|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
European Interview n°9 : |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
IN BRIEF : •Council of Europe: Religions, •Presidency: EU-ASEM, •Council: External Relations, Pakistan, Congo, •Commission: EU/National Parliaments, Ukraine, Innovation, Merger-Acquisition, Health, Rural Development, State Subsidies, Maritime Security, Environment, •Parliament: Services Directive, Worker Mobility, Lebanon, Pakistan, CIA Prisons, •UN: Vaira Vike-Freiberga, •Germany: Lebanon, Spain, •France: Italy, •The Netherlands: Employment Market, •Ukraine: EU and NATO, •Sweden: General Elections, •Vatican: Benoit XVI, REPORTS : •Eurostat: Employment, Cost of Labour, External Trade, Inflation, •Auditors Court: Special Reports, •Co-ordinators: Trans-European Networks, •Senate: Minimal sentences, FOUNDATION : •European Ideas Network: Summer University, Subscriptions and other information |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In brief :
Council of Europe : On talking to the participants of the Second Congress of Spiritual Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on 13th September in Astana, Kazakstan, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Renй van der Linden called for the conclusion of a "new alliance between the secular and religious" based on fundamental values that are common to religion and democracy in order to meet the challenges of globalisation, migration and terrorism.
Presidency : The 6th ASEM Summit (Asia-Europe) was held on 10th and 11th September in Helsinki. The organisation has six new members (Bulgaria, Romania, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, ASEAN). During the summit the main guidelines of the future co-operation procedure between the two continents were outlined. Two declarations were adopted in particular: a declaration on climate change, confirming the aims of the Framework Agreement that was recently agreed at the UN and the Helsinki Declaration which defines the guidelines of the future co-operation within the ASEM along with practical recommendations which aim to launch this.
Council : EU Foreign Ministers met on 14th and 15th September to look into major issues on the international agenda. Ministers renewed their support of the International Pact for Irak. They expressed their real concern about the worsening situation in the Sudan. Ministers encouraged the parties taking part in the election on 1st October in Bosnia-Herzegovina to contribute to the success of the democratic date. They were however worried about how slow Bosnia-Herzegovina has been in making vital reforms necessary for the conclusion of its association agreement with the EU, the first step towards membership.
High Representative for the CFSP, Javier Solana received the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday 13th September in Brussels. The summit aimed to confirm the EU's support of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, to increase co-operation with regard to non-proliferation issues, to work towards strengthening the Afghan government and to support the peace process between India and Pakistan.
On visiting the RD Congo on 11th and 12th September Javier Solana confirmed the EU's desire to help the democratic institutions in the country to recover. He recalled that the Union had funded 80% of the recent general and presidential elections and called for the continuation of the electoral process with the holding of the second round of the presidential and regional elections on 29th October.
Commission : Margot Wallstrцm, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication informed in Helsinki the Chairpersons meeting of COSAC (EU Affairs Parliamentary Committees) about the Commission's decision to start the direct transmission of its documents to the national parliaments. According to the Commissioner, "a greater voice for parliaments is a greater voice for Europe's citizens (...) their comments will be carefully considered." In June the Foundation published a "Note" by Huber Haenel, President of the Delegation of the Senate for the EU on this subject.
On 13th September the European Commission proposed negotiating directives for a new enhanced agreement with Ukraine to replace the existing Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The enhanced agreement is to adopt a comprehensive and ambitious approach and include a Free Trade Area, the negotiations for which will start once the Ukraine has completed membership procedures for the WTO. This agreement will include measures with regard to common values, greater co-operation in a wide range of areas, including vital topics like energy, justice and security issues, transport and the environment. The proposed negotiating directives will now go the Council of Ministers for approval, with a view to beginning negotiations early in 2007.
