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Europe
Landslide vote by MPs against giving prisoners the vote
In a landslide vote yesterday, MPs voted against giving prisoners the right to vote by 234 to 22 – a majority of 212. While the decision is not binding, it will put pressure on ministers to go against the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) decision. The Government has until August to decide whether or not to comply with the ECHR’s ruling.
In the Telegraph, Peter Oborne argues that “while the overwhelming Commons rejection of the plan is highly unlikely to stop prisoners getting the vote, it will give Mr. Grieve and Mr Cameron weight to argue with the courts that the right should only be given to a small number of prisoners, serving short sentences”. The ECHR has the power to do a deal to allow such a concession, however if it decides not to, the UK could face sanctions and a potentially massive compensation bill.
The Economist’s Bagehot blog suggests that if the UK is “lucky”, the ECHR might allow the government to restrict voting rights to prisoners serving short sentences. But as a briefing published by Open Europe this week showed, the Court struck down such a practice in a recent case against the Italian government.
On her Mail blog, columnist Mary Ellen Synon cites Open Europe’s research noting that the EU’s eventual accession to the ECHR also makes it “increasingly difficult for the UK to negotiate a carve-out from European human rights legislation”.
Open Europe research Mail: Synon’s blog Independent Independent: Leader BBC Economist: Bagehot Telegraph Telegraph: Oborne Telegraph: leader Guardian Express Express 2 Mail
Fears over Portugal arise again as borrowing costs hit record high
The European Central Bank was forced yesterday to intervene in the bond markets after a two-week break, as Portugal’s borrowing costs hit a record high of 7.63%. “If the ECB wasn’t in the market buying, the price would be much higher,” said Filipe Silva, head of debt trading with Portugal’s Banco Carregosa. The resulting increase in expectations of a Portuguese bail-out saw the euro drop sharply. Meanwhile, Open Europe’s briefing showing that Greece will require another €53bn this year simply to maintain its current debt-to-GDP ratio was quoted by AFP.
The Irish Independent reports that credit rating agency Moody's will today downgrade the rating of six Irish banks over fears that a new government might not protect senior bondholders.
A leader in the Economist argues that some of the plans in the Franco-German “pact for competitiveness” may do more harm that good, as they are too rigid to fit the differences within the eurozone and may inhibit competition. The article also suggests that if such a pact were agreed, it could pose a threat to the single market by creating a massive division within the EU.
Open Europe research FT FT 2 Guardian Diario de Noticias El Pais Irish Times Irish Independent Irish Times 2 ECB: Trichet The Economist AFP The Economist: Charlemagne The Economist
Axel Weber set for early resignation from Bundesbank
The FT reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to ask German Bundesbank President Axel Weber to resign as quickly as possible, after he reportedly told a private meeting that he did not want to serve a second term. An article in Die Welt notes that the chaos following Weber’s decision not to seek a second term as Bundesbank chief has made Germany the “laughing stock of Europe”.Meanwhile, yesterday Weber refused to comment on media reports claiming that he had decided to withdraw his candidacy for ECB President.
Le Figaro notes that French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said yesterday that she was “dumbfounded” by the reports. However, she admitted that Weber’s likely absence from a Franco-German joint cabinet meeting scheduled for today was a sign that he is no longer a candidate to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet.
IHT EUobserver WSJ FT FT 2 FT 3AFP Le Figaro Welt Welt2
EU Commissioner dashes UK plans to raise 2020 emission cuts target to 30%
The Guardian reports that EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger has said he disagrees with plans by several member states – including the UK – to raise the EU’s 2020 emissions cuts target to 30%. "If we go alone to 30%, you will only have a faster process of de-industrialisation in Europe," he argued.
Meanwhile, Euractiv reports that Oettinger has also announced plans for an “energy roadshow” amid increasing doubts over EU energy policy. The ultimate goal would be to “raise money and push for investment”, a spokesperson for the Commissioner said.
Guardian Guardian 2 BBC EurActiv
Open Europe’s research into the EU’s funding for new generation surveillance technologies, and in particular the INDECT project, was cited in the German press by ShortNews.de and Freie Allgemeine. Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted saying: “These projects would involve a huge invasion of privacy and citizens need to ask themselves whether the EU should be spending their taxes on them.”
Open Europe research Freie Allgemeine Short News.de
EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier has warned that the EU could use its new supervisory powers to impose new restrictions on bank bonuses, if the industry fails to comply with the EU’s new remuneration code introduced this year.
Open Europe research Telegraph WSJ WSJ 2
MEPs’ new campaign to stop the European Parliament’s monthly journey to its Strasbourg seat has been backed by the UK government, reports the Telegraph. The article notes that, in contrary to the official French position, 72% of French MEPs would also prefer a single seat in Brussels.
Telegraph EUobserver FT Brussels Blog Times El Mundo Irish Times
El Mundo reports that EU Foreign Minister Baroness Catherine Ashton is determined to travel to Egypt as soon as possible, in spite of the Egyptian government urging her not to do so.
Times El Mundo European Voice EurActiv IHT
Svenska Dagbladet reports that the Swedish government may have to rely on the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats to pass the EU’s controversial Data Retention Directive, currently stuck in the Swedish Parliament. The European Commission has already opened an infringement procedure against Sweden for failing to implement the Directive on time.
SvD
Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza reports that Poland now employs 463,000 civil servants, up from 159,000 in 1990. In an interview with the newspaper, former Interior Minister Krzystof Janik says the increase can in part be attributed to local authorities’ new competencies, for instance trying to access EU funding.
Gazeta Wyborcza
The FT reports that the European Commission has drafted a proposal on suspending import duties on vital food commodities. The proposals are seen as a response to tightening domestic markets and skyrocketing prices.
FT
EUobserver reports that the European Commission has unveiled a new code of conduct which will bar top officials from accepting hospitality from controversial political leaders when they go on holiday. However, MEPs have identified significant loopholes in the code, in particular there are no definitions for the terms “conflict of interest” or “lobbying”.
EUobserver
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Dissecting a common claim in the UK media: The two-lane Europe fallacy
Open Europe blog EUobserver blogs: Persson
ECB Presidency: now what?
Open Europe blog
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