment of their smaller competitors. He argues: "Under the disguise of improving quality, procedures have become more burdensome...The working methods of the four big auditors (Deloitte, KMPG, Ernst & Young and PriceWaterhouseCoopers) have been enshrined in legislation, despite their failings in the Enron, Parmalat and Lernout & Hauspie scandals". 

Tijd

 

Swift Agreement finalised after compromise with European Parliament

The EU and the US have signed the "Swift Agreement", enabling the transfer of information on EU citizens' bank transfers to US counter-terrorism authorities. A compromise was reached after the Council of Ministers agreed to MEPs' demands that the EU will have its own system for mapping terrorists' finances within five years time, similar to the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme employed by the US.

European Voice Dagens Nyheter FAZ

 

AFP reports that French Europe Minister Pierre Lellouche said yesterday he wants EU member states to keep direct political control over the new European External Action Service (EEAS). "I have my own red line about the functioning of this system: it has not to be a sort of 28th service piloted by the Commission and controlled by the European Parliament", he argued.

AFP

 

Petr Necas has been sworn in as the new Czech Prime Minister. He is Chairman of the Civic Democrat Party, which sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament.

WSJ

 

An article in the WSJ notes that, due to the bigger share of exports in their economies, the weaker euro is likely to benefit countries such as Ireland and Germany rather than Portugal, Spain and Greece.

WSJ

 

In response to the Greek parliament's discussions on austerity measures scheduled for today, Greek public sector workers have embarked upon another 24-hour strike, the fifth this year.

Dagens Nyheter Svenska Dagbladet

 

El Mundo reports that the European Commission has rejected European-level legislation prohibiting the use of the burka in public settings.

El Mundo

 




Open Europe is an independent think tank campaigning for radical reform of the EU. For information on our research, events and other activities, please visit our website: openeurope.org.uk or call us on 0207 197 2333.

South Africa - Be Warned



View this link for a shocking look into what is happening in South Africa DAILY:
http://dienuwesuidafrika.blogspot.com


South Africa's farmers, pensioners and children are dying in the most brutal ways, and the world turns a blind eye. Why, because it is the Blacks who are killing the Whites. If it was the other way around, then it would have been headline news in every country! WHY?

View this link for a shocking look into what is happening in South Africa DAILY:
http://dienuwesuidafrika.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 28, 2010

Open Europe press summary: 28 June 2010

Europe

Business leaders doubt eurozone will survive beyond 2013
The FT notes that research by the Economist Intelligence Unit commissioned by RBC Capital Markets reveals that world business leaders see a growing risk that the eurozone could break up in the next three years. Half of the 440 chief executives and heads of banks questioned say there is a greater than 50 percent chance of one or more countries leaving the eurozone by 2013. More than a third (36 percent) see at least a 25 percent chance of a complete breakup over the same period. Germany is perceived as the fifth most likely country to pull out, which the article notes may reflect the respondents' concern that Berlin may lose confidence in monetary union if the crisis continues.

Saturday's Guardian reported that, in its first major test, Greece will next month launch its first debt sale since it was forced to accept a €110bn (£90bn) bailout in May.

In the FT Wolfgang Munchau argues that the "eurozone will need to commit itself to a full-blown fiscal union and proper political institutions that give binding macroeconomic instructions to member states for budgetary policy, financial policy and structural policies."

Climate Action Commissioner admits EU has not analysed the impact of its pledge to cut emissions by 30 percent
EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard has admitted that the economic consequences of increasing the EU's emission reduction target to 30 percent by 2020 had not been thoroughly examined when the EU pledged to raise its 20 percent target. The EU has pledged to raise its target if other developed countries make comparable commitments. She said: "The next step that we need before we can go ahead is to cooperate with the member states to analyse what the consequences of setting the goal would be for them as the potential costs and benefits are not equally spread".

