Newsletter 2009/01/28 - Dangerous Frictions (Nuclear cooperation between Siemens and Moscow)

Newsletter 2009/01/28 -
Dangerous Frictions (Nuclear cooperation between Siemens and Moscow)

MUNICH/PARIS/MOSCOW
(Own report) - The German Siemens Corporation is planning to extend its nuclear activities in collaboration with Moscow. According to reports, Siemens seeks to end its cooperation with the French nuclear company, AREVA, because it is being refused participation in the operative leadership of the joint venture. At the Siemens headquarters in Munich, one hears that Siemens could, instead, upgrade its nuclear activities with the Russian state-owned holding company Atomenergoprom,. Moscow consolidated the entire chain of production of the Russian civilian nuclear industry within Atomenergoprom and is prepared to involve Siemens in the leadership of a German-Russian nuclear alliance. This offer is very important for the economic expansion of the Munich-based corporation and of great political significance for German-Russian cooperation. US-think tanks are warning Berlin against trying to take a middle-of-the-road position between Washington and Moscow: such a traditional seesaw policy could "lead to dangerous frictions."

Bargain Hunter
The Siemens AG has, so far, not been hit by the global economic crisis. At yesterday's shareholders' meeting, the corporation announced a 20 per cent rise in operating profit to reach more than 2 billion Euros in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Also in the crisis year 2009, Siemens expects a further increase, or, at worst, a small drop in sales. Siemens' ambitious objective: it's sales volume should grow twice the rate of the global economy.[1] In addition, as with other German corporations, Siemens seeks to use the crisis for expansion, and to "shop for bargains". The management is expecting that the financial crisis will lower the costs of potential take-over targets.[2]

Nuclear Renaissance
To maintain its growth rate, Siemens, on the one hand, is concentrating on trade in environmental technology, ascribed to be a very promising venture.[3] And on the other, the company is basically maintaining its nuclear energy business. The chairman of the board, Peter Loescher speaks of a "Renaissance of nuclear power" and explains that it is part of the "energy cocktail of the future."[4] This corresponds to the attitude of German energy companies, which, in spite of domestically phasing out nuclear power, are still anxious to continue building and managing nuclear power plants abroad - because of the triple-digit profit margin.[5] In many executive suites, the international market for nuclear technology is considered to be a very promising business, because, by 2030, more than 400 new nuclear power plants are due to be built around the world.

"Call" and "Put"
In 2001, the company integrated its nuclear activities into the German-French joint enterprise, AREVA NP ("AREVA Nuclear Power") which currently, with its 17,300 employees, is among the world's leading producers of nuclear power plants. Siemens obtained a 34 percent blocking minority, but, from the very beginning, was not satisfied. A partnership in the French AREVA mother company was not to be obtained. AREVA makes its profits from the much more lucrative supply of nuclear fuel rods. All efforts, even to enhance its number of shares, and thereby also German nuclear influence, were blocked by Paris over the past few years. The French side has even announced, under vehement protest from the German side, its intention to buy a "call" option, i.e. buying out the Germans a few years from now.[6] But Siemens pre-empted the "call," and announced Monday, it was taking advantage of its "put" option, following a decision to this effect by its board of directors. This means that the AREVA NP joint venture is being canceled and the 34 percent of the shares, estimated at 2.1 billion Euros, will be sold.[7]

New Alliance
Siemens has no intentions of reducing its nuclear energy activities, following the break-up of the German-French nuclear courtship, but rather to enhance it and therefore seek a change of partners. A prospective candidate for nuclear cooperation, is the Russian Atomenergoprom state holding, which consolidates the enterprises of Russia's civil nuclear power industry. Founded in 2007, the holding covers the entire spectrum of nuclear power production, from nuclear research, to uranium mining, uranium enrichment, the construction and management of nuclear power plants to the storing of nuclear waste. Siemens is seeking a particularly close cooperation. Unlike with the French-German cooperation, in the Russian-German alliance, the German company will also be a partner in the operative leadership.[8]

Potentials
In Berlin the change of partners is being greeted with basic approval. The coordinator of energy policy for the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Joachim Pfeiffer, declared that "politics must have an interest in Siemens maintaining and expanding its competence in nuclear energy, to be able to play a significant role on the world market." Like renewable energy, nuclear energy is among the world's growth sector, involving enormous sales and employment potentials. Siemens brushes off misgivings about an alliance with a Russian enterprise. There has already been a very good experience with the Power Machines joint enterprise.[9] Despite a veto from the Russian cartel administration, the German company has bought into the Russian Power Machines turbine producer, which also produces important components for nuclear submarines and the arms industry, and has even taken over the technical direction.[10]

Transatlantic Differences
Following the most recent talks on the upgrading of the German-Russian natural gas cooperation, the German-Russian "modernization partnership," called into being last year, is being intensely promoted through a nuclear alliance.[11] But this could be cause for serious conflicts with the administration of the newly elected US President, Barack Obama. The Russia offensive of German companies had already been a source of difficulties under the Bush administration. The expansion to the US, by the German-French arms corporation, EADS, was thwarted because of its Russian shares.[12]

