Europe
MEPs to vote on whether to end the UK opt-out from EU working time rules;
New Open Europe briefing shows the move could cost the UK £2,300 per household
MEPs will today vote on a proposal which could end the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive. In a new briefing, Open Europe has estimated that ending the opt-out could cost the UK economy between £47.74 billion and £66.45 billion by 2020, with a middle estimate of £57 billion. This is more than £2,300 per household and more than five times the UK's annual contribution to the EU budget.
Open Europe's estimates were featured on the BBC Today programme, the BBC website and on Mark Mardell's Euroblog. Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted on PA, arguing "We're in the middle of a recession, which both businesses and the public sector will be paying off for years to come. It would be crazy for the European Parliament to choose now to start making EU working time rules even more of a burden."
On his blog Mark Mardell notes that "Gordon Brown risks a humiliating defeat at the hands of Labour members of the European Parliament", adding that today's "vote will be tight". Earlier in the week, Business Minister Pat McFadden warned it would be a "real mistake" to end the opt-out. Mardell notes, "The Labour MEPs are split and some sound rather tortured about their decision. Formally they have a meeting at 0900 before the vote a couple of hours later, but I think many will do what they want to do, whatever the group decides as a whole."
It is reported that the European Commission has said the opt-out should stay, arguing it is now used by at least 14 other countries.
BBC BBC Today (2.06 minutes in) BBC-Mardell Open Europe Blog Open Europe Press Release Open Europe Briefing Dziennik
Sarkozy expects Lisbon to come into force "only one year late" whilst criticising Czech President for failing to fly EU flag
The BBC reports that outgoing EU President Nicolas Sarkozy told the European Parliament yesterday that he expected the Lisbon Treaty to come into force "only one year late". The French President said, "If things happen as I want them to happen, the Lisbon Treaty will become a reality only one year late."
EUobserver notes that Sarkozy told MEPs that he favoured a Europe of nation states. He said, "We shall not build Europe without the [nation] states. As European as you may be, Europe is not the enemy of nations." The article notes that Sarkozy also reiterated an argument he made last week about increasing the powers of the European Commission President.
Euractiv reports that Sarkozy debated with MEPs over the main issues faced by the six-month French Presidency, such as the financial crisis, the Georgian conflict and the EU's climate and energy package. Sarkozy said, "We are starting to change the way we do things in Europe: talking less and doing more".
Meanwhile, Bruno Waterfield notes on his Telegraph blog that Sarkozy has joined attacks by MEPs on Czech President Václav Klaus for refusing to fly the European Union flag from Prague Castle. "It was a wound, it was an outrage to see that flags had been taken down from public buildings," said Sarkozy.
EUobserver Deutsche Welle Irish Times Irish Times: Leader IHT BBC Telegraph-Waterfield: Blog EurActiv Coulisses de Bruxelles Blog
Irish assurances of Lisbon Treaty re-run are a "pyrrhic victory"
The Irish Broadcasting Complaints Commission has revealed that 21 of 22 complaints it received about broadcasters during the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign alleged bias in favour of the Yes campaign, reports the Irish Times.
A comment piece in the Irish Times by Antonio Bar, a Professor of European constitutional law, argues that assurances received by Ireland in return for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty are a "pyrrhic victory" because the retention of one Commissioner per country is a "clear step backwards in the process of rationalisation and simplification of the EU." It goes on to add that other areas that were outlined by PM Brian Cowen as concerning the Irish people, such as social issues and taxation, were never under threat so there was no need for guarantees, which "is why they have been so easily granted".
Irish Times Irish Times: Comment Irish Independent Irish Times 2
Government uses scrutiny 'override' in Lords 24 times in a year
The House of Lords EU Select Committee has published its Annual Report 2008, which shows that between July 2007 and June 2008, the Government gave agreement in the European Council to an EU proposal that was still under scrutiny in the house on 24 occasions. Matters on which the Government used the 'override' include an EU military operation in the Republic of Chad and in the Central African Republic, restrictive measures against Iran, and a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.
Annual Report
MEPs back Commission's proposals to liberalise defence market
EUobserver reports that MEPs have approved a Commission proposal aimed at harmonising and simplifying national rules on defence procurement. The current Nice Treaty provides that internal market rules are not applied to the defence market, allowing member states to exclude defence contracts from EU procurement rules. In addition, there are currently 27 national licencing procedures, obstructing the transfer of defence equipment between countries.
The new proposal will introduce a European system of licences which will be uniform and applicable throughout the 27 member states. Licences will nonetheless be granted at the national level, with governments free to impose sanctions if the contractor fails to respect the licensing conditions.
EUobserver
EU court backs Emissions Trading Scheme
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) does not discriminate against steel makers, reports the IHT. ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, claimed that the emissions scheme unfairly excluded the aluminium and chemical industries which put steelmakers at a "complete disadvantage". The decision eliminates any concern that the EU may need to rewrite the rules of its carbon trading market.
IHT European Voice
Sweden criticises Commission over bank rescue rules
Sweden's Finance Minister, Anders Borg, fears the eventual European economic recovery may be weak, reports the FT. He lays the blame at the feet of the EU bureaucracy who he says are dithering in the face of the financial market paralysis: "We as a union have not done enough to restore the credit channel."
FT
The European Parliament yesterday voted to allow Britain to keep its imperial measurements, rather than force the adoption of the metric system, reports the Times. The concession to allow imperial alongside metric measurements was due to expire next year.
BBC Express Mail AFP Times
EUobserver reports that a vote on the EU's climate package in the European Parliament is expected to go smoothly today, despite some criticism in a debate yesterday, with the EU Environment Commissioner urging MEPs to raise their objections in their own countries.
EUobserver
EU dealt a blow over pharmacy ownership
The European Commission's plans to open up pharmacy ownership in Germany and Italy have been dealt a blow by the European Court of Justice which ruled that restrictions were "justified by the objective of protecting public health", writes the WSJ.
WSJ
EU moves towards mandatory lobbyists register
The EUobserver reports that a joint working group incorporating both the Parliament and the Commission will attempt to establish a central list of EU lobbyists, currently numbered at over 15,000.
EUobserver
World
Fed slashes interest rates to near zero
The US Federal Reserve has cut its base-rate to "a range between 0 - 0.25%". As a result, the dollar fell to a 10 week low against the Euro yesterday.
FT FT2 FT: Martin Wolf FT4: Comment FT 3 Independent Independent: Comment BBC BBC Peston: Blog
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Beyond Babylon drops the bomb!
A German-led Europe will strike nuclear terror against US! National destruction, defeat and deportation are on the way! The American, British and Jewish peoples are marked for death!
Beyond Babylon drops the bomb!
Beyond Babylon drops the bomb!
