Lords Economic Committee: EU renewable targets “unnecessary and risky” – electricity bills will go up £80 per household
25 November 2008
A new report from the House of Lords Economic Committee has found that meeting EU targets for renewable energy will increase electricity generation and transmission costs by £6.8bn a year, or 38% in the
The press release for the report says that the EU targets “may encourage the
Lord Vallance, Chairman of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, said: "We accept that the UK Government, along with others, must take steps to reduce carbon emissions. However we are concerned that the dash to meet the EU's 2020 targets may draw attention and investment away from cheaper and more reliable low carbon electricity generation - such as nuclear and, potentially, fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage.”
The Committee also raised deep concerns over the overreliance on unreliable wind power that is likely to come about as a result of the EU targets: "The
According to the FT, a separate report from Ernst & Young has said that
BBC - Mardell IHT FT Lords report EU environment package: Open Europe research Lords press release
French government “confident” it can make Irish vote again
L’Express reports that
The French Presidency is expected to present a “road map” for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty at the European Council of 11 to 12 December. An Elysee source told L’Express that, “It will take the form of a declaration… which will contain guarantees which could be given to the Irish people to reassure them that the Lisbon Treaty has nothing to do with abortion, that it won’t threaten neutrality and won’t do anything on tax.” The same source said that a re-vote on the Treaty could happen before the European elections, which take place in June next year.
Meanwhile, AFP reports that Irish PM Brian Cowen will travel to
Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signaled that he will not sign the Lisbon Treaty unless it is ratified by
Following the formation of a new coalition in
Irish Times Irish Times 2 EUobserver FT Irish Times 3 Express NY Times
The Telegraph looks at plans by
A classified internal French document praises the CAP as a "strategic asset" and goes on to urge that it should be continued beyond 2013. European Voice reports that the paper also calls for the maintenance of ‘community preference', a term frequently used by French Minister Michel Barnier and often interpreted as a code word for higher EU tariffs to protect its farmers from international competition.
The development threatens to break promises made three years ago when Tony Blair gave up a share of Britain's annual rebate from Brussels on the understanding there would be a cut in farm subsidies after 2013. It is estimated that the CAP costs the average British household £322 a year. In the WSJ, Jack Thurston of the German Marshall Fund argues against the EU’s “heavy-handed” state interventionism in the agricultural sector.
WSJ-Thurston European Voice Telegraph Irish Times
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday, but failed to agree on any coordinated European response to the economic crisis, pledging only not to follow a British-style cut in VAT.
Le Figaro has a summary of the Commission’s proposed 130bn stimulus plan, to be unveiled tomorrow. This package would be funded through targeted VAT cuts, reduction in income taxes for low-earners and through unspent EU farm and structural funds. EU rules on excessive deficits and state aid will be relaxed, whilst the European Investment Bank will also attempt to provide credit.
The paper notes that “an hour of discussions was not sufficient for Nicolas Sarkozy to convince Angela Merkel to finance the 130bn euro European relaunch plan which Brussels will propose on Wednesday…If the German Chancellor has recognised the necessity of ‘a European response’ to the crisis, she has ruled out her country providing new spending and has refused to resort to budgetary measures.” Merkel is more in favour of measures “which do not cost money” for member states, such as the softening of rules concerning small and medium sized businesses.
An article in Le Monde says that the European relaunch package is effectively dead.
The FT notes that “With a budget deficit likely to hit 3 per cent of gross domestic product this year, the latest in three decades of deficits, the French President is hardly in a position to give lectures to
Sarkozy said that “A lowering of VAT, which is perhaps the response of certain countries, is not the right response for
FAZ Euractiv Le Figaro Le Figaro 2 Le Monde Le Monde Steinmeier FT FT: Betts EUobserver IHT Mail-Fleming
Premier League launches fight against French plans to regulate football
The Times reports that Premier League clubs will launch a fight today to prevent the establishment of a European super-authority for sport that could strip them of their wealth and independence. The Independent notes that Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore was scathing about the proposals put forward by UEFA's President Michel Platini and the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The proposal will be debated at a meeting of sports ministers from across Europe in
The plans would allow football to operate outside of EU law and UEFA could therefore force teams to field at least six home-based players with a maximum of five foreigners, which is currently unworkable under EU freedom of movement rules.
The Independent notes that the Premier League believes the French are using their EU Presidency to attack the pre-eminence of English football. The UK Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, has assured the Premier League that he will not be signing up to the agreement. A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We would not support the creation of European Union-wide authorities that supersede national authorities."
Commission plans to allow consumers to pursue joint claims against traders across the EU
The European Commission will set out plans this week to allow consumers to pursue mass claims against traders across the EU, the Guardian reports. Currently, only 13 of the 27 EU countries, including
EU-backed tuna quotas make a “mockery of science”
Environmental groups have blamed the EU for a trade deal that allows Mediterranean countries to catch 50% above what scientists say are "safe" levels of tuna. The BBC report says “why the European Commission decided…to argue for catches considerably above the scientific advice are not yet clear”.
Europe’s population is predicted to fall by 8% by 2050, according to the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.
EU competition policy may constitute an "obstacle" to innovation and growth in the high-tech sector, writes Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform (CER).
Opposition to EU membership in
EU to fund “conflict transformation centre” in
EU funds may be available for a “conflict transformation centre” in
An EU probe into anti-competitive behaviour will find that practices by drug companies could be slowing the launch of new patented and cheaper generic medicines.