Unpleasant
As a matter of fact, immediately following the announcement of plans for a German-Russian nuclear alliance, a prominent US policy advisor - the executive director of the Transatlantic Academy in Washington, a think tank sponsored by German and US American institutions - published a signed article in the highly influential Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, warning Berlin against getting too close to Moscow, and attempting to take a middle-of-the-road position between Moscow and Washington. In relationship to Russia, he writes, making allusion to Germany's old seesaw policy, "there are real differences between Berlin and Washington in interests, political cultures and methods. These differences could lead to dangerous frictions, if they are not handled adroitly. The author warned therefore that both capitals should be aware that "the Russian thing could become unpleasant."[13]
[1] Siemens gibt den Krisen-Supermann; Handelsblatt 27.01.2009[2] Siemens bereitet sich auf Schnäppchenkäufe vor; Financial Times Deutschland 08.12.2008. See also Mehr Geld in der Kasse[3] Siemens setzt auf Umwelttechnik; WirtschaftsWoche 26.01.2009. See also Industry of the Future[4] Siemens verfolgt falsche Unternehmensstrategie; Pressemitteilung Nr. 4/2009 des Dachverbands der Kritischen Aktionärinnen und Aktionäre[5] see also Nukleare Optionen[6] see also Konfrontationskurs[7] Siemens beendet Atombündnis mit Areva; Handelsblatt 27.01.2009[8] Siemens sucht mit russischer Hilfe eine Zukunft für Kernkraftwerke; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 24.01.2009[9] Siemens beendet Atombündnis mit Areva; Handelsblatt 27.01.2009[10] see also Tauziehen and Durch die Hintertür[11] see also Eurasien und Natürliche Modernisierungspartner[12] see also Krieg and Irritationen[13] Stephen Szabo: Für Obama liegt ein Schlüssel zu Russland in Berlin; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 26.01.2009

Open Europe press summary: 29 January 2009

Europe

Commission calls for OECD-wide emissions trading scheme by 2015 and a global carbon market by 2020;
CDM permits could be scrapped following abuse of the system
A new Commission paper was released yesterday, laying out the EU's draft negotiating position for the global environment summit in Copenhagen in December this year. The Irish Times reports that proposals include creating an OECD-wide emissions trading scheme by 2015, which Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said was becoming "increasingly realistic."

The Guardian reports that Dimas has said that if the US joined the system, it could be extended to developing economies, to create a global carbon market by 2020. US President Barack Obama has indicated that he plans to create a domestic emissions-trading system, but EurActiv reports that Dimas said, "We should go ahead with an agreement whether or not the US has a cap-and-trade in place by Copenhagen."

The Guardian goes on to say that the Commission's position, to be debated at a summit of European leaders in March, would commit the EU to a 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, if matched by a 30% cut in other developed countries. EurActiv reports that the proposal for developing countries would be 15-30% below 'business-as-usual' levels by 2020.

According to the Guardian, the Commission estimates that the targets will cost 175 billion euros a year to meet success by 2020, with around half of the money to be spent in the developing world.

The paper also reports that senior Commission officials have indicated that they could use the Copenhagen negotiations to scrap the Clean Development Mechanism, which allows emissions to be offset by investment in green projects in the developing world. The officials acknowledged that the current system is being abused by both rich and poor countries, and said "There is some cheating...And some of the developing countries are much richer than some [EU] member states."

Deutsche Welle writes that Greenpeace has criticised the proposal, saying the lack of specific funding targets for developing countries showed that the EU was "unable to put its euros where its mouth is", and the WWF has said that the question of specific sums would be the "make or break issue" in Copenhagen. The article also reports that the Commission's proposal calls for a doubling of investment in clean-energy research by 2013, and a quadrupling by 2020.

The Telegraph reports that the EU's ETS has seen a slump in the price of carbon by almost 30%, with £2.8 billion worth of emissions allowances having been sold since the beginning of December. The carbon consultancy IDEAcarbon suggests that a decline in industrial activity has resulted in lower emissions and a lower demand for carbon allowances, saying "[the scheme] is not serving its purpose. It's not the way the architects envisioned emissions would be reduced."

EUobserver reports that former US Vice-President Al Gore has questioned the EU's ability to provide global leadership on climate change, quoting him saying, "Some have speculated that sometime in the future, if the European Union actually unifies to a much higher degree, and has a president, and an effective legislative body that has real power, they might somehow emerge, with potential for global leadership. I'm not going to hold my breath".
Guardian Irish Times European Voice BBC BBC 2 EurActiv EUobserver Deutsche Welle EUobserver 2

Commission to reallocate funds to energy projects in biggest and most influential countries
The Commission has proposed spending five billion euros in unspent funds on energy and broadband infrastructure projects, as a response to the recent gas crisis, reports EUobserver. 3.5 billion euros would go to clean energy projects with one billion euros to be spent on broadband access. However, the article notes that the countries worst hit by the gas crisis, Bulgaria and Slovakia, are to get only minimal amounts with the bulk of funding for "bigger and influent countries." Commission President Barroso conceded that a "geographical balance" was needed to ensure the package's approval by member states.

