Friday 26 September 2008

MEPs stick with strong line on CO2 emissions from cars

Today @ 09:24 CET

In a surprise vote, deputies in the European Parliament's environment committee have put car manufacturers on the back foot, not only endorsing European Commission proposals for restricting carbon dioxide emissions from cars by 2012, but also proposing a second, deeper target for reductions by 2020.

MEPs to ask Congress about US funding for Irish No vote

Today @ 09:31 CET

The European Parliament's delegation to the US will on its next trans-Atlantic visit ask Congress about allegations that the Irish anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign was funded out of America.

'Laissez-faire' capitalism is 'finished,' says France

Today @ 09:30 CET

Both France and Germany on Thursday said the current financial crisis would leave important marks on the world economy, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy declaring that the under-regulated system we once knew is now "finished," and German finance minister Peer Steinbruck saying the crisis marks the beginning of a multi-polar world, where the US is no longer a superpower.

Austria's far right set for a comeback in Sunday's elections

Today @ 10:06 CET

Austria is having a bout of deja-vu, as the far right may win enough votes to become a junior coalition member in the country's national elections on Sunday. Austria will also be the first EU country where teenagers over 16 will cast their ballots.

EU ministers flesh out foreign worker 'Blue Card' plan

25.09.2008 @ 18:07 CET

EU interior ministers have formally backed the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, a French-drafted plan on how the 27-nation bloc should cope with migratory flows. In addition, they "more or less" agreed on the idea of an EU work permit, or 'Blue Card' but the Czech Republic insists all European labour markets must first open to eastern Europeans.

EU moves towards visa facilitation for Georgians

25.09.2008 @ 17:43 CET

The European Commission recommended on Thursday that the block's justice and home affairs ministers open negotiations on visa facilitating procedures for Georgians, who currently face tougher travel conditions than Russians.

EU to ban Chinese milk imports

25.09.2008 @ 17:47 CET

The European Commission on Thursday proposed a ban on baby food products coming from China and containing milk, following a scandal with milk products that made hundreds of babies ill in the Asian country.

MEPs urge Strasbourg sex trade pledge

25.09.2008 @ 17:44 CET

A group of mostly left-leaning Nordic MEPs have in a letter urged the European Parliament to only patronise Strasbourg hotels that pledge not to tolerate use of prostitutes, with one French NGO swiftly welcoming the "symbolic gesture."

MEPs kill EU 'blogger registry' that never was

25.09.2008 @ 18:09 CET

Calls for Europe to initiate a process clarifying the legal status of bloggers - a discourse many across Europe had erroneously believed was in fact EU legislation that would have seen a European 'registry of bloggers' - died on the floor of the European Parliament on Thursday.

EU rules out US-style bailouts

25.09.2008 @ 09:25 CET

There may be need for stricter financial monitoring worldwide, but in Europe in particular, US-style bank bailouts are not necessary at this stage, EU officials told MEPs on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan diverts EU oil to Russia and Iran

25.09.2008 @ 10:05 CET

Azerbaijan is sticking to plans to reduce oil exports to the EU and increase shipments to Russia and Iran, as the South Caucasus country - home to another Russia-influenced frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh - seeks to spread risk.

EU cars to use daytime headlights from 2011

25.09.2008 @ 09:25 CET

All cars in the EU will have to be equipped with headlights and rear-end lighting that shine in the daytime as of 7 February 2011, the European Commission said on Wednesday, with trucks and buses to follow by August 2012. Aiming to increase road safety, the commission's plan has however already drawn some criticism.