Jews helped win WWII

One who chooses to remain anonymous writes:

Re: Jews responsible for mass murder of Christians?

I don't know about Lipstadt, but Christianity is responsible for rivers of Jewish blood through the centuries.

In regard to WWII, where you say "It was Christians who fought and won WWII," I tell you, overall, some 300,000 Jewish soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines died serving in the armies of the UN in World War II; and nearly 1,500,000 Jewish servicemen served in the armies of the United Nations. Large numbers of Jewish scientists played a decisive role in developing the atom bomb, thus saving millions of American and allied lives from dying in an invasion of Japan with the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. There were hundreds of Jewish generals and admirals in the various militarys.

I agree Roman Catholicism is responsible for murdering Jews throughout history, as well as persecuting and murdering Sabbath-keeping Christians who reject Rome for Jerusalem, and continue their insatiable appetite for blood with current collaboration with Jews and Israelis over Jerusalem's future.

I also agree that Jews fought and/or contributed to the defeat of the Nazis, but was making a point by generally speaking when I said Christians fought and won WWII, since Deborah Lipstadt and too many other Jews make generalizations against Christians (and I didn't even mention the documented facts of Jews in Hitler's army) - sort of "answering a fool according to his folly" and putting things in perspective.

I note you didn't acknowledge or deny Jews (again, generally speaking) have been guilty of rivers of professing Christian blood throughout history with their godless isms, their perverted messianic drives and purges that have polluted the world and cursed mankind.

I hope and pray Joseph and Judah both repent of our personal and national sins and prepare to meet our God.



http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Nazis murdered Christians

Re: More Soft Core Denial

Even while acknowledging Nazis murdered Christians, Deborah Lipstadt continues the shameful Jewish blood libel against Christians by blathering "it was Christians who were running the operation." Apparently many rightly took offense at such a hateful and murderous charge but instead of correcting her historical error, she digs herself in deeper with typical Jewish double standards: "...while they were certainly not officially acting on behalf of the Church, no Catholic was excommunicated for participating in this effort."

more

Jews responsible for mass murder of Christians?

Open Europe press summary: 31 March 2009

Europe

Europe Minister Caroline Flint admits she has not read the Lisbon Treaty
During questions yesterday in Parliament, Europe Minister Caroline Flint admitted that she had not read the Lisbon Treaty in its entirety.

Following a series of vague answers on the implications of the Treaty for European defence, Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois asked, "Has the Minister read the elements of the Lisbon Treaty that relate to defence?". Ms. Flint replied, "I have read some of it but not all of it." She went on to say: "I have been briefed on some of it."

As well as leading calls for the Treaty to be ratified, back in December, Caroline Flint claimed that the Irish voted 'no' due to "misunderstanding" of the Treaty.

In a press release, Mark Francois responded saying, "It's wonderfully honest of the Minister for Europe to admit that she hasn't actually read the renamed EU Constitution. It's not every day that someone will admit they haven't read the most important document for their job. Her astonishing admission does leave some questions. How does she know if the Treaty's good for Britain if she hasn't read it? How could she lecture the Irish that they'd only rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they didn't understand it?"
Parliamentary Committee debate

European Commission justifies 'golden parachutes'
According to AFP, the European Commission has defended itself against Open Europe's findings on the 'golden parachute' arrangements for former Commissioners, under which they can receive up to 65 percent of their salary for three years after leaving their post.

Commission Spokeswoman Valerie Rampi said the European Commission "applies the rules which have been agreed by the EU member states", adding that the system is similar to those used in other international organisations. Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell is quoted saying: "Taxpayers around Europe, whose pensions have been swallowed up in the recession, will rightly question why they are footing such an enormous bill for a handful of remote officials who they never voted for in the first place. It is a topsy-turvy world when an unelected EU official is earning the same wage as the democratically elected president of the United States."

On the generous pension rules the European Commission's chief spokesman, Johannes Laitenberger, said the general rules existed "because it is impossible to anticipate all individual situations that might arise" for former Commissioners. The payments system helps them "to preserve their independence," he added. Asked whether the pay-out rules would be reviewed amid the current economic crisis in Europe, as is the case for private sector "golden parachutes", the Commission said the two worlds could not be compared.