An article in the Times notes that there is growing scepticism over the financial viability of renewable energy projects in the UK after the recent exit of a string of companies, including BP and Shell, from the funding of high-profile projects.
EUobserver European Voice EurActiv Times

On her blog, the Mail's Mary Ellen Synon looks at Open Europe's publication and debate on the EU's communication policy, held in Brussels on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Euractiv has a detailed write-up of the debate, with quotes from the panellists and from the research itself.
Mail: Synon blog Euractiv OE publication - "The hard sell"

Commission: 30bn worth of savings to business as a result of better regulation drive
Agence Europe reports that the European Commission published its strategic review on "Better Regulation" yesterday, claiming to have brought 30 billion euros in savings to European businesses since the start of 2007. Industry and Enterprise Commissioner Günter Verheugen hailed the great success of the operation four years after its launch in March 2005. "We have already achieved impressive results and are keen to go much further by the end of this year. Better Regulation - regulating where necessary but keeping burdens on businesses and citizens to the minimum necessary - must remain an essential part of our response to current economic difficulties," he said.
Commission press release

EU mulls new data protection initiatives as human rights activists express concerns
Euractiv reports that as the third "European data protection day" was celebrated yesterday, the European Commission has announced plans to tighten rules on data protection, including extending the concept of personal data to IP addresses and cookies, which allow very detailed profiles of Internet surfers to be created. Also, EU privacy authorities are focusing on Internet search engines' data storage and software such as Google Street View. IT site Mondaq comments that the third birthday "will be remembered simply because it follows on from what has to go down as one of the worst years on record in terms of the sheer volume of data 'lost' and flagrant breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998."

German Daily Tagesspiegel gives a detailed critical overview of all EU plans, mentioning "big brother" concerns by human rights activists and also saying how "given the data protection deficiencies occurring in the UK in 2008, it is surprising that British Home Office Minister Jacqui Smith has expressed in the beginning of January that her police would like to search through accounts on an EU wide basis".
EurActiv Mondaq Tagesspiegel

European Parliament: "Most laws enacted in your country are a transposition of European acts voted by MEPs"
On his FT Brussels blog Tony Barber looks at the upcoming European Parliament elections due to be held in June. He notes that the Parliament's website has a section setting out "10 good reasons to vote" and that reason number six "spells out the reality of lawmaking in today's EU" as it states: "Many, probably most, laws enacted in your country are a transposition of European acts voted by MEPs."

The website says that "Heavyweight MEPs" is a reason to vote in the European elections. It says: "In most cases, MEPs have as much weight as the Member States in EU decision-making. Most laws that concern our daily lives are legislated side by side by MEPs and ministers at EU level. Many, probably most, laws enacted in your country are a transposition of European acts voted by MEPs - your representatives. And it's not just laws: money for new roads, cleaner beaches, research, education, development aid? MEPs also decide where our EU money goes."
FT: Brussels blog EP: 10 good reasons to vote

Formation of new Commission to be delayed to avoid Nice Treaty rules
European Voice reports that Commission President Jose Barroso has told other Commissioners to be ready to stay in place beyond 31 October, the official end of the Barroso Commission, amid uncertainty over what rules will govern the formation of the next Commission. The article reports that any extension of the current Commission's mandate could raise questions about the legality of its decisions.
European Voice European Voice 2

Merkel steps up pressure for Russian-German gas pipeline
EUobserver reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped up the pressure on the European Commission and member states to back the Nord Stream Russian-German gas pipeline project. The article notes that Nord Stream was highly criticised by the Baltic states, Poland, Finland and Sweden for trying to leave them out by connecting Germany directly to the Russian gas fields.
IHT EUobserver Reuters

Good handling of financial crisis but lack of budgetary coordination will cost EU
Chief Economists and Managing Directors of Barclays Capital, Laurence Boone and Raoul Salomon, argue in Le Monde that the EU has handled the financial crisis well but that its lack of budgetary coordination could cost the EU dearly. Boone and Salomon believe that the independent budgetary measures adopted by each member state will lead to considerably higher debt levels across the EU.
Le Monde

Felicity Lawrence: EU's agricultural subsidies "impoverish small farmers"
On the Guardian's Comment Is Free website Consumer Affairs Correspondent Felicity Lawrence argues that the US and EU systems of agricultural subsidies favour large corporations and that their effect "has been to impoverish small farmers around the world".

Meanwhile, European Voice notes that the Commission has said that French government subsidies to the country's fruit and vegetable sector, amounting to over 330 million euros over ten years, broke the EU's state-aid rules. France must now recoup all the payments made to producers, the Commission has said.
Guardian: Comment is free European Voice EU Referendum: blog

A report published by the EU Commission yesterday noted that the morale of consumers and business is at its lowest ever since the eurozone was created.
Libération

Le Monde reports that Danish Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen is pushing for a referendum on the euro in 2010.
No link

The European Ombudsman has urged the European Commission to set up a comprehensive register of the documents it produces or receives, following a complaint by Statewatch about the Commission's failure to register the vast majority of its documents.
Statewatch

More than a million protesters are expected to take to French streets today striking against the economic policies of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Times Times: Bremner Independent FT IHT Irish Times BBC EurActiv

European Voice reports that EU Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is "poised" to propose regulation for the credit derivatives markets, which could see legislation put in place before a new Parliament is elected in June.
European Voice

In an article in the WSJ Giampoalo Galli and Alberto Mingardi argue that the financial crisis was not the result of wild deregulation in American markets. They go on to argue that the EU should avoid the curtailment of market freedom in response to recent events.
WSJ: Galli and Mingardi