Fundamentally Reoriented
Newsletter 2008/12/15 - Fundamentally Reoriented
BAGHDAD/BERLIN/WASHINGTON (Own report) - The United States is insisting on stronger German participation in stabilizing the puppet regime in Iraq. As the US ambassador in Baghdad declared, he hopes "very much that Europeans will become more engaged in Iraq." Now the question is to impose "a fundamentally different orientation" on this Gulf state, known for its long standing "animosity toward the West."Above all, German companies should be participating. As a matter of fact, German business activities in Iraq are once again on the rise, since the German government concluded a business agreement with Baghdad last summer, symbolically sending the Minister of the Economy, Michael Glos, into that war-ravaged country. Among the enterprises seeking to do business in Baghdad are numerous companies, that, in the1970s and 80s, had already close relations with Iraq and are now seeking to refresh their old contacts. Back then, Germany was at times Baghdad's most important business partner - a position that the German businesses would like to re-achieve, even at the expense of their US
rival.
more
http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56210
BAGHDAD/BERLIN/WASHINGTON (Own report) - The United States is insisting on stronger German participation in stabilizing the puppet regime in Iraq. As the US ambassador in Baghdad declared, he hopes "very much that Europeans will become more engaged in Iraq." Now the question is to impose "a fundamentally different orientation" on this Gulf state, known for its long standing "animosity toward the West."Above all, German companies should be participating. As a matter of fact, German business activities in Iraq are once again on the rise, since the German government concluded a business agreement with Baghdad last summer, symbolically sending the Minister of the Economy, Michael Glos, into that war-ravaged country. Among the enterprises seeking to do business in Baghdad are numerous companies, that, in the1970s and 80s, had already close relations with Iraq and are now seeking to refresh their old contacts. Back then, Germany was at times Baghdad's most important business partner - a position that the German businesses would like to re-achieve, even at the expense of their US
rival.
more
http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56210
The EU’s CREDIBILITY CRUNCH
EU Economic Recovery Plan Costs UK £25 Billion
Analysis of the Economic Recovery Plan
The EU’s CREDIBILITY CRUNCH
Creator of economic downturn, Impediment to recovery
Last week, after the EU agreed its 'Economic Recovery Plan' José Manuel Barroso said “Europe has passed its credibility test”. Yet, the Bruges Group’s detailed examination of the EU’s economic policies in The EU’s Credibility Crunch finds that the European Union has been a major contributor to the economic malaise in Europe and is not a credible body to face the challenges of the downturn.
Nevertheless, the European Union is using the economic crisis to expand its power; particularly by using it as an excuse to push for the Lisbon Treaty to be ratified and even to re-start the debate in Britain on joining the euro.Also in this paper, the Bruges Group sets out the policies that Britain must follow which including freeing-up trade, cutting taxes and government expenditure, and begin with leaving the shackles of EU control.
Click here to read the full analysis online
Below is a summary of some of the reports key findings;
The EU’s Economic Recovery Plan
An expensive irrelevance
The Bruges Group’s analysis finds that the EU’s Economic Recovery Plan, agreed on Friday, 12th December, will cost Britain 1.5% of GDP which is £25 billion; a sum our debt laden economy simply cannot afford. That amount is equivalent to 6 pence off the basic rate of income tax for a year, or £417 per person in the UK.
The EU’s plans for recovery are either counterproductive or irrelevant to the present situation; being little more than an excuse to fund the European Commission’s pet projects, including money for environmentally-friendly cars and factories, expanding internet access to very rural areas, all irrelevant to the financial crisis.
The EU’s myths rebutted
The myth of a lack of EU regulation
The EU claims that the economic crisis is due to a lack of EU financial regulation, yet, the EU is the author of most financial sector regulation. Any faults in that legislation primarily belong to the EU.
All the EU banks that are having difficulties met their core EU regulatory capital requirements in their 2007 financial statements.
There is already an 8,000 page regulatory rulebook and 2,600 regulators at the Financial Services Authority alone. Better quality, and more localised, regulation is needed instead.
There are even moves for increased regulation of financial sectors that are not responsible for the downturn.
There is already a glut of international bodies facilitating the co-operation of financial service regulation. The myth of an American problem exported to the EU
The EU’s labelling of the economic crisis as a “US problem” is misleading. There is $2,520 billion of government support pledged to EU banks compared to $700 billion for US banks.
The ‘need’ for the bail-out in the EU has not been driven by losses incurred in the USA but from problems originating inside the European Union. It should be noted that the UK bank with the highest US exposure, HSBC, is regarded as the safest bank in the UK.
How the EU is damaging the economy
Excessive EU regulation
European economies would be better placed to deal with the downturn if EU membership did not weaken them.
The EU has grown considerably slower than the other advanced economies which are not within the European Union. This contradicts the well-propagated myth that the UK could not survive outside the EU; statistics show non-G7 developed economies outside the EU grew by 1.42% more each year than EU economies; such faster growth would benefit the UK by at least £18 billion per year including £6.6 billion of additional tax revenues. Restrictive trade policies
The inability of member states to negotiate their own trade agreements has prevented pro-free trade states, including the UK, from expanding their markets. Since 2000, Australia and the USA have eliminated tariffs and created pro-growth new free trade zones covering hundreds of millions of people, whilst the EU has stood still. The EU and the property boom
Certain EU policies, notably on migration and the effective enforced ending of Dividend Tax Credits, are among the contributors to the damaging property bubbles arising in several member states. The impact of the euro
Since 2000 the eurozone has been the slowest growing region of the major developed economies; the world economy has grown at a rate 98% faster than the EU area.
The euro is a “one-size-fits-no-one” policy. It is unsuitable for high growth economies; e.g. financially prudent Ireland is now in recession due to the euro’s uncompetitive exchange rate and high interest rate policy. However, members of the euro having made their currencies extinct have no short-term prospect of a White Wednesday rescue.
The European Central Bank has committed major mistakes in responding to the economic crisis. As recently as July 2008 it increased interest rates rather than cutting them to avoid the recession.
Robert Oulds, Bruges Group Director, says,“The European Union’s approach to the recession is one of top-down instruction by the elites to businesses and individuals of Europe. However, there is no better time to note that the eurozone’s economic performance is the worst in the developed world and wake-up to the benefits of being a free-trading economy, free of the EU’s costs and shackles“As growth in the overregulated and overtaxed economies of the European Union has consistently been the worst in the developed world there is a need to defend businesses and the taxpayer from yet more regulation and wasteful EU spending.”
Damon Lambert, author of the report, says, “The EU is proven to have the low economic growth, damagingly high interest and exchange rates, regulation that weakens banks and a trade policy that isolates Europe from the benefits of globalisation. Yet, its Economic Recovery Plan is merely a wishlist for its pet projects that will cost each single UK resident £417. At a time, when economic management skills are key, the EU has a major Credibility Crunch.”
About the Author
Damon Lambert is the UK Corporate Tax Director of a major European Bank. Previously, he worked for 11 years in KPMG’s financial sector practice where he specialised in advising on mergers and acquisitions, primarily for financial sector multinationals. The advice he provided to clients included amongst other issues the impact of the EU and the ECJ on UK tax law. Damon is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He regularly writes on European tax matters and was a member of the working party on the Tax Reform Commission instigated by George Osborne, co-authoring the chapters on business taxation and tax reforms in other jurisdictions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honorary President: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, FRS
Vice-President: The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick,
Co-Chairmen: Dr Brian Hindley & Barry LeggDirector: Robert Oulds MA,
Head of Research: Dr Helen Szamuely
Washington D.C. Representative: John O'Sullivan,
CBEFounder Chairman: Lord Harris of High Cross, Former Chairmen: Dr Martin Holmes & Professor Kenneth Minogue
---------------------------------------------------------
For further information contact:Robert Oulds
Director
The Bruges Group
227 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TB
UK
Tel: +44(0) 20 7287 4414Mobile: 07740 029787
E-mail: info@brugesgroup.com
Analysis of the Economic Recovery Plan
The EU’s CREDIBILITY CRUNCH
Creator of economic downturn, Impediment to recovery
Last week, after the EU agreed its 'Economic Recovery Plan' José Manuel Barroso said “Europe has passed its credibility test”. Yet, the Bruges Group’s detailed examination of the EU’s economic policies in The EU’s Credibility Crunch finds that the European Union has been a major contributor to the economic malaise in Europe and is not a credible body to face the challenges of the downturn.