On 13th September the European Commission tabled a 10 point programme for action at national and European levels to foster innovation as a main asset of the EU economy. This will form the basis for the discussion by European leaders at the informal Summit due to take place in Lahti, Finland on 20th October 2006. The programme points the way forward to accompany industry-led innovation with public policies at all levels as a core element of the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. According to Gьnter Verheugen, Vice-President of the Commission for Enterprise and Industry, "Europe needs to become a truly knowledge-based and innovation-friendly society, where innovation is not feared but welcomed, is not hindered but encouraged."
On 12th September the European Commission put forward a proposal that will tighten the procedures that Member States' supervisory authorities have to follow when assessing proposed mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the banking, insurance and securities sectors, thereby modifying existing directives. Charlie McCreevy , Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services believes that "these new rules mean that supervisory authorities will have to be clear, transparent and consistent when assessing cross-border mergers and acquisitions. They leave no room for political interference or protectionism."
On 11th September the European Commission gave Community-wide authorisation to two avian influenza vaccines. This should ensure that effective vaccines are available for use throughout the EU during the autumn/winter, which is the period of greatest risk of a bird flu epidemic. There are no outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic or wild birds in the EU at the moment, but the risk of the disease will increase in the coming weeks as the autumn migration period begins. Both of the vaccines which have been approved reduce mortality and virus excretion in vaccinated chickens exposed to infection. Effective control of avian influenza is considered to be particularly important not only in the interests of animal health but also to reduce the likelihood of the emergence of a human pandemic strain of the virus.
On 12th September the European Commission decided on the annual Rural Development budget for the 25 Member States for the years 2007-2013. The decision will be amended once Romania and Bulgaria become members of the EU. Additional money is available for these two countries. The amount of money to be received by each Member State is decided on according to various criteria. According to Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development "the funds can be used to increase the competitiveness of the agrifood and forestry sectors and are a vital element in supporting environmental projects in the countryside. But this money can also be used outside of the traditional farming industry, to help create new jobs and new businesses in rural areas."
On 13th September the European Commission approved state and regional aid maps covering the period 2007-2013 for Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. These regional aid maps define the regions of a Member State eligible for national regional investment aid for large enterprises under EC Treaty state aid rules and establishes the maximum permitted levels of such aid in the eligible regions. The adoption of the regional aid map for the Member State concerned is a pre-condition to ensure the continuity of the regional policy and Structural Fund programmes post 2006.
The installation of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in Lisbon was celebrated on 14th September with the inauguration of its headquarters in the presence of the Prime Minister of Portugal, Josй Sуcrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, the European Commission President Josй Manuel Barroso and its Vice-President in charge of Transport, Jacques Barrot. Since 2002 its temporary HQ was in Brussels. EMSA's mission is to provide technical and scientific advice to the Commission and the Member States in order to ensure a high and uniform level of maritime safety and security, thereby preventing accidents and pollution at sea. Jacques Barrot declared that "EMSA is an indispensable tool to implement the EU maritime safety policy efficiently, to develop it further and to enhance international co-operation."
European Mobility Week that runs until 22nd September adopted the leitmotif of mastering climte change, its aim being to encourage citizens to use more benign alternatives of transport such as walking, cycling, public transport and car pooling. The towns taking part have to set up means that aim to develop sustainable mobility. Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment said "by making small changes in our daily lives, all of us can reduce the emissions that cause dangerous climate change and air pollution." In focusing on climate change, this year's European Mobility Week is supporting the Commission's EU-wide 'You control climate change' public awareness campaign launched in May.
Parliament : Evelyne Gebhardt (PSE, DE), rapporteur for the services directive project tabled eleven modifications to the Council's common position. Some MEPs from the PPE-DE and ADLE fear that these amendments will endanger the fragile compromise that has been found with the Council. The amendments relate to the directive's fields of application, notably the exclusion of general interest and social services.
On 5th September Mario Monti presented his report entitled "Who's afraid of enlargement?" The report evaluates the impact of the restrictive measures established by most of the Member States - only Ireland, Sweden and the UK did not employ these measures - to control the expected arrival of workers from the States which joined the EU on May 1st 2004. In this European year of workers' mobility the European Citizen Action Service has opened a hotline dedicated to workers' mobility in order to collate statements on this issue.
Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament, visited the Lebanon on 14th-15th September . He met with members of the Lebanese Parliament as well as other government leaders. During his talks with the country's high authorities Josep Borrell mentioned the serious humanitarian situation ongoing in the Lebanon. He reassured the authorities of the European Parliament's support, a co-decider with regard to the budget. The aid promised by the Union totals 107 million euro. A visit by the Lebanese Prime Minister Mr Fouad Siniora to the European Parliament as well as a visit by a delegation of MEPs to the Lebanon is planned in the near future.
During his visit to Brussels on 12th and 13th September the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf called on the EU to co-operate more with his country with regard to trade, maintaining that greater access to the European market would encourage the democratisation and development process in Pakistan. He thanked the Union for the humanitarian aid provided after the earthquake in 2005. The president ended his official visit at the European Parliament and with a meeting with the Conference of Presidents. Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament welcomed the work achieved by President Musharraf in trying to improve relations with India in terms of the region of Kashmir.
Last week American President George W. Bush acknowledged the existence of secret CIA prisons on Europe. The representatives of the temporary commitee investigating into the illegal CIA activities launched an appeal to European governments for them to provide details of their participation in these operations.
UN : In answer to a number of associations across the world and to the governments of the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia announced on Friday 15th September that she would stand as candidate in the succession to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN. In a press release she said she wanted "to encourage women in the whole world to continue their effort and initiatives which aimed to wipe away prejudice and stereotypes (...) the time has come for a woman to be taken seriously as a candidate for this prestigious post."
Germany : The government has decided to send a monitoring mission to the Lebanon which will take part in the activities undertaken by UNIFIL. The dispatch of two frigates, two supply ships and four rapid patrol boats is a major event for the Federal Republic; indeed it will be the first time it is sending out soldiers since the Second World War to the Middle East. This decision was taken in agreement with the Israeli and Lebanese governments.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Josй Luis Zapatero met on 12th September in Meersburg for the 20th German-Spanish consultations. Germany and Spain intend to co-operate closely during the German presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2007. They both expressed the need for Europe to have a Constitution and to co-operate with regard to research. They hope for a European management of migratory flow and are promoting a political solution to the problems in the Middle East.
France : On Tuesday 12th September the President of the Republic, Jacques Chirac received Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Republic of Italy to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the future of the Union and enlargement as well as bilateral issues. It was the first visit by the Italian president who was elected on 10th May last. This visit comes just after the visit by the Prime Minister in Rome and his meeting with Mr Romano Prodi on 1st September.
The Netherlands : On Friday 15th September the Netherlands announced that it would be relaxing the employment rules on workers from Eastern Europe in 16 areas, such as the metal industry, healthcare and the civil service. As from Sunday workers from Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic - all members of the EU since 1st May 2004 - may be employed without the employer having to prove that there is a local labour force available for the position as in the past. After this relaxation in the law "they will be able to receive their permits much more quickly," in two weeks, in comparison with ten at present, according to a press release from the Social Affairs Ministry. The government aims to liberalise completely its labour market on 1st January 2007 for workers from the ten countries that joined the EU on 1st May 2004.
Ukraine : Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich spoke on 14th September in Brussels of his country's membership of the EU in the long term; he did however plead for a simple enlargement of its co-operation with NATO. "We fully intend to have in depth and stable relations wtih the EU which in the long term will lead us to membership," he declared during a press conference with the European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Sweden : It was an historic victory for the Alliance of the four centre right parties led by Fredrik Reinfeldt on 17th September. With 26.1% of the vote cast for the Moderate Assembly (M), 7.9% for the Centre Party (C), 7.5% for the People's Party-Liberals (FpL) and 6.6% for the Christian Democrat Party (KD), "The Alliance for Sweden" is due to win 178 of the 349 seats in Parliament, thereby putting an end to ten years of government by Gцran Personn and an almost uninterrupted social democrat reign for the last 74 years.