The story also enjoyed coverage on France24, Les Echos, Le Vif, Euronews, EU Business, De Morgen, Dutch daily Trouw, and the Belgian Metro. Malta Today also reported the news, stating that the Maltese EU Commissioner Joe Borg, who is looking forward to a €1.4 million pension, is "Malta's highest paid pensioner."
AFP Le Vif Challenges Echos ASCA France24 EU Business Euronews SDP Noticias Malta Today De Morgen Trouw Gulf Times Open Europe press release OE blog

Government backs EU plan to track drivers
The Guardian reports that the Government is backing EU plans to install a "communication box" in new cars to track the whereabouts of drivers anywhere in Europe. Under the proposals, vehicles will emit a constant "heartbeat" revealing their location, speed and direction of travel.

Details of the Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure Systems (CVIS) project, a £36m EU initiative backed by car manufacturers and the telecoms industry, will be unveiled this year. However, unpublished documents detailing the proposed uses for the system confirm that it could have profound implications for privacy, enabling cars to be tracked to within a metre - more accurate than current satellite navigation technologies. The EUReferendum blog notes that the system will rely on the EU's Galileo satellite positioning system.
Guardian EUReferendum

Galileo overruns by more than €376m
DPA reports that the European Satellite System Galileo has become more expensive than initially planned. The development phase has already cost €376 million more than foreseen. It remains to be decided how the additional costs will be met.
DPA

EU anti-fraud agency under fire from European ombudsman
The Parliament reports that the EU anti-fraud office Olaf has been accused by the European ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, of not respecting the principle of innocence in an investigation. The criticism follows a complaint from a UK consultant who argued that letters which Olaf had sent to his former and current bosses implied he was responsible for serious irregularities.The Parliament

Sarkozy threatens to walk out of G20 summit
Amid concerns that this week's G20 summit will produce "grand declarations" but lead to little concrete action, Le Monde reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said
"if it does not advance in London, it will mean an empty chair! I will get up and leave."

The Times notes that Sarkozy wants a global financial regulator, an idea fiercely opposed by the US and the UK. The article notes that Mr Sarkozy, who blames the "Anglo-Saxons" for causing the economic crisis, will not accept a G20 that produces a "false success with language that sounds good but contains no commitments."

Meanwhile Gordon Brown has said: "The most important thing is that we all act together, because if we act with other countries, it's got twice the effect than if we do it on our own," reports the Irish Times. He said: "The world didn't come together in previous recessions and they lasted much longer." But stock markets around the globe tumbled yesterday, a signal to politicians that they want "clarity and conviction".

The Irish Independent says that news of a broken deal yesterday on co-ordinated action to pump money into the world economy should bring doubt to the summit's objectives. Leaders from China, Germany and Australia warned that they were not yet ready to agree to further tax giveaways or benefits increases, a significant disagreement that "raised the temperature" just prior to the summit. The Irish Independent notes that the fact that Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, is already speaking of the next summit is not a good sign for the prospects of Thursday's meeting.
Irish Times Irish Times 2 EUobserver FT Times Le Monde Le Figaro Irish Independent

Germany joins France in tying Lisbon Treaty to enlargement
Le Monde reports that Germany and France, in an attempt to pressure the Irish and the Czechs ratify the Lisbon Treaty, said this weekend "without ratification of Lisbon, there will be no [EU] enlargement". Yet other EU member-states, like Finland and the Baltic States, say that the EU has an obligation to live up to its expectations.

DPA reports that the Bavarian CSU has contested the idea that the Lisbon Treaty is necessary for enlargement. German MP Thomas Silberhorn said the strategy "no deepening, no widening" as long as Lisbon doesn't get passed, is "unacceptable in content and tone". He said: "The attempt to make Croatia responsible for the coming into effect of the Lisbon Treaty puts the credibility of the EU enlargement policy into question."
DPA Le Monde

EU to create a Europe-wide telecommunications regulator
The IHT reports that the European Commission, the European Parliament and all 27 national telecommunications regulators have agreed to create a stronger EU level telecommunications regulator. The agreements will bring into action in 2010 a new agency authorised to reverse decisions made by national telecommunications regulators in the EU, a mandate that includes the realms of network access and pricing.

