European Parliament approves proposal to try citizens in their absence in foreign courts
03 September 2008
The Times reports that the European Parliament has overwhelmingly adopted a proposal that would allow citizens to be extradited automatically to another EU country after having been convicted by a foreign court in their absence.
Judgements in absentia would be recognized by several countries that do not currently allow this practice in their own judicial system, including Britain. The proposals, which were put forward by seven countries, including the UK, were described as "by their very nature a violation of the fundamental procedural rights of the accused" by the European Criminal Bar Association. The proposal will now be presented to the Council of Ministers within the next three months, after which the document will start the process of becoming national law.
Open Europe has produced a briefing note on trials in absentia, which can be downloaded here.
Irish government contradicts itself on second referendum;
Commission official: Some want to use
The Irish Independent reports that only 24 hours after Taoiseach Brian Cowen said that the Lisbon Treaty could not be passed in
EUobserver quotes Irish Labour MEP and former social welfare minister Proinsias de Rossa as saying, “My reading of what he [Cowen] said was that one option was to remove all elements that are impacting on the Irish Constitution and for the Parliament then to approve by parliamentary ratification the non-constitutional elements." A European Commission official said, "Some people are saying that
EU Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom, in a blog piece entitled “Georgia on our minds” notes, “I was encouraged and impressed by the determined action taken by the French Presidency but can not help thinking that with a new treaty it would have been easier to have a better coordinated response, faster and with greater authority. A high representative with a mandate both from the Council and the Commission would be stronger and better equipped in a situation like the one we have seen this summer in our neighbourhood.”
Roland Rudd, Chairman of pro-Lisbon group Business for New Europe, has a letter in the Guardian on how the EU should deal with
Irish Independent EUobserver Guardian Rudd Margot Wallstrom blog
Still undecided if Libertas will run in European elections
The Irish Times reports that at a meeting with MEPs in Brussels yesterday, founder of Irish anti-Lisbon Treaty group, Declan Ganley, said it is not yet decided whether Libertas will be launched as a political party to fight in the European elections next year and a final decision may not be made before January 2009. "There are no firm decisions made on anything yet; that is the truth," said Mr Ganley. He also said he would be “reluctant” to stand as a candidate himself. The Irish Independent quotes Ganley as saying, "You could be effective in here [European Parliament] - depending on how the other groups were formed - you could be effective in here with 30 people.” EUobserver notes that Ganley said that if there was a new Treaty, it should be a text "that is short, readable and that everyone gets to vote on."
Dan Hannan MEP notes on his blog that Declan Ganley and Libertas helped change the terms of the debate on
Irish Independent Irish Times EUobserver Telegraph Hannan
Sarkozy: time for EU to review “excesses” in financial industry pay
Reuters reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants the EU to play a stronger role in international financial markets regulation, according to a statement issued by his office yesterday. "The president supported the idea that political authorities should look into questions of regulation and financial stability at the highest level," the statement said. It also said that Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, wants to review the "the principles of remuneration in the finance industry which contribute to the excesses that have been seen."
A headline in Les Echos reads “
Asked on Italian TV whether he would participate in Italian-brokered negotiations with Georgian President Saakashvili, President Medvedev of
The US has called on Nato to be better prepared to defend the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – from military attack, after Russia’s recent incursion into Georgia.
Edward Lucas argues in the Guardian that “
Les Echos AFP Guardian Lucas Reuters IHT AFP FT
Jyllands-Posten reports that a leaked memo has revealed that the consequences of the ECJ’s ruling in the so-called Metock case, will require
Le Figaro reports that French Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux “wants to unify asylum law in
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Fine Gael attacks EU “over-regulation” amid farmers’ reluctance to publish details of EU subsidies
The Irish Times reports that EU rules forcing farmers to publish details of EU payments have been described by the Labour agriculture spokesman Willie Penrose as a “bridge too far” and an example of “bureaucracy gone mad”.
The Fine Gael spokesman on community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Michael Ring, said publishing such details would attract criminals and infringed on the privacy of individuals living in rural
A separate article by Ronan McGreevy argues that the public are entitled to accountability, and that application of the rules in the
Leaders from
Commission’s social package divides MEPs
EUobserver reports that the Commission’s “Social Package” presented before the European Parliament yesterday is dividing MEPs. The package includes the controversial Health Directive, a new anti-discrimination bill, specific ideas on how to help Roma people, as well as a proposal on so-called works councils.
European factory trawlers destroying livelihoods of African fishermen
The Irish Times reports that fleets of factory-ships from Europe and Asia are depleting fishing stocks on the west- African coast, forcing local fishermen to risk their lives by fishing further out to sea or moving into the business of people-trafficking. As an example of "cash for access" fishing deals, the article notes that
The article notes that the biggest fishing boat in the world, the Irish-owned Atlantic Dawn is operating off
High profile UKIP member hits out at party’s “sleaze”
Iain Dale’s blog reports that Robin Page, the Cambridgeshire farmer and TV presenter – one of UKIP’s most high profile supporters – has been prevented from standing as a UKIP candidate at next year’s European Elections for East Anglia – despite finishing third on UKIP’s list last time round. Page said, “There is so much sleaze in UKIP at the moment with people being investigated by the police and OLAF (the European Anti-Fraud Office) for a number of alleged offences – I think the hierarchy wanted to prevent me from standing in case I won a place at
Britain is the only G7 nation likely to face recession, according to the OECD. Hamish McRae argues in the Independent that the Government’s attempt to kick-start the housing market will do nothing, as the value of