Europe
Irish government considers second referendum in autumn 2009
The front page of the Irish Independent confirms that the Irish government
is considering a second Lisbon referendum in autumn 2009 - which would use
the guarantee of holding on to a European Commissioner as "the carrot for a
'Yes' vote". There are also expected to be written assurances on the issues
of abortion, taxation and neutrality. The paper notes that in order to
accommodate this timeframe, the appointment of the new EU Commission would
need to be temporarily delayed until the winter of 2009 - after a second
Irish referendum. A senior government source told the paper: "You'd have to
arrive at that decision by a logical means by the end of this year. It's
shaping that way. It's being kicked around."
Former minister Mary O'Rourke told a Dail committee yesterday "It is a very
foolish route we are taking if we think we can have another referendum...
The people said 'No'. There is no escaping that. We will not be able to
carry another referendum. The sooner we realise that, wake up to it, the
better."
A leader in the Irish Independent argues that the plan for a second
referendum "deserves calm appraisal", but says that a recent poll from Open
Europe showing it would be defeated "should not be dismissed out of hand".
Fionnan Sheahan argues in the paper that a second Lisbon referendum is
"inevitable, so the only question is when". He believes that an autumn 2009
poll "will allow the heat to be taken out of the situation for a while", but
accepts that "a second referendum will be trickier than the first." On his
BBC blog, Mark Mardell also mentions Open Europe's recent poll and notes
that the ratification process in Ireland could drag on.
The Irish Times reports that "Some parties' MEPs had access to EU funds to
support their campaigns" for the Lisbon Treaty. Figures from the Institute
of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland show that Fine Gael's five MEPs
spent 102,858 euros on print and outdoor advertising in June.
Irish Independent Irish Times Irish Times Mark Mardell's blog
Doha trade talks break down
There is widespread coverage of yesterday's breakdown of the Doha round of
global trade talks. The immediate cause of the breakdown is reported to be a
disagreement between the US and China and India over a mechanism allowing
developing countries to protect farmers from surges in imports and prices -
described as a comparatively small part of the talks. The FT notes that
there was relatively little trading of blame in the aftermath of the
breakdown. However, China and some other developing countries blamed
wealthier countries for protecting their agricultural sectors while
demanding poor countries cut tariffs on industrial goods and liberalise
services markets.
Peter Mandelson said that the talks on agriculture had been harmed by the
new US Farm Bill - a five-year programme of agricultural subsidies recently
passed by the US Congress. He called it "one of the most reactionary farm
bills in the history of the US". Pascal Lamy, the World Trade Organisation's
chief, said he expected he would attempt to revive the Doha talks but it was
not possible to say how or when that might happen. The WSJ notes that by the
end of 2009, there will be a new US President, a new EU Trade Commissioner
and possibly a new Indian government - all which could make a new global
trade deal even harder. Open Europe's Hugo Robinson was interviewed on
Al-Jazeera English, discussing the breakdown of the talks.
Comment: The EU is far from blameless. During the Geneva talks, the EU did
not make any new concessions on tariff reductions relative to the 2006
position. Last week, Mandelson attempted to spin that the EU had proposed
reducing farm tariffs by 60% - up from the existing offer of 54%, calling it
a "a very considerable improvement on our own part." However, EU Agriculture
Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel and French Trade Minister Anne-Marie Idrac
admitted that the offer was "nothing new" - the difference between the two
figures was merely down to whether tropical products were included in the
tariff cut calculations or not. Trade negotiations are inevitably based on
reciprocity: given the intransigence of the EU on market access, it's hardly
surprising that large developing countries were wary of demands that they
bring down their own tariffs. The question of safeguard mechanisms was
merely the final straw that led to the collapse of talks.
Irish Independent El Pais EUobserver AFP FT FT 2 WSJ IHT Irish Times
Independent EU Referendum blog Independent Guardian
Fischer calls for flexible EU defence policy
Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has called for a group of EU
member states to develop a military force capable of responding to current
global crises. At a presentation of a report carried out by the European
Council on Foreign Relations, Mr Fischer said that a selection of EU member
states should form a "pioneering group" to deal with issues of European
security and defence. In the report it was suggested that if such a European
reaction force were created it would be able to react to violence around the
globe more effectively than allowed by current policies.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that a European peacekeeping mission was
funded by a staff whip-round and a loan from British ambassador's
entertainment budget. A report published yesterday says that Europe's plans
under the Lisbon Treaty to increase combined defence initiatives and boost
the EU's international role are threatened. The report's author, Nick
Witney, the senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign
Relations, blames "inertia and resistance in defence machinery" for
thwarting the EU's aim to contribute to global security.
Deutsche Welle
Blair favourite amongst business for EU Presidency
EUobserver reports that European business leaders would like to see former
Prime Minister Tony Blair as the first occupant of the proposed post of
permanent EU President. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was runner-up in
a poll carried out by CNBC Europe. French President Nicolas Sarkozy
signalled last year that he would back Mr Blair for the role but other
European governments are less keen.
EUobserver
EU migrants may join armed forces
A Commons select committee report has recommended that Polish migrants
should be allowed to join the UK armed forces. A growing lack of specialists
is said to be undermining the army, a situation that Chairman James
Arbuthnot stressed must be addressed with "flexibility and imagination". It
is suggested this move could help with over-stretched situations in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Daily Mirror
15,000 Serbian protestors clashed with police in the "Freedom for Serbia"
rally in Belgrade last night.
El Pais WSJ IHT Irish Times EUobserver Independent
Common EU divorce laws to move ahead under enhanced cooperation?
The Economist blog looks at a proposal which will enable some EU members to
move ahead with adoption of common divorce legislation if they choose -
under so-called enhanced cooperation. It is noted that proposals for common
divorce laws have consistently been opposed by member states with the most
liberal divorce laws, who worry about having to apply foreign laws that are
more restrictive than their own. For instance, Sweden has warned that their
courts could even be forced to adopt restrictive divorce policies from
countries like Iran.
Economist blog
New poll: 49% of Belgian francophones want to join France
Le Figaro reports that according to a new Ifop poll, 49% of Belgian
francophones are tempted by the idea of joining France - up from 29% between
October 2007 and January 2008. 45% are opposed to joining France. 60% of
French people are in favour, including some MPs - up from 54% in November
last year.
Le Figaro EUobserver
UK
Miliband in leadership bid
The Times reports that David Miliband has unveiled a plan to guide Labour to
victory in the next election. He called for change and a return to "New
Labour", and suggested that delayed reform of the NHS and a failure to
devolve power are reasons for the party's increasing unpopularity. The
article did not mention Gordon Brown at all, so many are viewing this as a
bid for leadership.
The Times Daily Express Telegraph
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