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Labour and Lib Dems thwart Conservatives' attempt to introduce "referendum lock" on future treaties extending EU's powers
PA reports that the Conservatives last night unsuccessfully tried to make an amendment to the Government's Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill to ensure that any future treaty transferring power to the EU be subject to a referendum. Mark Francois, the Shadow Europe Minister moved the amendment which the Conservatives have described as a "referendum lock" on transferring sovereignty to the EU.
Mr Francois said, "These amendments and new clause 68 would ensure that any future treaty that transferred areas of power or competences from the United Kingdom Parliament to the European Union would require the consent of the British people in a referendum as a condition of its ratification."
He added, "If we were not to succeed tonight and if we were victorious at the general election, we would amend the legislation as an incoming Conservative Government in order to achieve a referendum lock... My party believes that the British people should be given the last word on any future transfers of power from the UK to the EU."
Europe Minister Chris Bryant dismissed the amendments as "impracticable, wrong and unnecessary", while Labour's former Europe Minister Keith Vaz also dismissed them but added he would support a one-off referendum on whether Britain should be a member of the EU - a policy supported by Lib Dem Europe spokesman Ed Davey. However, in December 2009 former Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell said that there was "no public appetite" for a vote on the UK's EU membership, seemingly abandoning his party's support for an 'in or out' referendum.
The amendment was defeated by 303 votes to 183.
On Conservative Home Jonathan Isaby notes "The Lib Dem opposition to the amendment marks another high point in hypocrisy for them and, in particular, their leader. At the Liberal Democrat Conference in 2005, one Nick Clegg proposed a motion stating that 'Any proposals which involve significant change in the relationship between the Union, the member states and its citizens should be approved in Britain through a referendum'".
Meanwhile, on his Telegraph blog, Lord Tebbit asks "what relationship we in the UK should have with the other states of Europe, or the EU. Perhaps that is a question we should be asking of our party leaders. Until we get it right, a lot of what goes on in the House of Commons (and indeed the Lords) will be no more than what the psychologists call a displacement activity."
Telegraph: Tebbit blog Conservative Home OE blog Hansard OE blog 2
EU rules leave High Court judge 'powerless' to prevent "a serious injustice" to UK citizen
The Telegraph reports that senior judge Lord Justice Moses has said that he is powerless to block another court's decision to send a UK citizen to serve a sentence in a Portuguese jail because of EU fast-track extradition rules. Garry Mann was found guilty of football hooliganism by Portuguese authorities in 2004 but the trial was condemned as a "farce" by one British police observer, the High Court was told. Mann says he was told that if he agreed to deportation - which he did - he would not be sent to prison. But now the Portuguese authorities want him to serve his jail term there, issuing a European Arrest Warrant against him in February this year.
In August this year the City of Westminster Magistrates Court ordered that he be sent to Portugal. His British lawyers missed a deadline to lodge a challenge by one day, meaning that he was unable to have a full appeal against the extradition. Lord Justice Moses said that Mr Mann was the victim of "what appears to be a serious injustice". He added, "Through no fault of his own, his lawyers failed to act, with the result that he has never had the opportunity, by way of appeal, to advance his case that he is being deprived of a fair hearing."
However, the judge made clear that the controversial 2003 Extradition Act, which brought in fast-track European Arrest Warrant extradition process within the EU, left him powerless to intervene in Mr Mann's case.
Britons face eviction from homes in North Cyprus after Court of Appeal upholds ECJ ruling
Around 5,000 Britons with holiday or retirement homes in Northern Cyprus are facing eviction after the UK Court of Appeal upheld a decision that a British couple must surrender the land to the original owner, Meletios Apostolides, a displaced Greek Cypriot who fled the North during the Turkish invasion, reports the Times.
The decision comes from an ECJ ruling in May 2009 that British courts must enforce judicial rulings made in Cyprus, which uphold the property rights of Greek Cypriots. The ECJ ruled that it did not matter that EU law did not apply to the area controlled by Turkish Cypriots. The appeal judges rejected the argument that the President of the ECJ, Judge Vassilios Skouris, could have been biased when the ECJ ruled the British courts must enforce the Cyprus legal decision.