Nevertheless, the European Union is using the economic crisis to expand its power; particularly by using it as an excuse to push for the Lisbon Treaty to be ratified and even to re-start the debate in Britain on joining the euro.Also in this paper, the Bruges Group sets out the policies that Britain must follow which including freeing-up trade, cutting taxes and government expenditure, and begin with leaving the shackles of EU control.
Click here to read the full analysis online
Below is a summary of some of the reports key findings;
The EU’s Economic Recovery Plan
An expensive irrelevance
The Bruges Group’s analysis finds that the EU’s Economic Recovery Plan, agreed on Friday, 12th December, will cost Britain 1.5% of GDP which is £25 billion; a sum our debt laden economy simply cannot afford. That amount is equivalent to 6 pence off the basic rate of income tax for a year, or £417 per person in the UK.
The EU’s plans for recovery are either counterproductive or irrelevant to the present situation; being little more than an excuse to fund the European Commission’s pet projects, including money for environmentally-friendly cars and factories, expanding internet access to very rural areas, all irrelevant to the financial crisis.
The EU’s myths rebutted
The myth of a lack of EU regulation
The EU claims that the economic crisis is due to a lack of EU financial regulation, yet, the EU is the author of most financial sector regulation. Any faults in that legislation primarily belong to the EU.
All the EU banks that are having difficulties met their core EU regulatory capital requirements in their 2007 financial statements.
There is already an 8,000 page regulatory rulebook and 2,600 regulators at the Financial Services Authority alone. Better quality, and more localised, regulation is needed instead.
There are even moves for increased regulation of financial sectors that are not responsible for the downturn.
There is already a glut of international bodies facilitating the co-operation of financial service regulation. The myth of an American problem exported to the EU
The EU’s labelling of the economic crisis as a “US problem” is misleading. There is $2,520 billion of government support pledged to EU banks compared to $700 billion for US banks.
The ‘need’ for the bail-out in the EU has not been driven by losses incurred in the USA but from problems originating inside the European Union. It should be noted that the UK bank with the highest US exposure, HSBC, is regarded as the safest bank in the UK.
How the EU is damaging the economy
Excessive EU regulation
European economies would be better placed to deal with the downturn if EU membership did not weaken them.
The EU has grown considerably slower than the other advanced economies which are not within the European Union. This contradicts the well-propagated myth that the UK could not survive outside the EU; statistics show non-G7 developed economies outside the EU grew by 1.42% more each year than EU economies; such faster growth would benefit the UK by at least £18 billion per year including £6.6 billion of additional tax revenues. Restrictive trade policies
The inability of member states to negotiate their own trade agreements has prevented pro-free trade states, including the UK, from expanding their markets. Since 2000, Australia and the USA have eliminated tariffs and created pro-growth new free trade zones covering hundreds of millions of people, whilst the EU has stood still. The EU and the property boom
Certain EU policies, notably on migration and the effective enforced ending of Dividend Tax Credits, are among the contributors to the damaging property bubbles arising in several member states. The impact of the euro
Since 2000 the eurozone has been the slowest growing region of the major developed economies; the world economy has grown at a rate 98% faster than the EU area.
The euro is a “one-size-fits-no-one” policy. It is unsuitable for high growth economies; e.g. financially prudent Ireland is now in recession due to the euro’s uncompetitive exchange rate and high interest rate policy. However, members of the euro having made their currencies extinct have no short-term prospect of a White Wednesday rescue.
The European Central Bank has committed major mistakes in responding to the economic crisis. As recently as July 2008 it increased interest rates rather than cutting them to avoid the recession.
Robert Oulds, Bruges Group Director, says,“The European Union’s approach to the recession is one of top-down instruction by the elites to businesses and individuals of Europe. However, there is no better time to note that the eurozone’s economic performance is the worst in the developed world and wake-up to the benefits of being a free-trading economy, free of the EU’s costs and shackles“As growth in the overregulated and overtaxed economies of the European Union has consistently been the worst in the developed world there is a need to defend businesses and the taxpayer from yet more regulation and wasteful EU spending.”
Damon Lambert, author of the report, says, “The EU is proven to have the low economic growth, damagingly high interest and exchange rates, regulation that weakens banks and a trade policy that isolates Europe from the benefits of globalisation. Yet, its Economic Recovery Plan is merely a wishlist for its pet projects that will cost each single UK resident £417. At a time, when economic management skills are key, the EU has a major Credibility Crunch.”
About the Author
Damon Lambert is the UK Corporate Tax Director of a major European Bank. Previously, he worked for 11 years in KPMG’s financial sector practice where he specialised in advising on mergers and acquisitions, primarily for financial sector multinationals. The advice he provided to clients included amongst other issues the impact of the EU and the ECJ on UK tax law. Damon is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He regularly writes on European tax matters and was a member of the working party on the Tax Reform Commission instigated by George Osborne, co-authoring the chapters on business taxation and tax reforms in other jurisdictions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honorary President: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, FRS
Vice-President: The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick,
Co-Chairmen: Dr Brian Hindley & Barry LeggDirector: Robert Oulds MA,
Head of Research: Dr Helen Szamuely
Washington D.C. Representative: John O'Sullivan,
CBEFounder Chairman: Lord Harris of High Cross, Former Chairmen: Dr Martin Holmes & Professor Kenneth Minogue
---------------------------------------------------------
For further information contact:Robert Oulds
Director
The Bruges Group
227 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TB
UK
Tel: +44(0) 20 7287 4414Mobile: 07740 029787
E-mail: info@brugesgroup.com
EUobserver.com
***** HEADLINES ************************************************************
1. Turkey - EU talks entering critical year, report says
2. EU banks hit by massive US fraud scandal
3. EU commission criticised for age discrimination
4. Anti-Bologna movement spreads in Spain
***** THE NEWS *************************************************************
1. Turkey - EU talks entering critical year, report says - 16.12.2008 - 09:28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both Turkey and the EU should work to boost the pace of accession
negotiations, which have been losing momentum lately, according to a report
published on Monday stressing that next year will be 'critical' for
Turkey's EU membership perspective.
http://euobserver.com/9/27304/?rk=1
2. EU banks hit by massive US fraud scandal - 16.12.2008 - 09:28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several European banks feature on the long list of institutions hit by an
alleged ?36.5 billion fraud scheme by the US trader Bernard Madoff,
described as one of the biggest cases of the kind.
http://euobserver.com/9/27305/?rk=1
3. EU commission criticised for age discrimination - 15.12.2008 - 18:06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe's ombudsman has criticised the European Commission's discrimination
against freelance interpreters who are older than 65 and asked the
parliament to support his position. In reply, the EU executive said it only
followed the existing regulation, while stressing that it has an active
policy of recruiting young interpreters.
http://euobserver.com/9/27302/?rk=1
4. Anti-Bologna movement spreads in Spain - 15.12.2008 - 17:54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opposition to the Bologna Process, an EU-inspired series of university and
college reforms, has expanded substantially across Spain in recent weeks,
as students protest, occupy school buildings and even block rail lines.