Johanna Sigurdardottir is expected to be sworn in as Iceland's Prime Minister by the end of the week.
Independent IHT

On his BBC blog Mark Mardell looks at the impact of the economic crisis on the Greek economy.
BBC: Mardell blog

Strong result predicted for French Radical Left in EU parliamentary elections Both Le Monde and Le Figaro note the potentially strong results for the united list representing the various radical Left parties in France for the EU's parliamentary elections in June. The IFOP poll shows that 14.5% of voters in the European elections would choose the Radical Left list, which is strongly opposed to what it perceives as the EU's free market principle.
Le Monde

UK

The IMF has predicted that the UK will suffer the deepest recession in the developed world due to the current economic crisis.
Times Independent FT Guardian Mail Telegraph Novinte EUobserver

In an article in the New Statesman, General Secretary of the Fabian Society, Sunder Katwala, argues that a coalition government between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats would be a "non-starter", because no policy on Europe could ever be agreed upon.
No link
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.

Jerusalem beware Rome!

The bloody vulture Shimon Peres (Peres is Hebrew for vulture) is right where the Vatican-controlled Israeli oligarchy wants him to be: positioned as president of Israel, dark prince of perfidy, as orchestrated. Woe to Ariel! Jerusalem will soon suffer EU occupation: THE GERMANS ARE COMING!

Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin exposed Shimon Peres as "an indefatigable subversive" in his autobiography. Many Israelis believe this is true but have done nothing to stop Shimon Peres dead in his tracks as he runs around like a chicken with his head cut off, undermining Jerusalem for the Germans and Jesuits and hoping to be king of the Jews, while the Israeli politicians, the Jewish leaders, remain compact with their conspiracy of silence to Rabin's blood that cries out for justice (the first victim of Europe's New Crusade).

Ezekiel 22

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! 3 Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in her own midst... 4 You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed...6 "Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you... 9 In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed... 12 In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me," says the Lord GOD. 13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. 16 You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD.""

Justice demands the arrest of Shimon Peres and criminal company, and an internationally televised trial for his treason - everything from the accursed Oslo accords to his suspected part in the murder of Yitzhak Rabin.

Yitzhak Rabin was sacrificed by the Israeli oligarchy for their German-Jesuit masters intent on occupying Jerusalem and ripping the heart out of Israel.

The naive and wickedly ambitious, collaborators, make it so much easier for the Vatican to seal its plans for Jerusalem! Roman wolves in sheep's clothing preach peace and tolerance while waging war against the Jews and proving they're intolerant of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and are out to undermine it as "diplomatically" as they can: Jerusalem under siege with smiles, of course, and plenty of handshakes and gifts.

Psalms 28:3
Who speak peace to their neighbors,
But evil is in their hearts.

The wise learn from the Bible and history to beware Babylonian envoys:

2 Kings 20
12 At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick [why how nice of him! What could possibly be wrong with letters and a gift showing "compassion" for Hezekiah's ill state?] 13 And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
14 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”
So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”
15 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?”
So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 17 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD. 18 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

Bottom line: the Vatican and its friends are not your friends

No to Netanyahu

Re: Netanyahu: I Won't Form an Extreme Right-Wing Gov't

CFR Netanyahu is all talk and no action when it comes to loving and preserving the Jewish homeland. He cannot be trusted! He's proven it. Bibi failed to make Oslo null and void, Bibi surrendered Hevron, and most wickedly - Bibi failed to open the Temple Mount to *Jewish worship as he said he would! Don't get chummy with Bibi because he'll stab Israel in the back! Go for Ketzaleh.

*Benjamin Netanyahu: "The right of the Jewish people to its holy place - the Temple Mount - cannot be questioned...I believe it is necessary to arrange for Jewish prayer on the site, especially given that we permit freedom of worship to all the religions in Jerusalem...". And his office charged Palestinian officials with "disparaging Jewish holy sites and threatening potential worshippers" (in flagrant violation of Israel's 1967 Law for the Protection of the Holy Places and the Oslo Accords). His deputy director of communications, Michael Freund, responded to the PA mufti's declaration of war (that Jews "...must absolutely forget about having any rights over the Temple Mount...the Western Wall is just a fence belonging to a Muslim holy site") by saying "these statements are repugnant and they betray a contempt for Judaism's most sacred sites and beliefs. They are an affront to history and insulting to Jews everywhere."

Dangerous Ideas?

EU to Conquer Anglo-Saxons and Jews

Israel's Only Way Out: Follow Kahane!


www.davidbenariel.org

Obama's Identity Theft & Terrorism

Obama's Identity Theft & Terrorism
Obama, as acting president, has authority to open his suspiciously sealed records.

I seriously doubt the reason the fraud and foreigner FAILS to produce proof he is a natural born citizen - not just a citizen - is due to fears of identity theft. Obama appears to be engaged in the greatest identity theft right now as a president usurper. He has incriminated himself. Obviously he has something to hide and won't open up to us legitimate American citizens - "We The People" - and disclose his original birth certificate.

Shame on the useful idiots who aid and abet Obama's terrorism against US, against our Constitution, against our Republic. America is under a curse and Obama's African coup is further proof of it.