The article also notes that under this agreement the Commission would gain new powers to harmonise rules and procedures among the member countries should variations in national laws persist for at least two years. The new agency will be staffed and funded by the Commission.
IHT Euractiv

On the Guardian's Comment is Free website, stand-up comic Dave Cohen looks at the debate surrounding long working hours in the UK and the EU's Working Time Directive, quoting Open Europe's Mats Persson saying, "We just don't think it makes sense to make one set of rules for 27 countries with 27 different kinds of working practice."
Guardian-Cohen

France bans bonuses for bailed-out bosses
The FT reports that France has emerged as the first European country to impose a law curbing bonuses and stock options for executives of companies receiving aid from the state. French businesses have agreed to "name and shame" companies that fail to review executive pay during job cut programmes.
FT Evening Standard

Peel: The importance of the EU presidency is overstated
Writing in the FT, Quentin Peel argues that officials in the European Commission and Council are not overly worried about the resignation of the Czech government, but their genuine fear is that it may thrust Czech President Vaclav Klaus into the limelight. Peel also argues that "National capitals tend to overstate the importance of the EU presidency because it provides a moment in the international limelight for prime ministers and their cabinet colleagues."
FT

The FT Brussels blog looks ahead to the Swedish presidency of the EU and reports that it is willing to engage in self-criticism, which the blog argues "is a good quality to have".
FT Brussels blog

NATO row with Turkey
The FT reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is opposing Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the next Secretary-General of NATO, which means a decision may be delayed and not take place at the alliance summit in Strasbourg and Kehl this weekend. Turkey's opposition stems from the fact that Rasmussen failed to apologise for the anti-Muslim cartoons which sparked outrage from the Muslim community around the world.
FT

The FT reports that the head of Germany's powerful BDI industry federation has launched an attack on the US fiscal stimulus, saying aid to the motor industry amounted to a "car war" that could distort competition to the detriment of Europe.
FT

Libertas denies Declan Ganley is funding Polish campaign
The Irish press reports that Libertas has denied accusations that its leader Declan Ganley will be funding the party campaign in Poland before the European elections in June. At the weekend, Polish daily Dziennik reported that the Polish Libertas branch was hoping to get a loan guaranteed by Ganley himself. Such a loan would be legal but in effect would circumvent Polish legislation."It's a trick to get the money they cannot accept directly from abroad. It was obvious that Libertas Polska had no money of their own and that Ganley was going to give money, the question until now was just how he was going to do it", Dziennik opinion editor Michal Karnowksi states.
Irish Times Irish Independent

European Council on Foreign Relations: Europe is both too integrated and too divided
In a letter to the Times, 48 members of the European Council on Foreign Relations, including Giuliano Amato, Timothy Garton Ash, Lord Patten, Sir Stephen Wall and George Soros argue that "the euro project is incomplete. It has a central bank but not a central treasury, and the supervision of the banking system is left to national authorities. An absence of solidarity could become a hazard for the Eurozone... Europe is in a critical position. Its member states are too integrated to be able to develop purely national responses [to the crisis], but too divided to decide on a common way forward."
Times-letters

According to Die Presse, the EU is to spend €10 million on a climate institute in Beijing, in cooperation with the Chinese Office for Education and Trade.
Die Presse

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet has encouraged EU member states to execute their plans to spend money to stimulate the economy, according to Financieel Dagblad. He is quoted saying: "deliver what you have promised. Do it now." He however dismissed calls to spend even more money, saying "we should not raise the level of state spending even more".
FD AFP

Germany resists EU road charging plans
DPA reports that EU plans for road charging are going ahead, despite attempts by Germany to slow them down. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, German State secretary of the Ministry for Transport is quoted by DPA saying: "Forwarding agencies cannot absorb the new burden". However Germany's position is opposed by France, Finland, Austria, Denmark and other member states.
DPA

UK

The Mail reports that Britain has warned European defence group EADS it is "concerned" about delays to the £18.5bn A400M military transport aircraft and is considering a new order to rival Boeing's C-17.
Mail EUReferendum

Parliamentary authorities are investing a claim that details of MPs' expenses are being offered to journalists for £300,000.
BBC

In a poll of Conservative party members, 87% agreed that MEP Dan Hannan should get a "a prime speaking slot at this autumn's Conservative Party Conference".
Conservative Home



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.