http://euobserver.com/9/27303/?rk=1
1. Turkey - EU talks entering critical year, report says
2. EU banks hit by massive US fraud scandal
3. EU commission criticised for age discrimination
4. Anti-Bologna movement spreads in Spain
***** THE NEWS *************************************************************
1. Turkey - EU talks entering critical year, report says - 16.12.2008 - 09:28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both Turkey and the EU should work to boost the pace of accession
negotiations, which have been losing momentum lately, according to a report
published on Monday stressing that next year will be 'critical' for
Turkey's EU membership perspective.
http://euobserver.com/9/27304/?rk=1
2. EU banks hit by massive US fraud scandal - 16.12.2008 - 09:28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several European banks feature on the long list of institutions hit by an
alleged ?36.5 billion fraud scheme by the US trader Bernard Madoff,
described as one of the biggest cases of the kind.
http://euobserver.com/9/27305/?rk=1
3. EU commission criticised for age discrimination - 15.12.2008 - 18:06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe's ombudsman has criticised the European Commission's discrimination
against freelance interpreters who are older than 65 and asked the
parliament to support his position. In reply, the EU executive said it only
followed the existing regulation, while stressing that it has an active
policy of recruiting young interpreters.
http://euobserver.com/9/27302/?rk=1
4. Anti-Bologna movement spreads in Spain - 15.12.2008 - 17:54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opposition to the Bologna Process, an EU-inspired series of university and
college reforms, has expanded substantially across Spain in recent weeks,
as students protest, occupy school buildings and even block rail lines.
http://euobserver.com/9/27303/?rk=1
Open Europe press summary: 16 December 2008
Europe
Ending the Working Time Directive opt-out threatens compromise deal;
Union urges MEPs to reject the proposals
In a feature on tomorrow's European Parliament vote on the British opt-out of the Working Time Directive, Radio 4's World At One programme featured Open Europe's debate on the issue, held last week. The programme featured contributions from Paul Sellers, the TUC's Working Time Policy Officer and Alistair Tebbit, Head of EU and Employment Policy for the Institute of Directors, as well as members of the audience, including business-people in the structural steel industry.
The FT reports that ending the opt-out threatens a compromise agreement that was reached in June which allowed Britain to keep its opt-out in return for agreeing to support the Agency Workers Directive - giving temporary workers the same pay as permanent staff after only 12 weeks in a job. One of Europe's biggest employers' organisations, the Council of European Employers of the Metal Engineering and Technology-based Industries, representing 200,000 companies employing 12.7m people, has written a letter to MEPs urging them to reject the proposals to end the opt-out.
Approximately 250 doctors have protested in Strasbourg and more protests by trade unions are being anticipated before Wednesday's vote on the issue. Le Nouvel Observateur reports that MEPs are "set for a fight".
BBC: WATO FT Open Europe Events Figaro Nouvelobs
EU access to Government database could lead to "miscarriages of justice"
The Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, has warned that signing up to "ill-designed" EU legislation, allowing European governments to access a database of sensitive personal information, will leave people exposed to "miscarriages of justice". He added that the Lisbon Treaty will further entrench EU authority, "with a swathe of new powers over the criminal justice system".
Telegraph
Irish Labour Party unhappy with "vague assurances" on Lisbon Treaty referendum rerun;
Sarkozy admits concessions are only "political commitments"
The Irish Labour Party has begun to signal doubts over a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, indicating that they are unhappy with only "vague assurances" on workers' rights, reports the Irish Times. A Labour Party TD said that if progress on guarantees was not made, they would "not see the value in having a second referendum."
PA reports that EU President Nicolas Sarkozy has admitted that "the problem is the legal form of those political commitments." He went on to say that an "Irish protocol" would be added onto Croatia's Accession Treaty, adding that the EU was not interested in re-ratification because, "we have no interest in solving one problem to create 26 others."
Open Europe's reaction to UK Europe Minister Caroline Flint's comments, that the Irish people rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they did not understand it, continued to receive coverage in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph and the Morning Star.
An editorial in the WSJ suggests that Libertas' drive to be a pan-European party presents the genuine potential to have real pan-European debates about important issues and could see an end to the current "democratic deficit" in Europe.
WSJ-editorial Irish Independent-Myers Irish Times: Comment Irish Times
European Parliament expected to approve "diluted" climate agreement this week
Writing in the WSJ, Billy Peiser describes the EU's climate deal as "diluted beyond recognition" and indicates that it is possible that it may result in only 4% cuts in CO2 emissions once all of the exemptions have been factored in, rather than the promised 20%. It suggests that this is due to the changing political atmosphere in Europe, with Germany, Italy and Poland objecting to the deal in its original form.
The article argues that the insertion of a revision clause, pushed by Italy, has made climate targets conditional on the outcome of international talks next year. If they fail to reach agreement "it is as good as certain that some of the EU's targets will be further cut."
European Voice reports that the European Parliament is expected to approve the agreement on climate change reached at the last week's European summit, in a vote later this week.
WSJ-Peiser IHT European Voice EurActiv
Germany will decide on new financial stimulus package in January as pressure mounts for action
EUobserver reports that the German government is working on a second stimulus package worth "at least" 30 billion euros, but no decision will be taken until the end of January, after US President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in. The article notes that Economy Minister Michael Glos discussed a second package during a seven-hour meeting on Sunday between cabinet members and around 30 representatives of industry, trade unions and banks.
The new German package will focus on combating inflation and pay rises. The IHT notes that German Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes to forge an informal pact between trade unions and employers with the aim of preventing job losses. The premise being that the unions will accept lower pay raises in return for the employers agreeing to preserve jobs. Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück said that "Big companies will apply a voluntary no-firing policy."
However, the article notes that no immediate measures were agreed at the meeting. Merkel said she wanted to assess the different economic forecasts and see what economic policies Barack Obama would adopt once he is inaugurated as US President.
In the IHT, Paul Krugman writes that since "cutting interest rates, isn't working...Large-scale government aid looks like the only way to end the economic nosedive." He argues that a coordinated European response is necessary and that the role of Germany, the EU's largest economy, is vital: "You can't have a coordinated European effort if Europe's biggest economy not only refuses to go along, but heaps scorn on its neighbours' attempts to contain the crisis." He concludes arguing, "The issue is time. Across the world, economies are sinking fast, while we wait for someone, anyone, to offer an effective policy response."
The FT notes that while ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet was keen to defend the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact in an interview yesterday, he "also hinted helpfully that there was space for a German stimulus package." The Guardian notes that the IMF's Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has called on governments to increase spending to boost economic activity.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the European Commission is to examine Ireland's proposed 10bn euro recapitalisation of its troubled banking sector amid fears the EU's single market is at risk.
The Fistful of Euros blog forecasts a massive rise in Spain's fiscal deficit to 5-7%, which it predicts will have enormous implications for bond spreads within the eurozone.
EUobserver reports that several European banks feature on the list of institutions hit by an alleged 36.5 billion euro fraud scheme orchestrated by US trader Bernard Madoff.
