Among the votes at the Strasbourg plenary session 14-17 January:
Consumer credit directive
MEPs adopted new rules aimed at stimulating the EU market in consumer credit. Two out of three Europeans use credit to buy furniture, a washing machine or a car. But the vast majority seek lending only in their own country. The new directive should make it easier for people to compare loan offers from lenders in any EU country.
The 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:
- Standard information on loan conditions will make it easier to calculate the total cost of a loan offered by various banks;
- A right to withdraw from a loan within 14 days will apply EU-wide;
- The Directive sets out the terms for lenders to seek compensation for early repayment of credit; it sets a ceiling for early repayment penalties and defines when compensation cannot be claimed. It also stipulates when a lender can, exceptionally, claim higher compensation;
- The new rules cover loans between a value of €200 and €75,000.
This was the 2nd reading in the European Parliament where each amendment adopted needed at least 393 votes (50% + 1). The text now passes to the Council of Ministers, which is expected to confirm the vote at one its next meetings. The directive would then come into effect in two years' time.
The following UK MEPs took part in the debate [click here for the transcript]: Malcolm Harbour (Cons, West Midlands); Arlene McCarthy (Lab, North West); Diana Wallis (Lib Dem, Yorks & Humber); Godfrey Bloom (UKIP, Yorks & Humber).
Airport charges
The European Parliament adopted approved at 1st reading a proposed new directive setting out common principles for levying airport charges at Community airports. The directive aims to prevent any abuse of a dominant position in the market by individual airports, thus contributing to the balanced development of the EU airport sector. The report was adopted with 613 votes in favour, 33 against and 51 abstentions.
The European Commission had proposed that the new rules should apply to airports with an annual traffic of more than one million passengers, but the European Parliament is in favour of five million passengers as a threshold or which accounted annually for more than 15% of the passenger movements in the Member State where it is located. UK airports affected will be: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Newcastle.
UK MEPs who spoke in the debate [click here for the transcript]: Brian Simpson (Lab, North West); Jim Allister (Ind., Nthn Ireland); Timothy Kirkhope (Cons, Yorks & Humber).
Kenya
MEPs call for "fresh presidential elections" in case a credible and fair recount of the votes in the presidential election by an independent body proves impossible, according to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament. MEPs also ask for the freezing of further budgetary support to the government of Kenya until the current crisis is resolved. The joint resolution was adopted by a large majority in a show of hands.
UK MEPs who spoke in the debate [click here for the transcript]: Glenys Kinnock (Lab, Wales); David Martin (Lab, Scotland).
Motor industry competitiveness
Research funding needs to be increased to meet binding CO2 targets in the car industry, says the European Parliament's report on a competitive automotive regulatory framework (CARS 21). The House adds that cars should be permitted to emit more CO2 if these emissions result from mandatory safety measures, and that intellectual property rights must be effectively protected worldwide. The report was adopted with 607 votes in favour, 76 against and 14 abstentions.
UK MEPs who spoke in the debate [click here for the transcript]: Malcolm Harbour (Cons, West Midlands); Gary Titley (Lab, North West); Chris Davies (Lib Dem, North West)
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