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Sakharov Prize [ next story ] [ top ]
The Foreign Affairs Committee this week chose a short-list of three finalists for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought: Hu Jia from China, Aleksandr Kozulin, from Belarus and Abbot Apollinaire Malu Malu from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The winner will be decided in mid-October, with the award ceremony due for 17 December in Strasbourg.
Among the key votes from the plenary session this week in Brussels:
Telecoms
In a series of votes at 1st reading on the economic regulatory framework for telecommunications, MEPs decided that a body bringing together national regulators should ensure rules are implemented in a consistent manner across the EU. They also want to ensure that frequencies freed by the switchover from analogue to digital TV could be used for new wireless services such as broadband internet or mobile TV, and that such services are interoperable across the EU. On the regulations aimed at providing wider access to telecoms services and greater information for consumers, a majority in the European Parliament approved amendments focusing on protection of privacy and fundamental rights. West Midlands Conservative MEP Malcolm Harbour and North West Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy spoke in the debate which took place on 2 September [ more on this vote ].
Shipping
MEPs adopted their 2nd reading on a series of maritime safety proposals (known as Erika 3): Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system; Investigation of accidents; Port state control; Liability of carriers of passengers by boat in the event of accidents; Ship inspection and survey organisations. But Member State transport ministers are still blocking two areas: flag state obligations and civil liability. Since the European Parliament adopted the package with a large majority and included elements of the two missing files in its amendments, MEPs are suggesting that it is now up to the Transport Ministers to act to conclude agreements on the whole package. Two UK MEPs spoke in Tuesday's debate: Ian Hudghton (SNP, Scotland); Derek Clark (UKIP, East Midlands) [ more on this vote ].
Financial markets / Hedge funds
MEPs made a formal request to the European Commission to propose new legislation to improve regulation of financial markets, in particular regarding hedge funds and private equity investors. They also want measures to deal with some of the causes of the credit crunch. UK MEPs who spoke in Monday's debate: Sharon Bowles (Lib Dem, South East); John Whittaker (UKIP, North West); John Purvis (Cons, Scotland) [ more on this vote ].
In committee
Vehicle emissions
The Environment Committee backed a target for emissions from passenger cars of 120g of carbon dioxide per kilometre from 2012 in a vote on Thursday. It also opted for a new long-term target of 95g CO2/km for 2020. MEPs rejected proposals for transitional measures for the car industry until 2015. From 2012, car manufacturers exceeding the targets will have to pay fines - "excess emissions premiums" - for every excess gram of CO2 [ more on this vote ].
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Lord Mayor of London meets the Association of European Journalists at the UK Office
David Lewis, Lord Mayor of London and standard-bearer for the UK financial industry in the world, visited the UK Office on 31 July to address a meeting of the Association of European Journalists. He was greeted by the Chairman of the AEJ, William Horsley and by Dermot Scott, head of the UK Office.
The Lord Mayor described his office, extant since 1189 and guaranteed by Magna Carta; he answered questions about the main challenges facing the City (transport and tax); he explained the importance to the City of the good health of all other world financial centres; regulation, and the evident shortcomings of the US system; the importance of the European economic trading area to the health of the City; and he expressed the view that we should all come out of the present financial crisis in 18-24 months. He felt that the City and the UK Government work hand in hand in dealing with EU legislation, and said that the result often was to improve European standards, while leaving the UK free to apply it higher standards.
MEPs vote to include aviation in the EU's Emissions Trading Systems
Aviation will be included in the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 1 January 2012, following an overwhelming vote in favour by the European Parliament on Tuesday. The main points of the legislation, which is now expected to be formally backed by the Council of Ministers, are as follows:
The revenues generated from the auctioning of emissions allowances should be used to fund: climate change mitigation; research on clean aircraft; anti-deforestation measures in the developing world; low-emission means of transport.
Some flights are exempted from the scheme:
Flights performed exclusively for the transport, on official mission, of a reigning Monarch and the immediate Royal Family, Heads of State, Heads of Government and Government Ministers, of an EU Member State are included.