Strategic Concepts (II) (NATO Summit)

Newsletter 2009/03/18 - Strategic Concepts (II)BERLIN (Own report) - In the prelude to NATO's Jubilee Summit at thebeginning of April, influential German foreign policy makers arecalling for a broadening of cooperation with Moscow in militarypolicy. A government advisor of the German Council on ForeignRelations (DGAP) demands that "Europe" consider revaluating Russia "toa second pillar of European security" alongside the USA, otherwisethere is the risk of becoming "the eastern part of the United States."These statements are tied in with the growing German-Russianactivities in foreign and security policies, which run contrary toaspirations of transatlantic forces seeking agreement at the comingNATO summit on a new "strategic concept," which should enhancecooperation between Berlin and Washington. Observers note that thecloser German-Russian cooperation is being supported in Berlin as wellas in Moscow by proponents of an independent great power policy -including nationalist strategists of the extreme right.
more
http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56235

Open Europe press summary: 30 March 2009

Europe

Brown at odds with EU ahead of G20 summit;
UK and US forced to manage expectations
There is widespread coverage of this week's G20 summit in London. The Independent reports that Gordon Brown's hopes of securing a global stimulus package have been dashed by resistance from France and Germany. The paper notes that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, backed by other EU nations, have opposed fresh efforts to boost their economies through government spending.

In an interview with the Weekend FT Merkel said, "The crisis did not take place because we were spending too little but because we were spending too much to create growth that was not sustainable. It isn't just that the banks took over too many risks. Governments allowed them to do so by neglecting to set the necessary [financial market] rules and, for instance in the US, by increasing the money supply too much."

Diplomatic tensions ran high yesterday as the German government was forced to deny it had engineered the leaks of two draft communiques, drawn up in advance of the summit, to weaken the British position. A spokeswoman for the German government insisted it was not behind the leaks: "We treat all drafts with complete confidentiality."

The Guardian notes that the rift has led to cabinet ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, dampening expectations of Thursday's G20 meeting. "This is about trying to tackle an exceptional economic crisis...This G20 summit was never about writing national budgets," said Miliband.

The WSJ notes that over the weekend White House officials sought to play down fiscal-stimulus targets they were urging earlier in the month and instead focused on more 'modest' objectives, such as new rules for tax havens and international coordination for financial regulation.

In an article in the Times, outgoing Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who will represent the EU at the G20, argues "Europe does not need such a large fiscal stimulus compared with the US, which does not have such a system of social support".
Telegraph Weekend FT 2 WSJ Times Times: Kaletsky Independent Independent: Anderson Mail Guardian IHT Weekend FT WSJ Telegraph 3 Telegraph 2 EU Referendum blog Telegraph: Hannan blog Irish Times Sunday Times: Leader Observer: Hutton Independent on Sunday: Leader Sunday Times Sunday Telegraph: Evans-Pritchard Sunday Express Times: Topolanek

French Foreign Minister: No Lisbon Treaty, no enlargement
According to the Irish Times, outgoing Czech PM Mirek Topolanek has said he will "plead" with his party to support the EU Lisbon Treaty, saying he believes the Treaty will be ratified before his country's presidency of the EU ends on June 30th. Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said that he thought failure to ratify the Treaty would leave his country "absolutely isolated" in central Europe, saying "For us, that would be an awful result. Ireland as an island at least has free access to the sea. We are fully surrounded by the EU. We would thus isolate ourselves within it".