Demand proof Obama's a natural born citizen!

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

THE GERMANS ARE COMING!

(ImageShack.us)

The New South Africa

Die nuwe Suid-Afrika - 5 new articles

Farmer dies in same spot as mom

'Verdagte het oorledene en gesin verraai'

G’n sake op hofrol ná drama by klub in Edenvale

‘Hy het aanhou sê ons moet dood’

Op selfde plek as ma doodgeskiet

More Recent Articles
'Help, they're shooting at us!'
‘Help, daar word geskiet!’
Verkragverdagte vas danksy DA-raadslids
N14-moord: vrou wil landuit
Widow murdered in cemetery
'Help, I've been shot!'
Mom killed after threatening call
Drie skop en slaan vrou dood in dogter se huis
Vermoor toe hy wil help
Vermoor toe sy man se graf besoek

Open Europe press summary: 28 January 2009

Europe

Polluters are cashing in on the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme;
Price of carbon falls by 60%
The Guardian has a feature on the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The article notes that instead of trading 'permits to pollute' as a way of reducing the overall level of pollution - the original idea behind the scheme - companies are now selling off the permits in order to bring in funds at a time when their carbon output is expected to fall due to lower production. Up to 1 billion euros worth of carbon emissions permits are said to have been sold off in recent months. The sell-off has led to carbon prices plunging by 60%, effectively making it cheaper to burn high-carbon fossil fuels and bringing echoes of 2006 when over-allocation of credits created a glut which made the permits almost worthless.

The article notes that the collapse in the price of carbon has also caused a slowdown in clean energy projects in developing countries against which western firms can gain credits. The price of the so-called Clean Development Mechanism (CDMs) slumped by nearly 30% over the last couple of weeks.

Mark Lewis, a carbon analyst at Deutsche Bank is quoted saying, "This [ETS] was not designed as a scheme to give corporates cheap short-term funding options in the fase of a credit crunch meltdown where banks are not lending, but that appears to be what's happening." Oscar Reyes of the Carbon Trade Watch is quoted saying that "it is no surprise that it [ETS] is now being used as a cash cow to see firms through a difficult financial phase."

In a separate article, Bryony Worthington argues that "even before the recession took hold it was clear that certain sectors of industry had received very generous allowances, but now that issue looks vastly more problematic...[ETS] is now a cash redistribution exercise...and we, the electricity bill payers, are footing the bill."
No link

Open Europe clashes with Commission at a debate in Brussels
At an Open Europe debate in Brussels yesterday evening, Joe Hennon, Spokesperson for EU Communication Commissioner Margot Wallström, rejected Open Europe's research which shows how the EU spends billions of euros a year promoting itself. However, he argued that EU culture, citizenship and education projects which promote European integration did so because the commitment to an ever-closer union "is in the treaties". Mr Hennon denied that his office had sent an email to Swedish journalists attempting to draw their attention to Open Europe's research and describing the think-tank as being "to the right of the British Conservative Party" in an effort to discredit the research. He also disputed Open Europe's claim to be independent, leading Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally to clarify that the think-tank receives no funding from political parties or the EU, in sharp contrast with the many organisations listed in Open Europe's research, such as the European Movement, which are heavily subsidised by the EU and yet state very clearly on their websites that they are independent. Mr Hennon also repeatedly described critics of the EU as being "anti-European". Other speakers included the European Movement's Hendrik Kröner, Chris Heaton-Harris MEP and Stern Journalist Hans-Martin Tillack, who was arrested at the instigation of EU authorities after investigating EU fraud, but later cleared. Mr Tillack described how the staff in the Commission's DG Communication were behind the rumours which first lead to his arrest. This morning on Belgian Radio 1, Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe debated the publication with Willy Hélin, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium, who said the research was "totally mad", saying that "taxpayers only have to pay 3.5 euros per year". Pieter said that "this amounts to a lot of money" and that Open Europe's figure of 2.4 billion euros spent by the EU is "most likely seriously underestimated as the EU is not open about who it funds", adding "it is just not healthy that the EU funds its own cheerleaders."
Open Europe blog The hard sell: EU communication policy and the campaign for hearts and minds

New Swedish study: Still unclear whether the benefits of joining the euro outweighs the costs
A new study from the Swedish Centre for Business and Policy Studies concludes that while it would be beneficial for Denmark to join the Euro, due its currency being pegged to the Euro, for Sweden and the UK it remains unclear whether "the benefits of increased trade and increased exchange rate stability outweighs the costs of losing the autonomy over monetary policy."
Svenska Dagbladet Centre for Business and Policy Studies

German Constitutional Court handed new complaint on EU treaty, possibly delaying Lisbon's entry into force
EUobserver reports that Germany's Constitutional Court has been handed a second complaint over the Lisbon Treaty, with the potential to delay the country's final ratification of the document for several months. The authors of the complaint, including a former MEP and a former Chief Executive of Thyssen, say that "a prognosis on European integration given by the country's constitutional court in a 1993 judgement on the Maastricht Treaty - which paved the way to the euro - has turned out to be false, as instead, EU integration has been characterised by continuous breaches of the stability pact, a presumptuous over-stepping of power by the European Commission, unaccountable leadership and dissolution of the separation of powers".
EUobserver

EU criticised for resuming farm export subsides;
Lamy: Economic bailout packages could harm developing countries
Trade ambassadors from the Cairns Group, a coalition of 19 countries including Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Indonesia, have said the EU's move to offer new export subsidies for dairy products could in fact prolong the world's economic troubles. A statement from the group said. "The reintroduction of export subsidies at this time ... is likely to drive international prices down to artificially low levels and, at the very least, prolong the current downturn."