Times Guardian IHT IHT: Krugman FT: Brussels Blog EUobserver FT Telegraph Evans-Pritchard Irish Times Guardian 2 FT 2 EUobserver 2 FT 3 FT 4 FT 5 FFOE blog
Mardell: Sarkozy's stint as EU President may strengthen calls for full-time post proposed under Lisbon Treaty
On his BBC blog, Mark Mardell reflects on Nicolas Sarkozy's Presidency of the EU, arguing that there is "no doubt Mr Sarkozy put his stamp on the presidency in a way that few manage, behaving as if he was indeed the President of Europe." He goes on to suggest that "I bet one of the arguments we hear more of, perhaps today, is that his success and style proves the need for a full-time President of the Council, as proposed in the Lisbon Treaty."
Irish Times: Comment BBC Mardell: Blog European Voice
Next year is "critical" to EU-Turkey membership talks
A report from the International Crisis Group released yesterday argues that the pace of Turkey's accession process to the EU should be boosted, and that the next year will be "critical" to the negotiations, reports EUobserver. If the accession talks continue to stall, the rate of reform could slow and simmering ethnic tensions between Turks and Kurds could heighten.
An article in the WSJ also indicates that France's opposition to Turkey's membership has been an obstacle to the Nabucco gas pipeline project, which is intended to strengthen Europe's energy supply by bringing gas reserves from the Caspian Sea through Turkey. EurActiv reports that the Czech Republic is one of the biggest supporters of the project and has made energy security a key priority for its EU Presidency.
EUobserver WSJ-Pope EurActiv
Legal doubts on attempts to raise number of MEPs if Lisbon enters into force
Jean Quatremer reports on his Coulisses de Bruxelles blog that the European Council has decided to adopt a declaration which will raise the number of MEPs for 2009-2014 from 751 to 754, if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force from January 2010.
The Treaty of Nice provides for the number of MEPs to fall from 785 to 736. However, Lisbon raises this number to 751 and the plan is to apply this immediately to the European Parliament, although, as Quatremer reports, "the 27 could have quietly waited for 2014". EU leaders decided to raise the number to 754, as Germany doesn't want to lose 3 of its 99 MEPs.
Quatremer questions whether the European Council can legally take such a decision and whether the composition of the Parliament will be legal, saying "won't someone be able to take the case to the European Court of Justice?" He suggests that another ad hoc article would be added into the Croatian Accession Treaty as a solution.
Coulisses de Bruxelles European Voice Euractiv
Italian textile workers to receive 35m euros from EU 'globalisation' fund
European Voice reports that 6,000 laid-off Italian textile workers will receive a total of 35 million euros from the EU's Globalisation Adjustment Fund to help them back into employment. The fund allows member states to apply for support when globalisation forces a company to restructure or relocate, leading to at least 1,000 redundancies.
EurActiv European Voice
European Commission to spend 17.8m euros promoting EU agriculture
Agence Europe reports that the European Commission has approved 11 programmes to promote agricultural products from the EU in a number of third countries. The EU's contribution will be 17.8 million euros - 50% of the total budget of the programmes. The programmes mainly target Russia, Ukraine, China, Japan and North America. The products in question are wines, fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products.
No link
French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde has asked the EU to help the auto sector, referring to the US bail-out. Les Echos reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans a new package of mostly loan guarantees to the French car sector.
Reuters Challenges Les Echos FT
Less than three weeks before the Czech Republic assumes the EU Presidency, EurActiv reports that PM Mirek Topolanek is still trying to reach an agreement on a coalition to prevent internal infighting impacting on the Presidency.
EurActiv
Montenegro filed for EU membership yesterday, hoping to gain EU candidate country status next year.
European Voice EurActiv EUobserver
A consultation by the European Commission launched yesterday revealed that "about 37,000 patients die every year directly from infections caught in hospitals". PA reports that the consultation paper launches months of talks on how to improve healthcare services.
European Voice
UK
An intended efficiency drive at the Department for Transport has resulted in costs of £81m instead of the intended saving of £112m in what the Commons Public Accounts Committee labeled, "one of the worst cases of project management" they had seen.
Independent Mail Express Telegraph Guardian Mirror BBC
Ending the Working Time Directive opt-out threatens compromise deal;
Union urges MEPs to reject the proposals
In a feature on tomorrow's European Parliament vote on the British opt-out of the Working Time Directive, Radio 4's World At One programme featured Open Europe's debate on the issue, held last week. The programme featured contributions from Paul Sellers, the TUC's Working Time Policy Officer and Alistair Tebbit, Head of EU and Employment Policy for the Institute of Directors, as well as members of the audience, including business-people in the structural steel industry.
The FT reports that ending the opt-out threatens a compromise agreement that was reached in June which allowed Britain to keep its opt-out in return for agreeing to support the Agency Workers Directive - giving temporary workers the same pay as permanent staff after only 12 weeks in a job. One of Europe's biggest employers' organisations, the Council of European Employers of the Metal Engineering and Technology-based Industries, representing 200,000 companies employing 12.7m people, has written a letter to MEPs urging them to reject the proposals to end the opt-out.
Approximately 250 doctors have protested in Strasbourg and more protests by trade unions are being anticipated before Wednesday's vote on the issue. Le Nouvel Observateur reports that MEPs are "set for a fight".
BBC: WATO FT Open Europe Events Figaro Nouvelobs
EU access to Government database could lead to "miscarriages of justice"
The Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, has warned that signing up to "ill-designed" EU legislation, allowing European governments to access a database of sensitive personal information, will leave people exposed to "miscarriages of justice". He added that the Lisbon Treaty will further entrench EU authority, "with a swathe of new powers over the criminal justice system".
Telegraph
Irish Labour Party unhappy with "vague assurances" on Lisbon Treaty referendum rerun;
Sarkozy admits concessions are only "political commitments"
The Irish Labour Party has begun to signal doubts over a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, indicating that they are unhappy with only "vague assurances" on workers' rights, reports the Irish Times. A Labour Party TD said that if progress on guarantees was not made, they would "not see the value in having a second referendum."
PA reports that EU President Nicolas Sarkozy has admitted that "the problem is the legal form of those political commitments." He went on to say that an "Irish protocol" would be added onto Croatia's Accession Treaty, adding that the EU was not interested in re-ratification because, "we have no interest in solving one problem to create 26 others."
Open Europe's reaction to UK Europe Minister Caroline Flint's comments, that the Irish people rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they did not understand it, continued to receive coverage in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph and the Morning Star.
An editorial in the WSJ suggests that Libertas' drive to be a pan-European party presents the genuine potential to have real pan-European debates about important issues and could see an end to the current "democratic deficit" in Europe.
WSJ-editorial Irish Independent-Myers Irish Times: Comment Irish Times
European Parliament expected to approve "diluted" climate agreement this week
Writing in the WSJ, Billy Peiser describes the EU's climate deal as "diluted beyond recognition" and indicates that it is possible that it may result in only 4% cuts in CO2 emissions once all of the exemptions have been factored in, rather than the promised 20%. It suggests that this is due to the changing political atmosphere in Europe, with Germany, Italy and Poland objecting to the deal in its original form.
The article argues that the insertion of a revision clause, pushed by Italy, has made climate targets conditional on the outcome of international talks next year. If they fail to reach agreement "it is as good as certain that some of the EU's targets will be further cut."
European Voice reports that the European Parliament is expected to approve the agreement on climate change reached at the last week's European summit, in a vote later this week.