However, EUobserver reports that the deputies of his Civic Democrats (ODS) are largely sceptical about the Treaty and are now seen as unlikely to align with Topolanek's line on Europe, and instead align themselves more strongly with ODS founder and Czech President Vaclav Klaus.

In an interview with Die Welt, Schwarzenberg said "I'm rather sure that the Czech Republic will ratify the Lisbon Treaty in the coming weeks", however adding that "of course the EU could function with the Nice Treaty. The world would not go under". Süddeutsche Zeitung quotes Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborg saying that, "[Ratification] is going to be very difficult."

NRC Handelsblad quotes French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner saying: "if the new treaty does not enter into force, the EU will not be enlarged". HLN reports that Angela Merkel's proposition to freeze enlargement after Croatia's accession to the EU has faced critics at a summit in the Czech Republic this weekend. Tagesspiegel quotes an EU expert from the German social democrats saying: "no deepening, no enlargement".

Meanwhile, according to EUobserver, the Irish government has said it will continue negotiations with the Czech EU presidency on securing a legal text on certain 'guarantees' offered at a summit in December regarding the Lisbon Treaty. A diplomatic source told the Sunday Business Post that the Irish government expected the guarantees to be agreed ahead of the EU leaders' summit in June, but admitted: ''We don't know what's going to happen. Nobody does. They don't know themselves."
Irish Times EU Observer AFP Tagesspiegel Welt 1 Welt 2 NRC HLN

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe appeared on French national television channel France 2 criticising EU Commissioners for receiving £1 million each in pensions and payoffs on leaving office this year, in a feature based on Open Europe's findings.
France 2 - 09.12 minutes in Open Europe press release OE blog

Stuart Wheeler to be expelled from Conservative Party over UKIP donation
The Times reports that the Conservative Party is to expel one of its largest donors, Stuart Wheeler, after he announced over the weekend that he would give £100,000 to UKIP and vote for them in the European elections in June. The Sunday Times reported that Mr Wheeler said, "I am very disappointed indeed with David Cameron's stance on this issue [the EU]. Much as I want the Tories to win the next election; getting Europe right is even more important".

He went on to say that Ken Clarke's influence was a "concern", adding: "He has indicated that he will not contradict current Conservative policy on the EU, but I don't think he'll be bound by that." The Sun also reports that Mr Wheeler said, "More than half the Shadow Cabinet are more euro-sceptic than the leadership."

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Wheeler argued that, "The European Union (the EU) is a disaster, even worse than the recession because the recession will end some time but the EU may not...in 2007 David Cameron wrote 'Today I will give this cast-iron guarantee: if I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.'" However, he went on to write that, "my doubts about his commitment to doing anything effective were increased this week when I was told that he had got 70 Conservative MPs together and told them the EU issue did not matter...This may or may not be true but it fits in with what a great many people believe to be his attitude."
Times Independent Mail Guardian Conservative Home Observer News of the World Sunday Times Sunday Times: Wheeler Sun Telegraph Telegraph: Leader BBC

Commission wants stronger enforcement of privacy rules on internet
The IHT reports that the EU Commission this week will argue for stronger enforcement of rules on the commercial use of information garnered through online tracking made possible via "cookies" -- small files dropped into users' computers by the Web sites they visit. Meglena Kuneva, the European Consumer Affairs Commissioner, will argue that EU and national laws governing the use of personal information are ineffective and that "the World Wide Web is turning out to be the world 'Wild West'", although she will stop short of proposing new regulations.
IHT

CAP costs British taxpayer £10.3 billion a year
The Express reports that new research from the Taxpayers' Alliance has shown that the Common Agricultural Policy is adding £400 a year to British families' food bills. The research claims that the CAP costs British taxpayers £10.3 billion a year and that it has made food in Britain a fifth more expensive.