Meanwhile, World Trade Organisation Director-General, and former EU Commissioner, Pascal Lamy has warned that the recent economic bailout packages could harm developing countries, who are unable to afford such measures.
Times Reuters

Commission pledges funding for Nabucco pipeline
There are conflicting reports over European Union plans to provide funding for the Nabucco pipeline project, which would bring natural gas to Europe from Central Asia, through Turkey. EurActiv reports that EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has said there will be no funding for the Nabucco project, and that although the EU could "facilitate loans", he said the EU would, "not go beyond it, because then it doesn't make sense, it's not anymore the consortium's project but a public-private partnership".

However, the FT and the WSJ report that the European Commission is planning to invest 250 million euros in the project and that, "The sum would cover just 3 per cent of the expected cost, but would provide a capital base for further lending."

According to EurActiv, Czech PM Mirek Topolanek has said that Russian plans to build the North Stream and South Stream pipelines are a "direct threat to the Nabucco project." Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said yesterday that "there is no gas to fill the [Nabucco] pipe."

Meanwhile, Urkanian President, Viktor Yushchenko, has said that he does not believe the recent gas crisis has damaged EU-Ukrainian relations and that, "I would say that the gas crisis even makes the impetus for integration stronger", reports the FT.
FT IHT BBC EurActiv EurActiv 2 WSJ WSJ: Wilson FT 2 European Voice

Rating agency Fitch projects record borrowing for European countries;
Germany set for record postwar deficit as CDU pleads to sell German gold
Stephanie Flanders reports on her BBC blog that ratings agency Fitch has released a special report on borrowing by European governments, questioning whether it is sustainable. She notes that "they think that the rise in debt levels is manageable for big countries like the UK. But the fine print is not very reassuring." Fitch projects that European governments will have to raise a total of nearly 2 trillion euros in 2009, or 17% of GDP, and borrowing by the five largest borrowers - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - will be at a record level relative to GDP and the figures are even worse for some of the smaller countries, such as Ireland.

Meanwhile, the FT reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Germany is this year set to record its largest postwar deficit. FT Deutschland further reports that German Christian Democratic Party CDU wants to sell some of the gold reserves of the German state, which are the second biggest in the world and amount to 3400 tons.
BBC: Flanders blog FT FT Deutschland Eurointelligence WSJ EUobserver

New report argues EU's voluntary lobby register failing
According to The Parliament, a report published by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (Alter-EU) has concluded that the EU's voluntary lobby register has failed to increase transparency. The reports says, "the existing voluntary approach is failing" and "the compliance rate is alarmingly low and the overall quality of information disclosed is very poor."
The Parliament Alter-EU Report

EU struggling in a "winter of discontent"
Writing in the Telegraph, Adrian Michaels argues that there is growing despair in Europe at the handling of the financial crisis, referring to it as "Europe's winter of discontent." He cites Iain Beff, a Professor at the LSE, arguing that recent protests in Latvia represent a loss of faith in the European project.

Meanwhile, the Irish Times reports that Greek farmers have blockaded the main roads for the transport of goods to and from Europe. The Bulgarian government has appealed to the Commission to intervene.
Telegraph: Michaels Irish Times

EUobserver reports that the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) in Europe, UK Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson, has pledged to end the traditional "gentleman's agreement" to share the two terms of President per Parliament between the European People's Party (EPP) and the Party of European Socialists (PSE). Instead, he has said he would like to make the decision public, and the Parliament "more responsive to Europe's people".
EUobserver

Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has asked the country's Social Democrat party to set up a new government, following the collapse of the previous conservative-led coalition on Monday.
EUobserver

Russia is shelving plans to put short-range rockets inside Kaliningrad in response to US hesitation on extending its global missile shield to Poland and the Czech Republic.
EUobserver

Only 47 percent of Luxembourg's population has confidence in the European Union, down from 55 percent in spring 2008, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.
Wort

EU Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has argued that the political environment in Europe is now favourable for over-hauling the EU's financial market regulation, saying, "In Europe there is now a broad consensus that our supervisory systems have not been and are not up to the mark".
WSJ FT

The European Parliament has refused permission for a conference on smoking legislation to be held on its premises, a decision that has been branded "outrageous" by MEPs involved in the event, reports The Parliament.
The Parliament

Le Monde reports that Iran has claimed that "the EU was opening the door to friendship and cooperation with terrorists" after it crossed off the People's Mujahideen Movement from its terror list.
No link

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is in Europe this week, meeting with European leaders to bolster relations, however The Parliament website reports that he will not meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in response to Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama last year.
FT The Parliament

UK

Mandelson pledges £2.3 billion to aid car industry
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson yesterday announced a £2.3 billion rescue package for the car industry, comprising of a £1.3 billion guarantee to unlock funds from the European Investment Bank, as well as £1 billion in further loans reports the Times. Lord Mandelson said the money would pave the way for the "reinvention" of a greener motor industry.
FT Times Times: Leader Mail Mirror Telegraph Telegraph: Leader Independent

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.

