UK opts in to controversial new European Investigation Order
30 July 2010
| Fortnightly Open Europe Bulletin: 30 July 2010 |
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| Quote of the fortnight: "The new British government should set out a
strategy for an open Europe and with Fredrik Erixon and Razeen Sally, Co-Directors of the European Centre for
International Political Economy, writing in the Wall Street Journal, 23 July
2010 |
| 1. UK opts in to controversial new European Investigation Order; EU police forces given right to insist that UK police investigate suspects in Britain |
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, this week announced that the UK will opt in to negotiations on the controversial European Investigation Order (EIO). This will give EU police forces the right to request that UK police seek out and share evidence on criminal suspects. The decision to opt in poses fundamental questions about safeguards for civil liberties and whether police resources will be put under undue pressure as a result. It was also the first major test of the Coalition Government's policy of deciding on EU justice and home affairs legislation on a "case-by-case basis". Furthermore, it certainly casts doubt on the Conservatives' pre-election pledge to repatriate EU powers over policing and criminal justice.
May has already admitted that there are parts of the EIO that the Government doesn't like. But, under the rules of the Lisbon Treaty, the final decision will be taken by qualified majority voting in agreement with the European Parliament, meaning that the UK will be powerless to veto unwanted elements or any new additions added by MEPs, for example. Once opted in, the UK cannot opt out if the proposal takes on a form with which it doesn't agree. Conservative MP John Redwood, speaking in the Commons debate, made the point that if the UK is not able to withdraw from the EIO, if the final product is "different to what was advertised", then opting in must surely represent a loss of sovereignty. (Hansard, 27 July)
The UK's huge DNA database means that UK citizens are likely to be subject to much greater exposure to data requests than other EU citizens. Around 5.2 percent of the UK population's DNA data is held on record, compared with an EU average of only 1.1 percent. Foreign police forces will also have the right to demand other sensitive personal information, such as bank and phone records. (BBC, 27 July)
What's more, each EIO request will demand action from UK police within a deadline of 90 days. This may force the police to delay domestic priorities in order to meet EIO deadlines - putting massive pressure on policing resources needed to fight crime in the UK. (Telegraph, 26 July)
Please leave your comments on our blog: http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/news-just-in.html
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| 2. Commission's "ever-growing administration" attacked by German MEP |
| German MEP Inge Grassle has attacked the growing number of EU officials in high-earning posts, likening the European Commission to a "self-service shop" that has demonstrated a "shortage of insight" in the face of austerity measures in many member states.
Grassle's comments were prompted by the Commission's decision to create three new Directors-General posts, on a basic monthly salary of €15,000 to €18,000, which will take the total number of Directors-General to 101, despite a Commission target of only 87. She said that since 2007, the number of DG posts has increased by 16 and those of Directors, who earn €13,000 to €16,600 per month, by 41. The Commission has exceeded its self-defined target of 313 Directors by 25.
She added that the Commission's administrative apparatus is becoming "more and more" complicated to monitor "since the constant separation or creation of directorates-general and the systematic establishment of deputy directors-general is not a transparent process. It leads to a myriad of smaller sub-divisions which increase bureaucracy and generate an ever-growing administration." (The Parliament Handelsblatt, 27 July)
This comes amid growing concern about the "mushrooming" costs of EU institutions, expressed by an anonymous Commission official, while member states slash budgets and freeze public sector pay. (EUobserver, 16 July)
Please leave your comments on our blog: http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/home-truths.html
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| 3. Cameron vows to push for Turkey's EU membership |
| In a speech delivered during his first state visit to Ankara, David Cameron pledged UK support for Turkey's EU accession bid, saying: "When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a NATO ally, and what Turkey is doing today in Afghanistan, alongside our European allies, it makes me angry that your progress towards EU membership can be frustrated in the way it has been. My view is clear. I believe it is just wrong to say that Turkey can guard the camp but not be allowed to sit in the tent. So I will remain your strongest possible advocate for EU membership and greater influence at the top table of European diplomacy". (FT Telegraph, 27 July)
Cameron's comments caused controversy in some European capitals, with French daily Le Figaro noting that "David Cameron did not pronounce Nicolas Sarkozy's or Angela Merkel's name while setting the cat among the pigeons. But everyone understood". (Le Figaro, 27 July) |
| 4. News in brief |
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€13.8m of EU funds spent on research revealing that apples are healthy. The EU has spent €13.8m (£12m) over four years on a research project which has concluded that eating fruit helps keep cholesterol levels low. The slogan "two apples a day keep cholesterol away" has been used to herald "one of the major findings" of the research project. The same project also used funds to create an EU superhero called 'Mr Fruitness'. (Mail, 23 July)