The article quotes Europe Minister Caroline Flint saying, "The CAP does not serve the best interests of farmers or consumers across Europe. We will use the opportunity of the EU budget review, starting later in the year, to argue for the long-term reform that is needed."
Express

Saturday's Mail reported that Stephen Green, Chairman of HSBC, has backed plans for a pan-European regulator, proposed by the European Commission and Chairman of the FSA, Lord Turner, saying that it should be based in London.
No link

Saturday's Telegraph reported that Labour MEP Stephen Hughes receives £40,000 a year in office expenses despite only paying an annual rent of £1,642.
No link

On Sunday Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi closed a three-day congress merging the three main right-wing parties. The new party will be called the 'People of Liberty'.
EurActiv Times

An article in the WSJ looks at President Obama's pledge to create new green jobs "that can't be outsourced" and warns that any kind of carbon tariff on imports could spark a trade war.
WSJ: analysis

FAZ reports that the economist and former Board Member of the European Central Bank, Otmar Issing, fears that a bail-out of a member state will threaten currency stability and the individual democratic responsibility of states within the eurozone.
No link

Austrian daily, Die Presse, comments on "the fear of Europe's elite for the citizen", arguing that it is hypocritical for political elites to complain about the scepticism of citizens towards the EU while, at the same time, making decisions that refuse to give citizens a greater say.
Die Presse

The former Latvian PM, Guntars Krasts, is to stand as a candidate for Libertas in Latvia, according to the Irish Times.
Irish Times

UK

On Saturday the Times reported that George Soros has warned that Britain may have to seek a rescue package from the IMF.
Times

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.

UNRWA, where is the money going?

UNRWA, where is the money going?

Over 180 Palestinian rockets strike Israel since ceasefire

Open Europe press summary: 26 March 2009

Europe

EU Commissioner: "I'm worth all the millions"
EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has responded to reports that she will receive nine million Danish kronor in pension payments, following a press release from Open Europe over the weekend highlighting the fact that EU Commissioners will receive £1 million each in pensions and payoffs on leaving office this year. In Danish daily Politiken, Fischer Boel contests Open Europe's calculations, saying she will not get her pension until she turns 70 - she will turn 66 next month. In addition, she says that the so-called transitional payment is 2 million kronor, not 2.6 kronor as claimed by Open Europe, and that her yearly pension is 323.000 kronor rather than 380.000 kronor.

However, the article notes that, "even with the corrections she will still receive several million kronor, which she says is quite reasonable". The article quotes her as saying, "I think the amount we receive is similar to that applied in the vast majority of international organisations...I think I'm worth all the millions."

In a separate article in the paper, Danish MEP Dan Jørgensen, who sits on the EP's budget committee, is quoted saying, "It's sounds completely insane, and if the figures are right, then this needs to change. I have nothing against EU Commissioners earning well...but this is out of all proportions." The findings also received additional coverage in a feature on Danish Radio.
Politken Politiken2 Danish Radio Journal Chretien Open Europe blog Open Europe press release

Czech EU Presidency in disarray as government collapses;
Lisbon Treaty ratification thrown into uncertainty
There is widespread coverage of the Czech government's collapse and the impact this could have on the EU. The FT reports that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty could become more difficult as a result of the political instability and its knock-on effect on the Czech EU Presidency. Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally is quoted in the Mail arguing that the government's collapse gives hope to those opposing ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Tasspiegel reports that Czech PM Mirek Topolanek has announced that he will step down today.

Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra is quoted in the FT saying, "The ratification process is on track...but it will be a lot more difficult now to convince people to vote in favour". The Treaty was passed by the Czech lower house but has yet to be approved by the Czech Senate. The paper notes that Premysl Sobotka, the Chairman of the Civic Democrats in the Czech upper house, said that it was now unlikely that the Senate would discuss the Treaty during its March session. All eyes have now turned to Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a critic of the Treaty, who has the power to choose who forms the next government. Sueddeutsche Zeitung argues that Klaus will use this role to further his political aims for the EU and the Lisbon Treaty.

EU Commission President Jose Barroso is quoted in the Telegraph saying, "The Czech Republic has signed the treaty and so the Czech Republic has an obligation to ratify. I really hope that this domestic, political development is not used as a way to put in question the treaty." French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said, "What has happened in Czech Republic again hurts any certainty that we will get the Lisbon treaty."