Times Telegraph Metro OE bulletin: May 2009
EU finance ministers consider "stability" tax on banks
Le Figaro reports that EU finance ministers are considering the possibility of an EU-wide bank tax as a means of recouping some of the losses incurred during the financial crisis. "We cannot accept a situation in which the banks escape without paying the bill", said Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg. The issue of a "stability fee" imposed on banks will reportedly be discussed at the next ECOFIN meeting in Madrid. Handelsblatt quotes EU Taxation Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs, saying that the introduction of such a tax is "politically possible".
Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker warned that it would be "difficult to adopt a common approach because tax matters are reserved for national decision-making" across the EU. However, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde reportedly considers the "stability fee" to be an "interesting" measure.
Telegraph AFP AFP 2 Le Point AFP Reuters Italia Il Sole 24 Ore Il Giornale
ECJ strikes down German law discriminating against young workers
German broadcaster ARD reports on a ruling from the ECJ concerning discrimination against younger workers in Germany. A German law from 1926 draws a distinction between workers aged over 25 and those aged under 25, giving workers over 25 more rights. Under German law, workers who have spent ten years at a firm can be given four months notice, but those who have worked for three years need only one month notice. The case, brought by a woman in Düsseldorf, challenged the law because she was dismissed with only one months notice, despite having worked there for ten years because the time accrued before the age of 25 did not count. The ECJ ruled that the German law contravenes EU age discrimination rules.
EU home affairs ministers meet with US counterpart to discuss airport security and data sharing
EUobserver reports that EU home affairs ministers are meeting with US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today to discuss enhancing security in European airports, including via full body scanners. EU interior ministers gathering in Toledo, Spain for three days will also discuss the bloc's new "internal security strategy", focusing on the fight against terrorism and data sharing. The Spanish EU Presidency has proposed a new body, the "internal security committee", which would facilitate the direct exchange of intelligence between two or several member states. Spanish sources suggest the plan is supported by national counter-terrorism units in Spain, Britain, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Portugal.
EUobserver Open Europe research
Benefits of UK joining euro would be "tiny"
The Express reports on research carried out by leading economists that claim the benefits of Britain joining the Euro are "hugely over-rated and are, in reality, close to zero."
Die Presse reports on the "slow death" of the nation state as EU institutions gain more power, writing: "The power gain for the European Parliament is another indication of the death of the nation state".
German Opposition leader wants German troops out of Afghanistan in five years
Die Zeit reports that Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the current German leader of the Opposition and ex-Foreign Minister, thinks Germany should withdraw from Afghanistan no later than 2015, saying: "We now need to hand control of the relatively peaceful districts over to the Afghans completely". He thinks Germany needs to work with the "most important European partners" to bring military operations in Afghanistan to an end at some point between 2013 and 2015. However, he agrees with the American policy not to begin any phased withdrawal until next year.
Wolfgang Munchaü: "if Germany balances the budget, prospects for a eurozone break up increase"
Writing in the FT Deutschland, Wolfgang Munchaü looks at the debate within the German ruling coalition over whether to cut taxes. He notes that it is a "mistake to think that one can conduct one's own budgetary policies when one is in a monetary union. Why does monetary union play a role here? It seems that only the currency has been transferred to Europe and that budgetary policies are merely subject to the rule that budget deficits shouldn't be higher than 3 percent of GDP. Legally that is of course correct, but it doesn't take into account economic matters. Budgetary policies of major industrialised countries are an important factor behind the imbalances in the euro area...When Germany alone balances its budget and the private sector continues to build up massive surpluses, the imbalances within the eurozone will rise and the probability of a break up increases."
He continues: "if we allow to let the extremely high unbalances rise even further, which is currently the direction of German politics, the long term existence of monetary union depends of an unpredictable political situation."
Meanwhile, writing in the FT Martin Wolf argues that it is "not very plausible" that Greece will cuts its deficit to under 3% by the end of 2012.
FT: Wolf EUobserver Irish Times WSJ FT Deutschland: Munchau Eurointelligence
Conservatives accuse Commission of trying to seize control of national economic policy
PA reports that Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has chided "some national politicians" in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, for failing to accept the need for tougher governance as part of the new EU "Lisbon 2020 Strategy" - designed to boost jobs and growth. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero who holds the six-month EU Presidency has also been calling for stronger "European economic governance" and "corrective measures" for member states failing to comply with EU targets.
