Europe Negotiations on Britain's opt-out from EU's 48-hour week begin tomorrow; Open Europe publishes case studies from 10 UK workers explaining why new rules will spell disaster for the UK The FT reports that negotiations on a compromise on the Working Time Directive begin in Brussels tomorrow, after an original agreement preserving the UK's opt-out from the EU's 48-hour working week was voted down in the European Parliament in December. The paper notes that more than half of the EU's member states have a deal allowing them to apply the 48-hour working week selectively. Open Europe has published new research explaining why an end to the opt-out would be bad news for the UK, including ten accounts from workers from around the country and from different sectors of industry. The research shows how an end to the opt-out could cost the economy up to £8 billion a year - more than trebling the cost of the Working Time Directive as it currently applies in the UK. It also warns that the UK Government has lost out in negotiations at this stage in the process in the past - with the proposal capping working hours for junior doctors - the effect of which was tantamount to losing between between 4,300 and 9,900 junior doctors, according to the British Medical Association. FT Time's up! The case against the EU's 48-hour working week Conservatives call on Gordon Brown to veto plans for EU financial regulator The Mail reports that the Conservatives have urged Gordon Brown to veto plans for a European Systemic Risk Council, which could intervene in national financial markets, and quotes Shadow Chancellor George Osborne saying "Yes, we need greater international co-operation on banking but that shouldn't be an excuse for another power grab by the EU". The Sunreports that a document from the European Commission states that "It's not in the interests of the City [of London], which must be submitted to greater regulation, that we repeat past mistakes." Saturday's Telegraph reported that the Association of British Insurers (ABI), whose members control 15% of the FTSE 100, has called for a "supervisor of supervisors" in Europe; a pan-European agency with decision-making powers on regulation,according to a consultation paper they produced. Stephen Haddrill, the ABI's Director General, is quoted saying that the new body should have teeth, and should be the "final arbiter between national regulators". Telegraph Mail Sun Sun: Leader EU spends development funds on Caribbean swimming pools The Telegraph reports that the EU has spent almost £20 million of taxpayers' money building swimming pools in the Caribbean. Regional development funds destined for poorer regions have been used to "improve, renovate or build" pools in the French territory of Guadeloupe. In a written answer to a parliamentary question Danuta Hubner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, said that the investment was intended to help "develop a charming hotel industry" and promote Guadeloupe's "potential and culture". Telegraph Open Europe: Top 100 examples of EU fraud and waste Lord Mandelson not allowed to criticise the EU under pension deal The Telegraph reports that Lord Mandelson is not allowed to criticise the EU if he wants to keep his pension as a former European Commissioner. He will reportedly receive a European Commission pension at the age of 65 of £31,000 a year but EU rules stipulate that if he speaks out against Europe as a former Commissioner he could be stripped of his pension altogether. Commissioners have to abide by certain obligations "both during and after their term of office" and one of these obligations as a staff member of the Commission is to maintain a "duty of loyalty to the Communities". Saturday's Mail reported that the Conservatives have stepped up their campaign to oblige Lord Mandelson to make public the full details of his "golden goodbye" from the European Commission. Council tax increases to pay for compliance with EU landfill rules The Express reports that council tax bills across the UK could rise, due the EU's Landfill Directive. From next year Britain will be fined £150 for every ton of waste sent to landfill, which exceeds the EU limit. Councils have warned that fines and rising costs are likely to be passed on to council tax payers. The Government claims it is on track to meet 2010 limits but has admitted that meeting the lower targets for 2013 and 2020 will be "challenging". No link New FT poll: Majority of British adults oppose right of EU citizens to work in Britain A new FT/Harris poll has found that 54% of British adults oppose the right of EU citizens to work in Britain. The paper reports that this opposition was more marked than in any the other four European countries polled: Germany, Italy, Spain and France. The next highest opposition was in Germany. G20 finance ministers' meeting rejects further stimulus measures; IMF set for boost in funding and governance reform The finance ministers of the G20 countries backed extra funding for the International Monetary Fund and reforms to its governance structure at a meeting over the weekend, according to the Sunday Telegraph. The Irish Times also reports that the meeting pledged to rescue troubled emerging market economies, regulate hedge funds and start closer checks on credit ratings agencies. The Observer