Industry of the Future (International Renewable Energy Agency)

Newsletter 2009/01/26 - Industry of the Future

BONN/BERLIN (Own report) - With today's founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Berlin is seeking more influence over the global energy supply. IRENA aims to enhance the use of renewable energy sources on a global scale, therefore implementing what ecological organizations have been demanding for the past 20 years. At the same time, IRENA is supporting an already heavily subsidizedindustrial branch that is capable of covering a large part of the future energy supply. While denied leading roles in the oil industry, German businesses are holding top positions in this industry of the future. Whereas Berlin has been pushing hard for IRENA's establishmenta nd would like to have its headquarters in Germany, serious misgivings can be heard in other countries. Critics in Brazil are pointing out that biofuel is being produced throughout their country under conditions similar to slavery. Plans, for the use of North African deserts as solar energy sources - for Germany - are being made in the German foreign ministry.

more

http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56217

Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall

Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall by David Ben-Ariel

Mr. Ben-Ariel clearly has a God-given love for the Jews and the nation of Israel. His Israeli lawyer has stated that David's "future is linked with that of the Jews," and Gershon Salomon, chairman of the Temple Mount Faithful says, "God has some special task" for him. His sacred bond with the land and people of Israel has been strengthened over the years by his service as a volunteer on eight kibbutzim (collective farms) throughout the Holy Land, including during Operation Desert Storm. As a firm believer in the Israelite roots and responsibilities of the Anglo-Saxons and Northwestern European peoples, David works towards the ultimate reconciliation and restoration of Joseph with Judah. As a student of biblical prophecy, he is alarmed about Germany and the Vatican's increasing control of the European continent, remodeling it after the Holy Roman Empire. As the outspoken author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, he is determined to do all he can to help wake up the world to the clear and present danger Germany poses to world peace, with a special emphasis on the Middle East.

East Toledoan calls his book, Beyond Babylon, God’s final warning

Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall by David Ben-Ariel

Beyond Babylon (free to read online)


Beyond Babylon

Digging For the Truth

Is your local media reporting what really went on in Gaza?

Digging For the Truth

http://www.honestreporting.com/

www.davidbenariel.org

Holocaust denier?

Re: "History on Trial" Named One of Five Best Books on Legal Trials by Alan Dershowitz in Wall Street Journal
Alan Dershowitz, asked by the Wall Street Journal [January 17h], to list his pick of of five best books on momentous legal cases has included History on Trial, in his pick .

************

Is there a standard definition for "holocaust denier"? Is one who denies there were 6 million Jewish victims, but maybe 2-3 million Jewish victims (not to mention all the others), a "holocaust denier"? I heard about the court case concerning David Irving but didn't pay attention.

The court case concerning David Irving doesn't directly affect our lives, but I would say those who remain ignorant and indifferent, who go like sheep to the slaughter, who deny the German-Jesuit EU will ignite WWIII against the British Israelites and Jews primarily, are holocaust deniers.

The Intelligence Summit Misses the Mark: the German-Jesuit Threat to World Peace
The whole world has been focusing on Islamic terrorism, as is understandable, but the greatest threat to world peace is the German-dominated European Union! The United States has foolishly been helping to create such a Frankenstein Monster that will brutally betray both the American, British and Jewish peoples.

Death to the American, British and Jewish Peoples?
The German-Jesuit EU will conquer the British-Israelites and Jews because God will use them to punish us for our idolatry and immorality. Such defeat, deportation and occupation will last 3 1/2 years and then Yeshua will return and reign and save us from our sins and our enemies.

British-Israelites and Jews in Grave Danger
Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall warns that due to our idolatry and immorality, our nations are prophesied to fall and fall hard if we don't turn from our ways and remember our Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities (Malachi 4:4).

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Open Europe press summary: 27 January 2009

Europe

Environment Agency Chairman: UK in danger of missing renewable energy targets
Lord Smith, the Chairman of the UK's Environment Agency, has expressed concern in an interview with the FT that the Government is in danger of missing European Union renewable energy targets unless action is taken to promote investment in the renewable energy sector. It comes following recent announcements that energy companies are reconsidering plans for offshore wind farms. Lord Smith said, "You have to look at the subsidy system to see it if is working properly. If it is deterring companies from investing, then you need to make changes."

A leader in the FT argues that support for renewable energy should come in the form of a "broad carbon tax". It goes on to say that committing to such a tax now would "provide the certainty required for companies to increase investment in renewables."

A shortlist of potential schemes to harness tidal power, as part of renewable energy plans, was published by the Government yesterday and included the controversial Severn estuary plan, reports the front page of the Independent.
FT FT: Leader Guardian Independent Independent: Leader European Voice EurActiv

Nato Secretary General: Europe must do more in Afghanistan;
EU Foreign Ministers fail to reach agreement on Guantanamo detainees
At a speech in Brussels yesterday, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that he expected Europeans to contribute more to the effort in Afghanistan. The BBC reports that he said, "If the Europeans expect that the United States will close Guantanamo, sign up to climate change treaties, accept EU leadership on key issues, but provide nothing more in return, for example in Afghanistan, than encouragement, they should think again. It simply won't work like that."