The leader of Britain's Conservative MEPs Timothy Kirkhope responded: "The idea of compulsory economic policies is deeply disturbing. It reflects a very old fashioned 'command and control' approach which does not solve problems of the 21st century." He told Zapatero that crisis-hit Spain should "put its own house in order first".
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Jeleva resignation delays European Parliament vote on new Commission until 9 February
The Irish Independent reports that, following Rumania Jeleva's resignation as Commissioner-designate for Humanitarian Aid, the European Parliament vote on whether to confirm the entire Barroso Commission has been delayed from 26 January to 9 February. The hearing for the new Bulgarian nominee Kristalina Georgieva is expected to be held on 3 February.
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said that Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso would meet Ms Georgieva in Brussels today and decide whether to keep her in the portfolio, or shuffle the Commission around. The Independent describes it as a "deep embarrassment for the EU to be involved in a political squabble over the identity of its first humanitarian aid commissioner", in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.
In her European Parliament hearing yesterday, Commissioner designate for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström argued in favour of an increase in legal immigration to help keep the EU competitive and said she would support strengthening the capabilities of Frontex, the border management agency, by providing its staff with their own equipment. She promised fresh proposals on seasonal workers and Svenska Dagbladet reports that she also indicated that she wants to look over the Data Retention Directive.
In questioning, UK Labour MEP Claude Moraes said there was concern about conflicts that might be caused by the split of justice, freedom and security policy into two portfolios and the consequences for the balance between security and fundamental rights. While security comes under Malmström's portfolio, justice and freedom come under Viviane Reding's. Malmström said: "I will work unceasingly with Viviane Reding (...) There may be conflicts".
EurActiv reports that Commissioner designate for the Digital Agenda portfolio Neelie Kroes did much better in her second EP hearing yesterday, which was held behind closed doors against the wishes of Barroso.
Telegraph Irish Independent IHT EurActiv EUobserver European Voice European Voice 2 Irish Times LeFigaro WSJ FT Le Monde Le Soir Independent El Pais ABC Telegraph: Hannan blog European Voice EUobserver 2 Svenska Dagbladet EP press release EUobserver 3 EurActiv 2
Van Rompuy's call for a "humanitarian rapid reaction force" meets with criticism
The BBC reports that, in yesterday's meeting between Gordon Brown and Herman Van Rompuy, the EU President announced that the EU should consider creating a "humanitarian rapid reaction force" in response to the Haitian crisis. However, former EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, said he was "very sceptical" about the idea of a special intervention corps.
Meanwhile, the Economist's Charlemagne Notebook reports on criticism from MEPs over EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton's decision not to travel to Haiti.
Economist: Charlemagne notebook EUobserver Irish Times El Pais BBC Spectator: Coffee House blog Politics Home Number 10 Mail: Letts BBC: Hewitt blog Público El Economista
Handelsblatt reports on the problems in the manufacturing of the Airbus military transport A400M, with the project now €5bn over budget. A report into the 'cost explosion' by Price Waterhouse Coopers is holding EADS, which owns Airbus, responsible for the additional costs, blaming mismanagement.
Handelsblatt NY Times Globe and Mail
The IHT reports that Le Monde has appointed its first female Executive Editor. Sylvie Kauffmann, most recently a Southeast Asia correspondent for the paper, replaced Alain Frachon, who was appointed in 2007.
At the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning, Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero announced the Spanish programme for the six month EU Presidency. Spanish daily ABC quotes Zapatero saying it will introduce a "great social pact in Europe for companies and workers". He will also unveil his plans for an initiative to boost support for the electric car.
Le Figaro reports that Iceland has confirmed that it will hold a referendum on 6 March over whether to endorse the terms of the current deal to reimburse the UK and the Netherlands for debts owed by the collapsed Icesave bank.
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An editorial in the WSJ argues: "British interventionism shows an acute case of national amnesia", citing Lord Mandelson's attempts to intervene in the Kraft takeover of Cadbury and his recent calls "for more 'flexibility,' and an 'adjustment' to the European Union's limits on state aid - the better to subsidise failing industries".
New Europe reports that the ECR Group's new transnational party, the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe, and its think-tank called New Direction: Foundation for European Reform are set for EU funding.
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