In an interview with Euractiv, she also reaffirmed her support for the introduction of an EU-wide carbon tax. Ms. Hedegaard argued that such a tax could be an important tool to make people consume less energy throughout Europe, and added: "If you do it intelligently, you can have a lot of results coming from energy taxation".

Ashton breaks "budget neutral" promise on EU's diplomatic service
The Sunday Times reported that EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton has said that she will have to demand additional funds for the European External Action Service (EEAS), thus backtracking on her previous statement that the EEAS would be "budget neutral". The cost of the service is now expected to reach €900m once the EEAS is fully operational: a 50 percent increase from the current cost of the EU's overseas missions.

Meanwhile, Ashton has requested a US-style "single crisis response centre" under her direct command which would most likely be situated close to Ms Ashton's office in the new EEAS headquarters. According to EUobserver, Ashton wants to give herself a powerful asset when she asks EU foreign ministers to deploy an EU-battle group or if she decides to send an EEAS diplomat on a peace mission. The response centre is expected to have a staff of some 160 people and a budget of €10 to €20 million a year.

G20 agree to cut deficits;
Barosso and Van Rompuy continue to squabble over who sits at top table
There is widespread coverage of the weekend's G20 summit in Toronto with leaders agreeing that richer countries should halve their deficits by 2013. The summit communiqué papered over the different approaches to cutting government spending favoured by the US and European governments, with Germany in particular calling for immediate reductions.

The front page of Handelsblatt claims that "Merkel manages to get her way against Obama", quoting the German Chancellor saying the summit was a "success" and that "it's more than I had expected." AFP reports that the European Council's permanent President Herman Van Rompuy and the Commission's President José Manuel Barroso both claimed an EU "victory" at the summit. "The conclusions of the summit reflect a broad convergence around the European approach", they said. However, in the FT, Alan Beattie and Chris Giles argue "The Group of 20 leading economies agreed a form of words on Sunday that allowed all sides to claim their deficit reduction strategy had won out but is likely to make little difference in practice."

Het Financieele Dagblad quotes a top diplomat commenting on the struggle between Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso to represent the EU at the summit. He said there were "a lot of negotiations on how we would present the EU at the G20 in Toronto," adding, "it was a whole lot of trouble again".

In Saturday's Independent, Sean O'Grady argued that the economic crisis has forged a strong alliance between Cameron and his Franco-German counterparts, writing that "he is also a staunch supporter of their hawkish fiscal conservatism."

Meanwhile, the FT notes that leaders agreed that banks will be required to hold more capital to balance risks but fell short of agreeing a levy or tax, favoured, in different forms, by Germany, France and the UK. FAZ reports that despite the failure of the G20 to agree an international financial transaction tax, Germany and France want to go it alone and implement it at the EU level. "We want to find a framework which allows us to tax banking activities", French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. Saturday's Guardian reported that David Cameron also called on countries such as Germany, France and Italy to make good on the aid pledges to Africa.

German Finance Minister "confident" of EU ban on naked short-selling
The Guardian reports that Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany's Finance Minister, has said that the EU is close to a 27-member ban on short-selling. This comes in the wake of Germany's unilateral ban last month on speculative trades in top financial stocks, eurozone government bonds and related credit default swaps. Schäuble told Börsen-Zeitung, "I am confident of a ban on naked short-selling [at the EU level], and in financial sector taxation, we are also making progress."

Commission to outline tougher budget sanctions this week
EUobserver reports that the Commission is set to unveil a new strict proposal this Wednesday which could lead to member states having their EU payments withheld if they break the bloc's Stability and Growth Pact. The new plan would allow the Commission to withhold farm payments, roughly 40 percent of the EU's €120 billion annual budget, together with varying types of structural funds. A comprehensive list of tougher budgetary measures will be brought forward by the Commission this September.

El Pais reports that the Commission also wants private debt to be taken into account in disciplinary proceedings that are open to countries with excessive debt. The proposal could disproportionately affect some member states such as Spain, which has a private debt 61 percent above the European average.