WSJ-Peiser IHT European Voice EurActiv
Germany will decide on new financial stimulus package in January as pressure mounts for action
EUobserver reports that the German government is working on a second stimulus package worth "at least" 30 billion euros, but no decision will be taken until the end of January, after US President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in. The article notes that Economy Minister Michael Glos discussed a second package during a seven-hour meeting on Sunday between cabinet members and around 30 representatives of industry, trade unions and banks.
The new German package will focus on combating inflation and pay rises. The IHT notes that German Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes to forge an informal pact between trade unions and employers with the aim of preventing job losses. The premise being that the unions will accept lower pay raises in return for the employers agreeing to preserve jobs. Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück said that "Big companies will apply a voluntary no-firing policy."
However, the article notes that no immediate measures were agreed at the meeting. Merkel said she wanted to assess the different economic forecasts and see what economic policies Barack Obama would adopt once he is inaugurated as US President.
In the IHT, Paul Krugman writes that since "cutting interest rates, isn't working...Large-scale government aid looks like the only way to end the economic nosedive." He argues that a coordinated European response is necessary and that the role of Germany, the EU's largest economy, is vital: "You can't have a coordinated European effort if Europe's biggest economy not only refuses to go along, but heaps scorn on its neighbours' attempts to contain the crisis." He concludes arguing, "The issue is time. Across the world, economies are sinking fast, while we wait for someone, anyone, to offer an effective policy response."
The FT notes that while ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet was keen to defend the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact in an interview yesterday, he "also hinted helpfully that there was space for a German stimulus package." The Guardian notes that the IMF's Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has called on governments to increase spending to boost economic activity.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the European Commission is to examine Ireland's proposed 10bn euro recapitalisation of its troubled banking sector amid fears the EU's single market is at risk.
The Fistful of Euros blog forecasts a massive rise in Spain's fiscal deficit to 5-7%, which it predicts will have enormous implications for bond spreads within the eurozone.
EUobserver reports that several European banks feature on the list of institutions hit by an alleged 36.5 billion euro fraud scheme orchestrated by US trader Bernard Madoff.
Times Guardian IHT IHT: Krugman FT: Brussels Blog EUobserver FT Telegraph Evans-Pritchard Irish Times Guardian 2 FT 2 EUobserver 2 FT 3 FT 4 FT 5 FFOE blog
Mardell: Sarkozy's stint as EU President may strengthen calls for full-time post proposed under Lisbon Treaty
On his BBC blog, Mark Mardell reflects on Nicolas Sarkozy's Presidency of the EU, arguing that there is "no doubt Mr Sarkozy put his stamp on the presidency in a way that few manage, behaving as if he was indeed the President of Europe." He goes on to suggest that "I bet one of the arguments we hear more of, perhaps today, is that his success and style proves the need for a full-time President of the Council, as proposed in the Lisbon Treaty."
Irish Times: Comment BBC Mardell: Blog European Voice
Next year is "critical" to EU-Turkey membership talks
A report from the International Crisis Group released yesterday argues that the pace of Turkey's accession process to the EU should be boosted, and that the next year will be "critical" to the negotiations, reports EUobserver. If the accession talks continue to stall, the rate of reform could slow and simmering ethnic tensions between Turks and Kurds could heighten.
An article in the WSJ also indicates that France's opposition to Turkey's membership has been an obstacle to the Nabucco gas pipeline project, which is intended to strengthen Europe's energy supply by bringing gas reserves from the Caspian Sea through Turkey. EurActiv reports that the Czech Republic is one of the biggest supporters of the project and has made energy security a key priority for its EU Presidency.
EUobserver WSJ-Pope EurActiv
Legal doubts on attempts to raise number of MEPs if Lisbon enters into force
Jean Quatremer reports on his Coulisses de Bruxelles blog that the European Council has decided to adopt a declaration which will raise the number of MEPs for 2009-2014 from 751 to 754, if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force from January 2010.
The Treaty of Nice provides for the number of MEPs to fall from 785 to 736. However, Lisbon raises this number to 751 and the plan is to apply this immediately to the European Parliament, although, as Quatremer reports, "the 27 could have quietly waited for 2014". EU leaders decided to raise the number to 754, as Germany doesn't want to lose 3 of its 99 MEPs.
Quatremer questions whether the European Council can legally take such a decision and whether the composition of the Parliament will be legal, saying "won't someone be able to take the case to the European Court of Justice?" He suggests that another ad hoc article would be added into the Croatian Accession Treaty as a solution.
Coulisses de Bruxelles European Voice Euractiv
Italian textile workers to receive 35m euros from EU 'globalisation' fund
European Voice reports that 6,000 laid-off Italian textile workers will receive a total of 35 million euros from the EU's Globalisation Adjustment Fund to help them back into employment. The fund allows member states to apply for support when globalisation forces a company to restructure or relocate, leading to at least 1,000 redundancies.
EurActiv European Voice
European Commission to spend 17.8m euros promoting EU agriculture
Agence Europe reports that the European Commission has approved 11 programmes to promote agricultural products from the EU in a number of third countries. The EU's contribution will be 17.8 million euros - 50% of the total budget of the programmes. The programmes mainly target Russia, Ukraine, China, Japan and North America. The products in question are wines, fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products.
No link
French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde has asked the EU to help the auto sector, referring to the US bail-out. Les Echos reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans a new package of mostly loan guarantees to the French car sector.
Reuters Challenges Les Echos FT
Less than three weeks before the Czech Republic assumes the EU Presidency, EurActiv reports that PM Mirek Topolanek is still trying to reach an agreement on a coalition to prevent internal infighting impacting on the Presidency.
EurActiv
Montenegro filed for EU membership yesterday, hoping to gain EU candidate country status next year.
European Voice EurActiv EUobserver
A consultation by the European Commission launched yesterday revealed that "about 37,000 patients die every year directly from infections caught in hospitals". PA reports that the consultation paper launches months of talks on how to improve healthcare services.
European Voice
UK
An intended efficiency drive at the Department for Transport has resulted in costs of £81m instead of the intended saving of £112m in what the Commons Public Accounts Committee labeled, "one of the worst cases of project management" they had seen.
Independent Mail Express Telegraph Guardian Mirror BBC
Monday, December 15, 2008
Open Europe press summary: 15 December 2008
Europe
Assurances for Ireland to be written into Croatian Accession Treaty;
UK Europe Minister accused of "patronising" the Irish
EUobserver reports that assurances promised to Ireland for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty are to be written into a protocol together with Croatia's Accession Treaty to the EU in 2010 or 2011 according to EU President Nicolas Sarkozy. EUobserver also argues that this would make the concessions legally binding because the Accession Treaty would have to be ratified by all member states, however the precise wording and legal implications of these assurances remain unclear. The Irish Independent writes that legal wording on the assurances will not be drafted until June next year.
The Weekend FT reported that the deal reached on the concessions to Ireland was designed to keep the issue off the British political agenda. Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed that the concessions given to Ireland do not materially affect the Treaty and therefore Britain does not need to reopen its ratification process.
The Irish Independent on Saturday wrote that Irish PM Brian Cowen was "confident" of a Yes vote on a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. It reported that the importance of workers' rights will be stressed, but, following concerns by the British, the precise wording on this issue appears to have been watered down. Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted saying, "The Lisbon process is relaunched. I'd just like to tell you how brave the Irish prime minister has been." The piece also quoted German MEP Alexander Alvaro saying, "I'm not sure if people in Ireland are aware what 'No' means: 27 minus Ireland."