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, who is negotiating the terms on which to hold a second Irish referendum on the Treaty after last year's 'No' vote, is quoted in the FT saying, "Now we have to see how things evolve with the Czech presidency and who we will be negotiating with...that's a bit more complex than we would have anticipated."

Meanwhile, Mirek Topolanek's comments that proposed US policies to weather the economic crisis are "a way to hell", first reported yesterday, have added pressure on the Czech's EU Presidency. In response, German MEP Martin Schulz said that this was no way to deal with the US, telling Topolanek, "You don't represent the European Council Presidency, you represent yourself," according to FAZ.
Mail FT FT 2 FT: Leader Irish Times Irish Times: Leader Telegraph BBC FT: Brussels blog BBC: Mardell blog Economist: Charlemagne blog European Voice European Voice Independent Le Monde Le Figaro La Croix FT Irish Times Irish Independent Express IHT Telegraph 2 Guardian EurActiv FAZ Süddeutsche Zeitung Tagesspiegel

New research: Europe's ETS is "deeply flawed"
An article in the New Statesman by the Sunday Times' Environment Editor, Jonathan Leake, looks at new research from Cambridge University, commissioned by the Government, which argues that "the current European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is deeply flawed and should be replaced - or ay least augmented - with a green tax."

The research also argues that the ETS needs to provide more long-term price stability, saying "a market-based trading system such as the ETS is very unlikely to generate consistent high prices, and this instability could undermine the whole point of the scheme."
No link

Lords reject amendment to allow greater scrutiny of EU data retention laws
The House of Lords has voted by 93 votes to 89 against an amendment proposed by Shadow Security Minister Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones calling on the Government to introduce EU rules on data retention through primary legislation rather than a Statutory Instrument (SI). The rules will require service providers to record data on all phone, email and internet traffic. Neville-Jones argued that implementing the directive through a Bill rather than an SI would allow proper Parliamentary scrutiny of how the EU directive is implemented in the UK and clarify uncertainties over which data would be recorded and which would not.
Hansard

Wellcome Trust: EU animal welfare directive has "lost all forms of common sense"
The Today programme on Radio 4 reported that the EU wants to tighten regulations on animal testing, but a group of scientists say that the changes to the regulations could harm scientific research. Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said that "this directive in its present form has really lost all forms of common sense and proportionality. It will stop some research by increasing bureaucracy and cost, it will make other research almost impossible...in other areas the recommendations frankly run counter to animal welfare."
Today programme

MEPs move to deny Le Pen a platform
The Guardian reports that a concerted effort is under way to rewrite the European Parliament's rulebook in order to deny French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen the role of presiding over the first session of the Parliament's next term. Under the Parliament's current rules its inaugural session must be overseen by its doyen - the oldest MEP - which will be Mr Le Pen, 81, if he is re-elected for the French National Front in the elections in June.

German MEP Joseph Daul, Chair of the EPP-ED, is quoted by the Times, Focus and Le Monde saying that one should "take all measures necessary" to prevent Le Pen from chairing the inaugural session.
Guardian Times Focus Le Monde Le Figaro AFP BBC Le Figaro 2

Berlusconi tries to torpedo deal on European Parliament presidency
European Voice reports that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could blow apart a deal between the EPP-ED and the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament, which had agreed that the presidency of the Parliament's next five-year mandate would be shared between Jerzy Buzek, the former Prime Minister of Poland and an EPP-ED MEP, and Martin Schulz, a German MEP who is the Socialist group's current leader.

Berlusconi has thrown the deal into confusion, announcing in a letter sent to national delegations of the EPP-ED group that Mario Mauro MEP is his candidate for the presidency of the Parliament. Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party is likely to become the largest national delegation in the EPP-ED group, following a merger with the National Alliance.
European Voice EurActiv

Brown denies G-20 split and signals no new stimulus in the budget
In an interview with the WSJ, Gordon Brown works hard to dispel rumours of a split within the G20 over further economic stimulus packages. In light of the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King's warning "to be cautious about going further in using discretionary measures to expand the size of those deficits," Brown stressed that he saw more consensus than disagreement among nations on the way forward, reports the article.