Costs
According to the European Commission's impact assessment: "Fully passing on costs to customers would mean that by 2020 airline tickets for a return journey could increase by €4.6 to €39.6, depending on the journey length."
Extracts from Tuesday morning's debate
Caroline Lucas MEP (Greens, South East): Because of the Council’s intransigence the agreement we have today is a far cry from what is really needed and represents starkly the enormous gap between our governments’ rhetoric on climate change and the degree of political will that they are actually willing to muster. This agreement lacks crucial aspects, like a gateway to limit the degree to which aviation can just carry on business as usual by buying up emission permits from other sectors. It lacks full auctioning of emission permits despite the fact that it fulfils the Commission’s criterion of being able to fully pass on the costs, and it lacks a cap which is anywhere near as demanding as that required of other sectors.
It is a small step in the right direction, but it is also a truly missed opportunity for what could have been. In order for it to become meaningful and for aviation emissions to be genuinely addressed we must now make sure the efforts are rapidly scaled up and given the environmental integrity they urgently need.
Linda McAvan MEP (Labour, Yorks & Humber): It could have been better but it does establish some very important principles about auctioning and about the use of the resources. It also shows that Europe is serious about climate change…
But you will have heard, as will the Commissioner, people in this House suggesting that they are not so happy with the agreement…I would ask them what the alternative is. What are they suggesting instead if they do not think Europe should take a lead on aviation? What are we going to take a lead on? What are we going to do about the emissions trading scheme? Are we going to wait until something in the White House changes?
John Purvis MEP (Conservative, Scotland): The ETS with cap and auctioning should replace all aviation taxes, air passenger taxes and any potential tax threatened on aviation fuel. ETS is much more effective than taxes in actually reaching our emissions targets. The cost to passengers, freight forwarders and airlines will be related directly to the emissions they cause and governments will not be able to justify padding out their treasury shortfalls with spurious green taxes on aviation and the travelling public.
| Debate in the European Parliament on 8 July 2008 - the transcript will be available at: |
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/plenary/cre.do?language=EN# |
Draft recommendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community |
| Text adopted by the European Parliament (8 July 2008) will be available at: |
| http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+20080708+TOC+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN |
| Summary of procedure in the Legislative Observatory |
| Other related legislation: EU Emission Trading Scheme: |
| http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission.htm |
| UK MEPs contact details: |
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EU electricity markets: MEPs vote for more competition and enhanced consumer rights
The European Parliament has this week backed the complete separation of electricity production and distribution across the EU. In adopting full ownership 'unbundling' as the only option for electricity companies, MEPs have challenged an agreement reached earlier this month by the Council of Ministers to allow for alternative models. Negotiations are now likely to continue between the two EU institutions.
A series of votes on Wednesday and Thursday has also led to proposals for:
Intense negotiations will now follow between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. This is the codecision procedure where Parliament and Council have equal powers to decide the final text of any new legislation. If the Council endorses its informal agreement reached on 6 June, the proposals will return for a 2nd reading in the European Parliament. If the Council agrees to all the amendments passed this week, the whole package can come into effect without further readings in Parliament; if agreement between the two institutions can be reached on a compromise position, this would have to return for endorsement in Parliament.
For further details, see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/documents_presse_par_theme_page/909/default_en.htm
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Waste: MEPs tackle Europe's growing mountain
MEPs have today adopted new EU rules designed to tackle the 1.8 billion tonnes of waste generated each year in Europe.Today's vote followed a series of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers (representing the EU's 27 Member State governments), given that both Parliament and Council have to agree the new rules before they can come into effect. Among the main aspects of the new rules, as voted today:
• A target of 50% re-use or recycling by 2020 of waste materials such as paper, metal or glass from households;
• A target of 70% re-use or recycling for non-hazardous construction and demolition waste, also by 2020;
• An obligation on EU Member States to set up waste management plans and waste prevention programmes;
• A setting-up in law of a five-category hierarchy for dealing with waste. In order of preference: prevention; re-use; recycling; recovery; safe and environmentally-sound disposal.