Meanwhile, the Irish Times and the Telegraph report that the UK Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint, has claimed that Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they did not understand it. She said that the Irish people thought, "that they would have their rights in a number of areas taken away, and that wasn't the case and isn't the case." Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally is quoted describing the comments as "extremely patronising...For Caroline Flint to stand up and say that voters were wrong to feel they would be losing control is extraordinary. Either she has no idea what is in the Treaty, or she is being deliberately misleading... It is not for British politicians to casually dismiss legitimate Irish concerns about a loss of power to Brussels."
In a piece in the Irish Times, the Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin writes that Ireland has secured important concessions from the EU. He says that, "The manner in which the European Council responded to our requests highlights the union's profoundly democratic character."
In a comment piece in the Sunday Times, Minette Marin wrote that "democracy is being undermined by democratically elected governments that don't understand a constitutional no."
The Sunday Times reported that significant victories in next June's European elections would give Libertas the impetus it needs ahead of the re-run referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, but otherwise a chance of a repeat of the No vote could be damaged.
Telegraph Irish Times Irish Independent Irish Times-Kinsella Irish Times-Martin FT Sunday Times EUobserver Sunday Times:Marrin Sunday Express: Groves Sunday Telegraph-Hannan Sunday Telegraph-Booker BBC Irish Independent 2 Open Europe blog
EU's watered-down climate and energy package agreed as Commission aims to set emissions targets 10 per cent higher
On Saturday the Independent reported that environmental groups have accused the European Union of watering down its pledge to tackle climate change, after EU leaders made concessions to heavy industries in Germany and eastern Europe. The compromise allowed the EU to agree on its commitment to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, instead of being required to buy 100 per cent of their "carbon emission permits" in 2020, as proposed by the European Commission, heavy industries including cement, chemicals and steel will have to buy only 70 per cent. The Times noted that European industries exposed to international competition will receive free emissions permits if they face a 5 per cent increase in costs, a measure that is viewed as covering more than 90 per cent of EU industry. EUobserver notes that "the fine print of the deal will see the vast majority of the emissions reductions made in the developing world instead of Europe".
The Independent quoted European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso admitting that the concessions risked handing windfall profits to some of Europe's biggest polluters and that the original plans had been scaled down. "We would have preferred our initial proposals," he said. "We had to accept changes. That's the price to pay for unity in the end and it's a fair price."
Meanwhile, the Weekend FT reported that the European Commission is already proposing a higher target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The article noted that the EU has pledged to raise its 20 per cent target to 30 per cent if a deal is reached at a conference in Copenhagen next December on a replacement for the Kyoto protocol. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told United Nations climate talks in Poland that the target must be upped in the next year: "A 30 per cent reduction target - this is what we should work on from now on. This is what the EU has proposed, and we are expecting other developed countries to put their cards on the table [with similarly ambitious targets]."Times Independent Guardian WSJ Irish Times Irish Times-McDonald Guardian-letters EurActiv3 EUobserver AFP FT: Leader European Voice Irish Independent Economist Weekend FT Weekend FT 2
MEPs to vote on UK Working Time opt-out this week
The Times reports that Labour MEPs are split over whether to vote to preserve the UK's opt-out from the EU's Working Time Directive when the European Parliament holds a vote on Wednesday this week. Gordon Brown has made preserving the opt-out a key priority for the Government, but attempts to end it are being lead by North-East Labour MEP Stephen Hughes.
Times Guardian
Benn: Heathrow expansion will see UK break EU pollution targets
The Times reports that Gordon Brown is set to approve a third runway at Heathrow and overrule his Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, who has warned that this may cause the UK to break its EU commitments on climate change. Britain has obtained opt-outs from EU air pollution directives, but they run out over the years to 2015, by which time the UK has promised to get emissions down below EU limits.
The Environment Secretary played down arguments that "green" technological improvements to air transport would allow the UK to meet EU targets over time, while still expanding airport capacity. In an interview with the Sunday Times he warned that there would be serious consequences if Britain failed to meet the EU targets. "You are then in trouble with the [European] Commission, you get infraction proceedings and then off you go - which is not something we can contemplate," he said.
Mail Telegraph Times Guardian
Trichet: We must not blow up growth and stability pact
In an interview in the FT, ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet, anticipates that the exceptional circumstances clause within the EU Stability and Growth Pact will provide the necessary flexibility to weather the current economic crisis and warns that exceeding such limits would be harmful: "If we unravel the Stability and Growth Pact we won't rebuild it afterwards". He also admits the power of interest rate cuts has been limited by the financial crisis, "The transmission channel is not functioning as usual, but it is functioning."
EUobserver reports that the German government is working on a second stimulus package worth "at least 30bn Euros". This would follow the 12bn euro package announced in November. However, any plan would not be unveiled until after the Obama inauguration on January 20th.
The Irish Independent reports that the Irish government announced a 10bn euro rescue package for the country's banking sector.
FT FT 2 FT3 FT 4 EUobserver WSJ Irish Times Irish Independent Irish Independent 2 BBC Krugman - NYT
Elliot: joining the Euro would make things worse
As Sterling moves closer to parity with the Euro, Larry Elliot in the Guardian and Roger Bootle in the Telegraph, make the case for not joining the Euro. Both cite the benefits of tailor-made monetary-policy that a sovereign currency affords in the current economic climate. This comes as Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said that the Treasury will not intervene in currency markets to prop up the value of the pound.
Guardian-Elliot Telegraph: Comment Telegraph Times Guardian European Voice
Government to allow EU access to DNA database
The UK Government has agreed to allow other EU countries to access sensitive information from a database including DNA, fingerprints and driver registration. The Telegraph reports that the argument is backed by the European Arrest Warrant, which provides for speedy extradition to other EU countries.
Mail Mail: Leader Telegraph
British ambassador protests over German remarks
In the ongoing rift between Berlin and London, Sir Michael Arthur, Ambassador to Germany, has made a formal complaint to the German Finance Ministry. The subject of the complaint was comments made by German Finance Minister, Peer Steinbrück, who dubbed the UK Government's response to the economic crisis as "crass Keynesianism".Independent Guardian Telegraph
Political leaders in the European Parliament have awarded their parties millions of euros in extra funding only weeks before the deadline for the money to be spent because of a large budget surplus.
Guardian
Germany has offered to buy half the number of Eurofighter Typhoon jets ordered by the UK's Ministry of Defence that they cannot pay for in an "informal offer" made to Defence Secretary John Hutton, reports the Weekend FT. FT
A leader in the FT writes that "An EU bridging force could prevent the collapse of the UN mission" in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that there are European countries willing to take part, but that "Britain has actively discouraged any EU intervention."
FT: Leader
UK
The Independent reports that the Conservative lead over Labour has been cut to a single point.
Independent
Assurances for Ireland to be written into Croatian Accession Treaty;
UK Europe Minister accused of "patronising" the Irish
EUobserver reports that assurances promised to Ireland for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty are to be written into a protocol together with Croatia's Accession Treaty to the EU in 2010 or 2011 according to EU President Nicolas Sarkozy. EUobserver also argues that this would make the concessions legally binding because the Accession Treaty would have to be ratified by all member states, however the precise wording and legal implications of these assurances remain unclear. The Irish Independent writes that legal wording on the assurances will not be drafted until June next year.
The Weekend FT reported that the deal reached on the concessions to Ireland was designed to keep the issue off the British political agenda. Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed that the concessions given to Ireland do not materially affect the Treaty and therefore Britain does not need to reopen its ratification process.
