Sarkozy rules out a Blair EU Presidency
07 May 2008
Nicolas Sarkozy has withdrawn his backing of Tony Blair to become the first President of the EU, the BBC reports. The French President is understood to have changed his mind after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is thought he feels EU opposition to the former Prime Minister is too strong because he backed the Iraq war. The FT reports that EU leaders are pencilling in a European Council summit on June 19-20 for their first substantive discussions on who should take the job.
Euronews reports that the EU Commission is reluctant to present its proposals for the EU’s post-2013 budget – “terrain that is too sensitive in this period of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.”
Labour "not afraid of the views of the people" on Scottish referendum Brown aides have conceded to the Guardian that Downing St opposes Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander’s call for an early referendum on Scottish independence. Alexander’s unilateral initiative reportedly left some ministers and backbenchers “aghast”. One Minister told the paper: "She has been pestering Brown about this for months, and now she has used his weekend of the greatest vulnerability and weakness to press ahead.”
On Newsnight Communities Secretary Hazel Blears defended Alexander's u-turn stressing that the Government was not afraid to put the issue to the people. "As you've heard from Wendy Alexander today, she's not afraid of the views of the people, and as far as she's concerned, this matter going on and on and on is a distraction. So if there's to be a referendum, in her view, get on with it, we'll be opposed to it, and happily relish that fight. If Alec Salmond is going to bang on about having a referendum then actually he should put his money where is mouth is and be prepared to have that vote. We are not afraid of the argument with the people... We are not afraid to have a political argument with our opponents whether it’s the referendum in Scotland or the Tories in Crewe and Nantwich."
Mandelson tells Irish farmers they "are getting facts wrong"
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has told Irish farmers to refrain from linking next month's vote on the Lisbon Treaty to ongoing world trade talks. "I don't think the Doha talks should get mixed up with the Lisbon Treaty or any referendum on it. Rejecting the treaty would not be in Ireland's interests, it wouldn't be in Europe's interests. The IFA are getting their facts wrong" said Mandelson. The Irish Farmers Association has delivered up the threat of a No vote in next month's referendum to both the Commissioner and the Irish government if their interests are not defended in the trade talks.
Commission will use Lisbon Treaty to coordinate national economic policies
BBC Europe Editor Mark Mardell discusses the issue of UK euro membership on his blog. He notes that given some of the strains being suffered by the eurozone at present, the EU Commission has promised to "better exploit all instruments provided by the Lisbon Treaty to promote broader economic policy coordination."
Neil O’Brien of Open Europe is quoted saying, “Because you have a ‘one size fits all’ monetary policy, you have a country like Spain with completely the wrong interest rate and that inevitably means bigger booms and busts, more unemployment and damage to the economy. The euro's never been stress-tested so far, but now we are heading into choppy waters." He argued that the political discussion about the UK joining the euro is over and "it will stay over".
Fischer-Boel and German government defend biofuel targets
Danish daily Politiken reports that at a conference in Brussels, Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel denied the link between increased biofuels production and the global surge in food prices. “In the attempts to find explanations”, she argued, “biofuels have become a scapegoat. The media storm has become so intense that it’s hard to hear the real debate,” adding that it is too early to abandon the EU’s target of biofuels of 10% by 2020. Former Danish Environment Minister Svend Auken of the Social Democrats has called on the target to be scrapped.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Welle notes that Germany's Agriculture Minister Horst Seehofer said yesterday that "There would also be hunger without biofuel," noting that only 2% of cropland worldwide was being used to produce ethanol. Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel also promised that Germany will stick to its 2020 biofuel targets, while acknowledging that the government's goal of having 17 percent of energy come from biofuel by that year might be overly optimistic.