A majority of MEPs also backed a definition of incineration as a 'recovery' operation, provided it meets certain energy efficiency standards.
This was the 2nd reading in the European Parliament where each amendment adopted needed at least 392 votes (50% + 1). The text now passes to the Council of Ministers, which is expected to confirm today's vote at one its next meetings.
For further details, see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-31746-168-06-25-911-20080616IPR31745-16-06-2008-2008-true/default_en.htm
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European Parliament calendar of part-sessions 2009 (adopted on 21 May 2008)
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The calendar is available for download (PDF file).
UK project wins 2nd prize at European Parliament Charlemagne Youth Prize
The London Festival of Europe took second prize at the end of last month in the brand new European Parliament Charlemagne Youth Prize.
Awarded in Aachen, Germany on 29 April by the President of the European Parliament, Hans Gert Pöttering MEP, 1st prize went to Hungary for the "Students without Boundaries" project. Third prize went to Greece and the Byron School of Athens.
Heats in all 27 EU Member States, organised along the lines of the Eurovision Song Contest, sent national winners through to the grand finale.
The UK winner, the London Festival of Europe, is the brainchild of Niccolo Milanese (Welsh) and Lorenzo Marsili (Italian) and a team of young Europeans living in London. The second London Festival of Europe took place in March this year, with a third Festival planned for March 2009.
On receiving the second prize of 3000 euros Niccolo Milanese said:
"When we set up the London Festival of Europe in 2007 it was to try and bring together Europeans in London and Britain and create a genuinely pan European event which reflects both a mobility of the imagination and the nomadic way many young people live now. The most rewarding thing about receiving this prize is meeting other young people from all the 27 Member States and talking to them about setting up collaborations across the Continent. Working across borders is what the future of Europe will be all about. The Charlemagne Youth Prize is all about our Utopianism and Energy and sometimes we can be a little impatient and somewhat frustrated at how slowly things seem to move in European politics :) !"
The Charlemagne Youth Prize is for people aged between 16 and 30 who have been involved with projects helping to promote understanding between different European countries. Judges were looking for projects that would serve as role models for young people living in Europe. They wanted to see practical examples of Europeans living together, whether through the organisation of youth events, youth exchanges or internet projects with a European dimension.
The Third London Festival of Europe will take place in March 2009 http://www.euroalter.com/londonfestival.html
To contact Niccolo: +33 (0) 6 28 46 92 10
Email: n.milanese@euroalter.com
New European Prize for Journalism
The first European Parliament Prize for Journalism will be awarded in 2008. It will be given to journalists who have dealt with major issues at a European level or have promoted a better understanding of the EU institutions and/or EU policies.
There will be four different categories for the prize: written press, radio, TV and internet. The winner in each section will receive €5 000.
Individuals or teams up to 5 people are eligible to contribute with articles or reports, whether one-off or part of a series. The contributions must be published or broadcast between 1 May 2007 and 30 April 2008 in one of the official languages of the European Union. All entrants must be nationals of an EU Member State or resident in the EU and a registered journalist.
Entries will be accepted until 15 May 2008 inclusive. The prize will be awarded in October 2008.
A jury will be set up to select winners in each category in the UK, with an overall jury, led by a European Parliament Vice-President, selecting the four winners EU-wide.
Application forms and the full rules of the Prize are available on the European Parliament's UK Office website at: www.europarl.org.uk or at our special website dedicated to this new prize: www.eppj.eu
The deadline for submissions is 15 May 2008.
For further information, contact Simon Duffin, Head of Press,
European Parliament UK Office, simon.duffin@europarl.europa.eu Tel: 07786 060531
European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg 10-14 March 2008
Among the key events in Strasbourg this week:
Flood relief
The European Parliament formally approved the granting of €162.4 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to the UK to help offset part of the costs of the flood damage in 2007. This is the first application from the UK for financial assistance after a major natural disaster. The report approving the funding from the EU Solidarity Fund was adopted with 613 votes in favour, 11 against and 17 abstentions. It is for the UK authorities to decide how to distribute the funds. The following UK MEPs spoke in Monday's debate: Richard Ashworth (Conservative, South East); Linda McAvan (Labour, Yorks & Humber); Diana Wallis (Lib Dem, Yorks & Humber); John Whittaker (UKIP, North West).