The Irish Independent on Saturday wrote that Irish PM Brian Cowen was "confident" of a Yes vote on a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. It reported that the importance of workers' rights will be stressed, but, following concerns by the British, the precise wording on this issue appears to have been watered down. Nicolas Sarkozy was quoted saying, "The Lisbon process is relaunched. I'd just like to tell you how brave the Irish prime minister has been." The piece also quoted German MEP Alexander Alvaro saying, "I'm not sure if people in Ireland are aware what 'No' means: 27 minus Ireland."
Meanwhile, the Irish Times and the Telegraph report that the UK Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint, has claimed that Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they did not understand it. She said that the Irish people thought, "that they would have their rights in a number of areas taken away, and that wasn't the case and isn't the case." Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally is quoted describing the comments as "extremely patronising...For Caroline Flint to stand up and say that voters were wrong to feel they would be losing control is extraordinary. Either she has no idea what is in the Treaty, or she is being deliberately misleading... It is not for British politicians to casually dismiss legitimate Irish concerns about a loss of power to Brussels."
In a piece in the Irish Times, the Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin writes that Ireland has secured important concessions from the EU. He says that, "The manner in which the European Council responded to our requests highlights the union's profoundly democratic character."
In a comment piece in the Sunday Times, Minette Marin wrote that "democracy is being undermined by democratically elected governments that don't understand a constitutional no."
The Sunday Times reported that significant victories in next June's European elections would give Libertas the impetus it needs ahead of the re-run referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, but otherwise a chance of a repeat of the No vote could be damaged.
Telegraph Irish Times Irish Independent Irish Times-Kinsella Irish Times-Martin FT Sunday Times EUobserver Sunday Times:Marrin Sunday Express: Groves Sunday Telegraph-Hannan Sunday Telegraph-Booker BBC Irish Independent 2 Open Europe blog
EU's watered-down climate and energy package agreed as Commission aims to set emissions targets 10 per cent higher
On Saturday the Independent reported that environmental groups have accused the European Union of watering down its pledge to tackle climate change, after EU leaders made concessions to heavy industries in Germany and eastern Europe. The compromise allowed the EU to agree on its commitment to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, instead of being required to buy 100 per cent of their "carbon emission permits" in 2020, as proposed by the European Commission, heavy industries including cement, chemicals and steel will have to buy only 70 per cent. The Times noted that European industries exposed to international competition will receive free emissions permits if they face a 5 per cent increase in costs, a measure that is viewed as covering more than 90 per cent of EU industry. EUobserver notes that "the fine print of the deal will see the vast majority of the emissions reductions made in the developing world instead of Europe".
The Independent quoted European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso admitting that the concessions risked handing windfall profits to some of Europe's biggest polluters and that the original plans had been scaled down. "We would have preferred our initial proposals," he said. "We had to accept changes. That's the price to pay for unity in the end and it's a fair price."
Meanwhile, the Weekend FT reported that the European Commission is already proposing a higher target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The article noted that the EU has pledged to raise its 20 per cent target to 30 per cent if a deal is reached at a conference in Copenhagen next December on a replacement for the Kyoto protocol. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told United Nations climate talks in Poland that the target must be upped in the next year: "A 30 per cent reduction target - this is what we should work on from now on. This is what the EU has proposed, and we are expecting other developed countries to put their cards on the table [with similarly ambitious targets]."Times Independent Guardian WSJ Irish Times Irish Times-McDonald Guardian-letters EurActiv3 EUobserver AFP FT: Leader European Voice Irish Independent Economist Weekend FT Weekend FT 2
MEPs to vote on UK Working Time opt-out this week
The Times reports that Labour MEPs are split over whether to vote to preserve the UK's opt-out from the EU's Working Time Directive when the European Parliament holds a vote on Wednesday this week. Gordon Brown has made preserving the opt-out a key priority for the Government, but attempts to end it are being lead by North-East Labour MEP Stephen Hughes.
Times Guardian
Benn: Heathrow expansion will see UK break EU pollution targets
The Times reports that Gordon Brown is set to approve a third runway at Heathrow and overrule his Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, who has warned that this may cause the UK to break its EU commitments on climate change. Britain has obtained opt-outs from EU air pollution directives, but they run out over the years to 2015, by which time the UK has promised to get emissions down below EU limits.
The Environment Secretary played down arguments that "green" technological improvements to air transport would allow the UK to meet EU targets over time, while still expanding airport capacity. In an interview with the Sunday Times he warned that there would be serious consequences if Britain failed to meet the EU targets. "You are then in trouble with the [European] Commission, you get infraction proceedings and then off you go - which is not something we can contemplate," he said.
Mail Telegraph Times Guardian
Trichet: We must not blow up growth and stability pact
In an interview in the FT, ECB President, Jean-Claude Trichet, anticipates that the exceptional circumstances clause within the EU Stability and Growth Pact will provide the necessary flexibility to weather the current economic crisis and warns that exceeding such limits would be harmful: "If we unravel the Stability and Growth Pact we won't rebuild it afterwards". He also admits the power of interest rate cuts has been limited by the financial crisis, "The transmission channel is not functioning as usual, but it is functioning."
EUobserver reports that the German government is working on a second stimulus package worth "at least 30bn Euros". This would follow the 12bn euro package announced in November. However, any plan would not be unveiled until after the Obama inauguration on January 20th.
The Irish Independent reports that the Irish government announced a 10bn euro rescue package for the country's banking sector.
FT FT 2 FT3 FT 4 EUobserver WSJ Irish Times Irish Independent Irish Independent 2 BBC Krugman - NYT
Elliot: joining the Euro would make things worse
As Sterling moves closer to parity with the Euro, Larry Elliot in the Guardian and Roger Bootle in the Telegraph, make the case for not joining the Euro. Both cite the benefits of tailor-made monetary-policy that a sovereign currency affords in the current economic climate. This comes as Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said that the Treasury will not intervene in currency markets to prop up the value of the pound.
Guardian-Elliot Telegraph: Comment Telegraph Times Guardian European Voice
Government to allow EU access to DNA database
The UK Government has agreed to allow other EU countries to access sensitive information from a database including DNA, fingerprints and driver registration. The Telegraph reports that the argument is backed by the European Arrest Warrant, which provides for speedy extradition to other EU countries.
Mail Mail: Leader Telegraph
British ambassador protests over German remarks
In the ongoing rift between Berlin and London, Sir Michael Arthur, Ambassador to Germany, has made a formal complaint to the German Finance Ministry. The subject of the complaint was comments made by German Finance Minister, Peer Steinbrück, who dubbed the UK Government's response to the economic crisis as "crass Keynesianism".Independent Guardian Telegraph
Political leaders in the European Parliament have awarded their parties millions of euros in extra funding only weeks before the deadline for the money to be spent because of a large budget surplus.
Guardian
Germany has offered to buy half the number of Eurofighter Typhoon jets ordered by the UK's Ministry of Defence that they cannot pay for in an "informal offer" made to Defence Secretary John Hutton, reports the Weekend FT. FT
A leader in the FT writes that "An EU bridging force could prevent the collapse of the UN mission" in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that there are European countries willing to take part, but that "Britain has actively discouraged any EU intervention."
FT: Leader
UK
The Independent reports that the Conservative lead over Labour has been cut to a single point.
Independent
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