EU Commissioner rejects Blatter's 'six-plus-five' rule for football clubs
PA reports that Sepp Blatter is to seek a mandate from FIFA Congress later this month to begin talks with the European Union and football's authorities over implementing his 'six-plus-five' rule, which would force clubs to field at least six home grown players in every match. In an interview with Le Figaro, EU Sport Commissioner Jan Figel argues that “sport is not a business like other sectors. The specific nature of sport therefore authorises certain exceptions in competition law.” Asked about Sepp Blatter’s desire to review the Bosman ruling, he says, “We cannot accept the arrangement of ‘6 5’ that the FIFA President wants. This measure would reintroduce nationality quotas. That is incompatible with European law, notably the principle of free movement. The Commission respects the autonomy of sporting organisations, but their rules absolutely must conform to the legal framework of the European Union. In a case-by-case analysis, some measures could still be legitimised in view of their proportionality compared with the objective.”
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France no longer in a hurry to reform Eurogroup <Le Figaro reports that Nicolas Sarkozy has gone cold on the idea of reforming the Eurogroup. EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia will today present a communication on strengthening governance in the eurozone, for discussion during the French presidency, but according to the paper Paris is no longer in a hurry to proceed. The Elysée said: “We are not going to begin our presidency by putting forward such a problematic dossier.”No link
Berlusconi faces series of clashes with Brussels
AFP notes that incoming Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi – who takes the oath on May 9 or 10 – will face a series of clashes with the Commission, including a lawsuit on the Naples rubbish crisis, disagreements on the fate of Alitalia and criticism over poor public finances. Berlusconi is opposed to Alitalia being taken over by Air France-KLM, preferring instead a consortium of Italian investors. Italy's outgoing government has promised a state loan of 300 million euros to bail out the airline. The Commission has given Rome until May 19 to justify the loan, which is likely to be considered unlawful state aid.
UK/Swedish Government rail against French calls for greater protectionism
In the Guardian Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling and UK Trade Minister Gareth Thomas call for a renewed push to complete the Doha round in order to help ease the international food crisis. They argue, "Success would be the first step towards a sustainable solution. The EU must be fully supported in the efforts to bring negotiations to a successful end. We must reject the arguments of those who wish to use the current situation as a cover for preserving inequitable rich-country protectionism."
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Laterme is fighting to avoid a new political crisis in the country as Francophone parties threaten to leave the fragile coalition over a controversial plan to review electoral rights in the bilingual Brussels constituency of Bruxelles-Hal-Vilvorde.
Energy liberalisation critics suffer setback in European Parliament
A majority of MEPs voted yesterday in favour of full liberalisation of the Europe’s energy sector, making it clear that a break-up of companies' assets is their "preferred option". MEPs rejected an alternative plan tabled by a group of eight EU states - including Germany and France – who are against full liberalisation.
ECJ gives EP co-decision over asylum returnees
Swedish news site Europa-Nytt reports that the ECJ has ruled that the European Parliament should have co-decision over the list of “secure countries” to which denied asylum seekers in the EU are allowed to be returned.
Meanwhile, the WSJ looks at “the Nautilus” – a mission set up by Frontex to patrol the waters south of Sicily and Malta during the migration season. It is reported that the mission has been delayed amid disagreements over which country should take in people plucked from the sea. Malta has voiced concern over the current formula, whereby migrants stuck in international waters are taken to the nearest land point, which often ends up being Malta. The country has instead suggested a criteria based on size of population and territory.
World
Dmitry Medvedev will today become Russia’s new President - Vladimir Putin is likely to be named Prime Minister tomorrow.
Independent Independent-Cameron DW
UK
55% of Labour voters want Brown out
A Populus poll for the Times shows that 55% of Labour voters want Gordon Brown to resign. The poll puts the Conservatives on 40 points, Labour on 29 points, and the Lib Dems on 19 points. The Sun reports that Charles Clarke is again briefing against Brown, saying the Prime Minister is "eroding confidence in Labour’s competence and capacity", and claimed he had months to save his job.Simon Jenkins writes in the Guardian, “Last week the Brown and Livingstone campaigns looked old and tired, and the electorate noticed. It wants novelty and is without prejudice. Despite the jeers of the commentariat, people seem happy to give the toffs a turn at the wheel.”
German tabloid Bild branded Brown “loser of the day” on Saturday.
Times Sun Bild Bild 2 Guardian Jenkins