EUobserver also reports that Mr Scheffer expressed regret at failing to bring the alliance and the EU closer when he said, "I'm sad that at the end of my mandate as secretary general I have not been able to bring this relationship more forward than on a pragmatic basis."

At a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers yesterday, there was failure to reach an agreement on whether or not to accept former detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison, according to the Independent.
BBC FT Sun: Leader Guardian Independent BBC IHT EUobserver

EU Commission caricatures Open Europe as "to the right of the British Conservatives"
The European Commission has sent a politically-charged press release to the Swedish media dismissing Open Europe's recent work on the EU communication policy. The press release described Open Europe as being "to the right of the British Conservatives", in an obvious attempt to caricature the think-tank to a Swedish audience. The office of EU Communications Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, which sent the message, will join a debate in Brussels this evening to discuss the themes raised by Open Europe's book.

If you would like to attend the debate this evening, please RSVP to Pieter Cleppe at pieter@openeurope.org.uk or on 0032 477 68 46 08.
OE blog The hard sell: EU communication policy and the campaign for hearts and minds

Commission-funded "blogging competition" launches
An EU-wide "blogging competition" funded by the Commission was launched yesterday. The purpose of the competition is to have bloggers "cover, report, critique and debate" campaign issues and candidates for the EU elections in June, and to "share their thoughts on the EU" in general, Euractiv reports.
BBC Mardell: blog EurActiv FT: Brussels blog

Feldstein: "it is possible that one or more countries might actually withdraw from the Eurozone"In an article on Vox.eu, Harvard Professor and former President of the US National Bureau of Economic Research, Martin Feldstein, states that, "the economic advantages of a single currency in promoting trade and competition would be outweighed by a higher rate of unemployment and by the risk of higher long-term inflation." He goes on to say that, "the primary motivation for the creation of the euro was political, not economic and... the creation of the euro could lead to increased conflict within Europe and with the US."

He adds that "Germany is still resisting any substantial fiscal deficits and the ECB has a much higher interest rate than the Federal Reserve or the Bank of Japan. Spain with a 13% unemployment rate and a trade deficit of 10% of GDP must want a more expansive monetary and fiscal policy than Germany. Smaller countries may now feel that they have lost control over their economic future". He concludes that "in these circumstances, it is possible that one or more countries might actually withdraw from the Eurozone".
In his FT column, Gideon Rachman describes how countries such as "Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and possibly Ireland would find managing their public finances ever harder...Unable to devalue their currency, weaker economies can only restore competitiveness by cutting jobs and real wages. He concludes by considering that, this "is obviously a recipe for social unrest, which leads on to the political crisis...If euro membership forces southern European countries to make deep cuts in their budgets in the midst of a recession".
FT: Rachman Open Europe blog 1 Open Europe blog 2 Vox.eu

Ireland could be facing fines in the area of millions of euro a day from next January if it fails to divert biodegradable waste from landfill under the EU's Landfill Directive.
Irish Times

EU ministers add British-based companies to Mugabe blacklist
The Guardian reports that EU Foreign Ministers yesterday extended their sanctions against the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe to 18 British-based companies believed to be doing business with the regime, and blacklisted businessman John Bredenkamp understood to be living in Britain. In addition to freezing the assets of the companies and proscribing transactions with them, EU ministers also added 26 individuals to the list of 177 barred from travelling in the EU.
FT Guardian BBC Telegraph Times EUobserver AFP

EU Committee of financial supervisors to move to QMV
European Voice and Euractiv report that the European Commission has proposed that three EU Committees in charge of monitoring the banking (CEBS), insurance (CEIOPS) and securities (CESR) sectors, which all bring together national regulators, will move from a system requiring unanimity for decisions to be taken to a system that requires a qualified majority. In addition, the Commission proposed that the EU provide the committees with direct funding. At present they are funded solely by national governments.
European Voice EurActiv

The BBC reports that EU envoy Louis Michel yesterday said that Hamas bore the "overwhelming responsibility" for the recent destruction in the Gaza strip. He said there would be no dialogue with the movement until it renounced violence and recognised Israel. At the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers yesterday, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands reportedly opposed calls for an inquiry into alleged human rights violations.
Irish Times: Smyth Irish Times Guardian: Patten European Voice BBC Deutsche Welle Libération

The Dutch Christian Democratic party, CDA, has cautioned against allowing new states to join the EU, including Iceland and Turkey.
ND

The Icelandic Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, yesterday announced the immediate resignation of his government, saying "What I have feared the most has come to pass, we now have a governmental crisis on top of the economic one".
FT Guardian BBC Times IHT

Gordon Brown has been accused of leaving the British steel industry at a disadvantage to its European rivals. Appeals have been made to ministers to match subsidies by European governments to allow it to keep skilled workers. Philippe Varin, the Corus Chief Executive, said that without similar support, the outlook for British mills was "very serious".
Times

Serbia is to submit a request to accede to the EU by the end of June 2009. Euractiv reports that the country is yet to meet the final condition for moving to this new phase in the transition process; the extradition of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).Emportal Euractiv

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.