However, Timothy Garton-Ash in the Guardian argues that Europe has failed to "get its act together", instead quarrelling about "peanut" stimulus packages and details of the Lisbon Treaty.

The FT reports that Gordon Brown has signalled that Britain will not announce a further stimulus package in next month's budget. He appears to have conceded to the pressure from both Alistair Darling and Mervyn King says the article.

However, the Mail reports that the apparent split between Brown and King has already "spooked the markets." According to the Independent, a sale of Government bonds, known as gilts, failed for the first time in seven years yesterday. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne responded by saying that 'today's failed gilt auction should be of real concern to everyone." "This is a warning signal investors are sending to the Government," said Neil Mackinnon, chief economist at the hedge fund ECU Group. "Investors are giving the thumbs down to the gilt market" and thus also to the credibility of Brown's budgetary management.
Mail Independent Independent 2 Spectator: Coffee House blog FT Telegraph WSJ Guardian: Garton-Ash

Grant: EU should move swiftly to work out rules on bailouts for countries
In an article in the Times Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, argues that, despite its current economic difficulties, Greece is unlikely to leave the eurozone, because "Greece's partners would rather bail it out than see it leave". He goes on to say that EU treaties which include a 'no bail-out rule' could be "circumvented", and "If the EU itself could not lend to Greece, a group of member states would."
Times: Grant

Speaking at a conference in Brussels organised by the ECIPE, prominent international trade economist Jagdish Baghwati has criticised French President Nicolas Sarkozy's intention to bring French car producers back to France, saying: "If he's a reformer, I'm a ballerina".
No link

According to Dutch website PZC, the EU has provided €11 million in subsidies for the restructuring of the sugar sector.
PZC

The position of Director of the European Police Office (Europol) could remain unfilled until next year because, while most countries are supporting a UK candidate, Hungary is insisting on its own candidate.
European Voice

MEP Daniel Hannan's speech criticising Gordon Brown in the European Parliament on Tuesday has attracted more than 650,000 views on Youtube and enjoyed international news coverage. On his blog, Hannan said: "I tipped off the BBC and some of the newspaper correspondents but, unsurprisingly, they ignored me."
Telegraph: Hannan blog Telegraph: Hannan blog 2 Fox News Glenn Beck Fox News Cavuto Youtube Hannan speech Guido Fawkes blog

The Irish Times reports that the Irish government has said it can not yet report "sufficient progress" on the 'guarantees' offered by the EU on the Lisbon Treaty in exchange for a second referendum.
Irish Times

The IHT reports that a government official in Poland has criticised the process of selecting the Secretary-General of Nato as "highly undemocratic", as its bid to secure the position for the Polish Foreign Minister has collapsed.
IHT

UK

British renewables targets suffer major setback
The Times reports that Britain's plans for renewable energy suffered a major setback last night when the world's biggest investor in wind power, Iberdrola Renewables, said that it was to cut its investment in Britain by more than 40 per cent, or £300 million. Jonathon Porritt, the Head of the Sustainable Development Commission, is quoted saying: "The UK has talked about this [renewable energy] for years, but the Government now has very little time to get this together. People just do not consider the UK to be a good place to invest in renewables." The UK has a target of sourcing 35% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.

David Wighton in the Times argues that "These issues are critical, because we need to begin building more power capacity today if we are to avoid blackouts by 2015 when we are committed to closing old coal-fired power stations... The Government needs to decide whether it is prepared to commit the nation to a very expensive energy future or whether it would rather hedge its bets and build a few coal-fired generators, just to keep the lights on."
Times Times 2 Times: Whittell Times: Wighton

World

IMF President: Chinese questions about new world reserve currency "legitimate"Le Monde reports that IMF President Dominique Strauss-Kahn has not ruled out discussing the position of the dollar as the international reserve currency, saying: "it is a very good question. I think that the discussion on the new currency is absolutely legitimate." The FT reports that US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner confessed that Washington was "open" to the idea, upon which the dollar fell against the Euro until Geithner clarified that he thought the dollar remained the world's dominant reserve currency.Le Monde Telegraph Telegraph blog WSJ FT

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