Further Info on www.europarl.europa.eu
Using technology to help older people
Helping older people to stay healthier and to live independently for longer is the aim of a new research programme on "Ambient Assisted Living" (AAL). West Midlands Labour MEP Neena Gill was the rapporteur and the only UK MEP to speak in Wednesday night's debate. The programme will develop new information and communication technology to enable more elderly people to access public services more easily, but these services must nonetheless respect their privacy and dignity, say MEPs. The European Parliament approved a first-reading deal with Council of Ministers by 431 votes to 10 with 8 abstentions. Speaking in Wednesday's debate Neena Gill said: "This will assist the European industry and research institutes in the development of new, cutting-edge ICT services, products and solutions to enhance the quality of life for the older persons... I am pleased that the Council has agreed to a €0.2m minimum contribution from each participating country." For the UK, a technology platform under the auspices of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will be set up.
Further Info on www.europarl.europa.eu
CAP reform
Parliament adopted a report on the Commission's proposals for further reform of the CAP, known as the "CAP health check". The European Parliament recommends broad approval of the proposals, although it has reservations about certain points, including the amount of funds to be switched from market support rural development, as well as the capping of direct aid. The resolution adopted this week constitutes Parliament's initial response to the Commission's general ideas on further CAP reform. The Commission will next submit draft legislation, on which Parliament will have to be consulted.
The following UK MEPs spoke in Tuesday's debate: Neil Parish (Conservative, South West); Alyn Smith (SNP, Scotland); Bairbre de Brún (Sinn Fein); Derek Clark (UKIP, East Midlands); Jim Allister (Ind. Northern Ireland); Struan Stevenson (Conservative, Scotland); Jim Nicholson (UUP, Northern Ireland).
Further Info on www.europarl.europa.eu
50 years of the European Parliament
To celebrate the European Parliament's 50th anniversary, the presidents of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission each addressed the House in a special sitting in Strasbourg this week. In his opening address, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering welcomed former presidents of the European Parliament, including Lord Plumb from the UK. Mr Pöttering stressed that "step by step, the European Parliament has fought to secure more and more rights and has become ever more aware of its responsibility and of what it can do; and today it does credit to its name". "Today, we are 785 Members from 27 European nations; we represent seven political groups and more than 150 national political parties; we are both a legislative and a budgetary authority, on an equal footing with the Council of Ministers; we exercise oversight over the European Commission and elect its President; we are the representatives of close to 500 million Union citizens; we reflect all political tendencies in the European Union; we have become self-assured and a major player in European politics", he said.
Further Info on www.europarl.europa.eu
The European Parliament's audio-visual services have prepared audio and video files of highlights from the last 50 years. Among those which may be of interest to readers in the UK:
June 1979: 1st European elections
December 1981: Margaret Thatcher to the European Parliament
May 1985: Ronald Reagan to the EP
October 1988: Pope John-Paul II to the EP
June 1990: Nelson Mandela receives the Sakharov Prize (for 1988)
May 1992: HRH Queen Elizabeth II addresses the European Parliament
July1996 Visit to UK by BSE Committee of Inquiry
October 1996: Dalai Lama addresses MEPs
May 1998: Gordon Brown attends EP as Chancellor during UK Presidency
January 2003: Dockers protest outside the EP
Other highlights: Visits of Presidents Sadat (1981); Yeltsin (1993); Karzai (2005); PM Rabin (1993); Yasser Arafat (1993).
You can download the video kit in professional quality, from this FTP link:
ftp://epavvideoget:mo12ssb@ftpeps01.europarl.eu.int/epavvideo/archives/50ansPE
The audio kit will be accessible on EP LIVE:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/public/default_en.htm
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