Hague: Previous government failed to build relationships in EU
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Foreign Secretary William Hague said, "The last government lectured us on influencing Europe and they were not good at building euro-relationships. They relied on dealing with the larger states, not the smaller ones, which we are doing now, they neglected that. And they never had bright British officials going into the EU institutions. We need to put that right for long-term British influence. No more lectures from the Labour Party, they were short-sighted and cack-handed."

Belgian domestic political crisis could allow Van Rompuy to gain more power
An AFP article suggests that the lack of a permanent Belgian government - a new cabinet is expected to enter office in October - might allow the European Council's President Herman Van Rompuy to exert more power during the Belgian Presidency, which is due to commence next month. Dominik Hierlemann from the Bertelsmann Foundation is quoted saying that "in the medium term, Van Rompuy will emerge as the winner among the EU institutions".

Law Professor: European Arrest Warrant undermining "sovereign jurisdiction over domestic crime and the criminal process"
The Irish Times notes that Prof Dermot Walsh of the University of Limerick has warned that, under the European Arrest Warrant process, a person could be investigated across two or more jurisdictions for the same offence. "This will undermine what might broadly be described as sovereign jurisdiction over domestic crime and the criminal process," he said. "It will loosen the knot that has traditionally tied the investigation and prosecution of a crime to the domestic law enforcement authorities in the jurisdiction where the crime was committed."

German regional minister: "Germany hardly gets involved in the [EU] law-making procedure"
In an interview with DPA, German Minister of the state of Thüringen, Peter Huber, said, "Germany hardly gets involved in the [EU] law-making procedure." He added, "In many other countries they have a Europe minister who develops strategies and decides what policies to back. In England, approximately every year a detailed plan is submitted. The German Federal government does not even manage to send one of its ministers." Meanwhile, he pointed out that there are around 140,000 rules in EU law which affect German citizens directly.

In the Sunday Telegraph, Christopher Booker noted that "According to the Pink Book, we hand over £15 billion yearly to the EU, so we are giving £7 million to Brussels every four hours."

German Presidential election becomes vote on Merkel's leadership
The Telegraph reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a crucial presidential election scheduled for Wednesday which could potentially lead to the collapse of her coalition government. The opposition's candidate, Joachim Gauck, has recently emerged as the front-runner in an election which has come to be seen as a vote on Merkel's leadership.

Sale of eggs by the dozen to be banned under new EU regulations
The Express reports that the European Parliament last week voted against Britain's exemption from EU regulations forbidding the selling of goods by number. The new rules mean that instead of labelling on an egg box listing the numbers, it will have to carry their weight in grams. The Mail quotes Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman saying that shoppers "want to buy eggs by the dozen and they should be allowed to - a point I shall be making clear to our partners in Europe."

Italian MEP campaigns for a European UFO Centre
Die Welt reports that Italian MEP Mario Borghezio (Lega Nord - EFD Group) has submitted a written declaration to the European Parliament asking for the creation of a European centre to study UFOs. The article notes that the declaration's cover pictures a gigantic UFO heading to the European Parliament's buildings in Strasbourg. It calls on EU member states to open "public archives on UFOs" and for records "to be declassified by member states."

On her Mail blog, Mary Ellen Synon cites Open Europe's research on the cost of EU communication policy.

The Telegraph reports that Reading University research funded by the EU is attempting to identify suspicious behaviour on board aircraft by implementing a combination of cameras, microphones, explosive sniffers and a sophisticated computer system.

EurActiv notes that MEPs sitting on the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) are split over the Commission's draft Consumer Rights Directive.

De Standaard reports that the UK and France have proposed to enlarge the UN Security Council at the G8 summit preceding the G20, following demands by Germany and India.

FT Deutschland reports that MEPs are calling for an EU-wide speed limit of 120km/h for small trucks in light of environmental concerns. The EP's Environment Committee will vote on a proposal in September but difficult negotiations are expected with member states.







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