reported that both Germany and France rejected Gordon Brown's plan for more co-ordinated fiscal stimulus measures. On a visit to London, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected another "fiscal stimulus" in the short term, which was echoed by French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde at the G20 summit, who said that nations needed to "evaluate the remedies already put in place by each of us" before ordering further spending. Also in the paper, Simon Johnson, the former Chief Economist of the IMF, argued that "the most pressing problems in 2009 are not so much global as European...The real agenda of the G20 should be helping save Europe from itself, for example by encouraging the creation of a €2-trillion European emergency economic stabilisation fund, funded primarily by richer Eurozone countries, and a major relaxation of Eurozone monetary policy." FT FT 2 Irish Times IHT Telegraph: Leader European Voice EurActiv WSJ WSJ: Communique Times Times: Kaletsky FT: Munchau Observer Sunday Telegraph: Johnson Sunday Telegraph Sunday Times Sunday Times: Leader Independent MailTelegraph FTD German CSU party could lose seats in European Parliament Welt reports that the upcoming decision of the German Constitutional Court regarding the compatibility of the Lisbon Treaty is affecting the election campaign of the CDU and CSU. The paper quotes a member of the CDU executive committee saying: "How shall we make a convincing election campaign under this sword of Damocles? Shall we tell the citizens: We don't know, whether that is all in line with our constitutions but please trust us anyway?" Handelsblatt reports that, for the first time in 30 years, it is no longer assured that any of the 9 CSU representatives will have a seat in the European Parliament, because it might not receive 5 percent of the national vote. EU law could block plans for a minimum price on alcohol The EUReferendum blog argues that plans from the Chief Medical Office, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, to introduce a minimum price for alcohol would be illegal under EU law. The blog cites an opinion from the law firm Lovell's, which says that the effect of minimum pricing would be to prevent alcoholic products imported from other EU member states from having a competitive advantage against UK produced drinks that they would otherwise enjoy as a result of lower production costs. Scottish plans for a minimum price may also be blocked because this would be a contravention of Article 28 of the European Community treaty, which states that restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect shall be prohibited between member states. EU Referendum blog EU Referendum blog 2 Times Tagesspiegel reports that EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot has branded Malta as "racist" with regards to its treatment of boat refugees. The Telegraph reports that the European Parliament has banned the terms 'Miss' and 'Mrs' in a new 'Gender-Neutral Language' pamphlet it has published, instead saying that female MEPs should be addressed by their full name. The Irish Times reports that Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley launched his personal campaign for the European Parliament in the Ireland North-West constituency over the weekend. Writing on the BBC website, Katinka Barysch, Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform, argues that a delay to further EU enlargement could lead to political instability and economic turmoil in accession countries. In an interview with FAZ, Czech PM Mirek Topolanek has said, "I vote for Lisbon [Treaty], but I cannot guarantee its ratification". The Sunday Times reported that Jean-Claude Junker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, has said that the "credibility of monetary union is at stake" and that any plans for Euro-area expansion would be put in "cold-storage." The Czech PM Mirek Topolanek, in response to a question from EurActiv has described stopping enlargement and introducing new barriers in Europe as a "road to hell". The Guardian reports that Britain is backing EU plans to extend copyright protection beyond the current 50 years. PA reports that European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that he "regrets" the Conservatives' decision to remove themselves from the European Parliaments' main centre-right party, the European People's Party. No link Joe Costello, the Irish Labour Party's spokesman on Europe, argues in the Irish Times that the government's handling of the second referendum "is becoming increasingly irresponsible", and they have failed to consult with opposition parties on the nature of the guarantees given to Ireland in return for a second referendum. Le Figaro reports that French rose wine producers have branded European Commission plans to alter the qualifications for the category would reduce rose to a "Coca-Cola of wine with ridiculous regulatory norms". No Link Matthew Parris, in the Sunday Times, criticised the lack of detail in the Conservatives' foreign policy and said that "for any positive outline of the Conservative Party's wider intentions in European policy, let alone on the big international picture, the outline remains vague".Open Europe
Monday, 16 March 2009
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