Households face £300-a-year rise in bills for UK to meet emissions targets. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne this week outlined his plans to transform Britain's power system and cut carbon emissions to meet renewable energy targets, which are partly driven by EU legislation. The overall strategy could increase the price of electricity by up to a third and gas by up to a fifth, making the average family's annual bill rise by £300, to £1,100. (Telegraph, 28 July)
Cost of private schools for EU officials' children increases to £147m. The cost of privately educating children of EU officials will increase by 12.5 percent to £147 million over the next year. EU civil servants and diplomats are entitled to free schooling in 14 taxpayer-funded 'European schools', on top of their generous pay and pensions. By 2013, the school bill will increase by 24 percent to £163 million, meaning that in three years time British taxpayers will be paying an annual £22 million contribution to the private schooling of EU officials' children. (Telegraph Express, 21 July)
UK to pay back €223m in erroneous EU farm subsidies. The UK will have to pay back a total of €223 million to the EU due to technical errors in the Government's handling of agricultural subsidies. (Reuters, 19 July)
54% of Spaniards think the peseta would have helped Spain overcome the crisis. A poll has revealed that 54 percent of Spaniards think they could have overcome the recent economic crisis more easily if they had kept their own currency - the peseta. The figure is higher than the eurozone average of 45 percent. (La Vanguardia, 29 July)
Seven banks fail EU stress tests. Seven banks from the 91 tested failed the EU's 'stress tests' last week, designed to evaluate the stability of banks in Europe. The methodology of the tests attracted widespread criticism for its lack of severity, especially in relation to the assessment of European banks' exposure to sovereign debt. (FT Guardian, 26 July) |
| 5. Open Europe in the news |
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Anxiety grows over new powers for Esma 29 July Global Risk Regulator 19 July FT
Open Europe's Director Mats Persson featured in an article in Global Risk Regulator discussing the forthcoming European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), which he indicated "looks like the first step towards a European Securities and Exchange Commission". On the rushed negotiations, which could see the ESAs operational by January 2011, Mats added: "I don't really understand the rush. We question whether the ESAs will actually address any of the underlying causes of the financial crisis. And, we do not subscribe to the view that if the ESAs are not up and running by January 1, it will be a disaster. On the contrary, it might be a good thing to allow more time to properly work through these proposals and ensure they make sense".
Meanwhile, the FT also cited Open Europe's debate, held on 12 July in conjunction with Policy Exchange, on the EU's proposals for financial supervision and regulation.
CAP should be scrapped 28 July BBC Radio 5 live
BBC Radio 5 Live featured Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell discussing measures to drive down the UK's deficit. She suggested that the EU's wasteful Common Agricultural Policy should be scrapped, as it raises costs for consumers.
EU's intelligence agency a burgeoning European secret service 28 July Le Monde
An article in Le Monde, which reported the appointment of Patrice Bergamini as head of the EU's intelligence agency, the Joint Situation Centre (SitCen), cited Open Europe describing SitCen as a burgeoning European secret service.
New Czech government likely to be less EU-critical 27 July MFDnes
Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in Czech daily MFDnes, saying: "It seems that the new [Czech] coalition is going to be less critical towards the EU than it was during the period of the country's EU presidency, even though the ODS is in the government. Minister Schwarzenberg will also possibly give up a few Czech embassies in favour of EU ones".
Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme created a transfer of $470 million a year from British firms to their overseas competitors 27 July Washington Times
An article by Iain Murray and Matthew Sinclair in the Washington Times looking at carbon cap and trade systems cited Open Europe's research on the EU's emissions trading scheme.
EU funds £400 million worth of "confidential" projects 26 July Telegraph
The Telegraph cited Open Europe's finding that between 2007 and 2009, the EU has funded £400m worth of confidential projects.
€13.8m of EU funds spent on research revealing that apples are healthy 23 July Mail Sun
Open Europe's Siân Herbert was quoted in the Mail and on page two of the Sun criticising the "ridiculous spending" of taxpayers' money in reference to a €13.8m EU research project that concluded that two apples a day are good for cholesterol.
European Investigation Order threatens both civil liberties and criminal justice system 19 July Express An article in the Express, looking at the consequences of the introduction of the European Investigation Order (EIO), quoted Open Europe's Stephen Booth saying: "This would not only pose a major threat to civil liberties in the UK but also irreversibly change the shape of our criminal justice system. The coalition's claims to be serious about civil liberties are meaningless unless they defend individuals' freedoms and rights from unwelcome EU laws, as well as those in the UK". |
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