Vatican : During his visit to Germany the Pope made an implicit link between Islam and violence mentioning the jihad (holy war). He quoted a 14th century Byzantine Emperor who said that the Prophet Mohammend had brought only "bad and inhuman" things to the world. The Pople is "extremely sorry that certain parts of his speech offended the feelings of Muslims," declared the Secretary of State of the Vatican Tarcisio Bertone on Saturday.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reports :
Eurostat : According to a Eurostat report published on 11th September entitled "EU Labour Force Survey -Principal results 2005" in 2005, the total employment rate for people aged 15-64 was 63.8%. The employment rate for women was 56.3%, while the rate for older people, i.e. those aged 55-64, reached 42.5%. The employment rate in the various categories of the population varied considerably depending on the country likewise the percentage of those in temporary work and the long term unemployed. In the EU nearly two-thirds of jobs are in the service industry.
According to data published on 14th September by Eurostat the total hourly cost of labour in the euro zone increased by an annual 2.4% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2006, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter. In EU25 the annual rise was 3.1% in the second quarter of 2006, up from 3.0% in the previous quarter. The two main components of labour costs are wages and salaries, and non-wage costs.
The first estimate published by Eurostat on 15th September for the euro area trade balance with the rest of the world in July 2006 gave a 1.5 bn euro surplus compared with 7.4 bn in July 2005. The June 2006 balance was also 1.5 bn, compared with 6.8 bn in June 2005. The first estimate for July 2006 extra-EU25 trade was a deficit of 12.8 bn euro, compared with -3.6 bn in July 2005. In June 2006, the balance was -12.0 bn, compared with -2.3 bn in June 2005.
According to figures published on 15th September by Eurostat the Euro area annual inflation was 2.3% in August 2006, down from 2.4% in July. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. EU25 annual inflation was also 2.3% in August 2006, down from 2.4% in July. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%. Monthly inflation was 0.2% in August 2006 and 0.1% in the euro zone.
Auditors Court : On 13th September the Court of Auditors published special reports relative to the performance of investments in the area of rural development and the effectiveness of the support provided by the EU to operational programmes for producers of fruit and vegetables. The reports also related to ex-post evaluations relative to objectives one and three for the period 1994-1999 (Structural Funds) as well as those relative to translation expenditure.
Co-ordinators : On 13th September the European Commission adopted a communication by Vice-President Barrot setting out the main results of the activities of the co-ordinators for the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). The six eminent persons designated in July 2005 to evaluate progress on certain TEN-T projects also made recommendations about the effective implementation of these priority projects. Mr Barrot said that "the first results achieved by the co-ordinators are very encouraging." These recommendations will be very useful for the Commission in the financial planning of the trans-European transport networks for the period 2007-2013
Senate : The Senate has just published a study on obligatory minimal sentences applied in several European countries collating information on the choices made by several countries which represent various legal traditions in Europe and beyond: Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the USA.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Foundation :
European Ideas Network : The European Ideas Network (EIN) of the PPE-DE is organising its summer university in Lyon between 21st and 23rd September on the theme of globalisation and the future of Europe. The President of the Commission Jose Manuel Barroso is expected there on Thursday 21st and his Vice President Jacques Barrot on Friday 22nd.
Agenda : 18th-19th September |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Editors : Thierry Chopin, Mathilde Durand, Hйlиne Gourlet, Sandrine Mor, The Robert Schuman Foundation, created in 1991 and acknowledged by State decree in 1992, is the main French research centre on Europe . It develops research on the European Union and its policies and promotes the content of these in France , Europe and abroad. It encourages, enriches and stimulates European debate thanks to its research, publications and the organisation of conferences. The Foundation is presided over by Mr. Jean-Dominique Giuliani Fondation Robert Schuman Bureau de Bruxelles
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
