newsitems

     All big Political issues of interest to EU Citizens are due to be addressed by EU Parliament from 2010, now that the new EU Commisssion was voted for the period 2010-2014, replied to an "EuroFora"'s question the President of the largest Group of MEPs, ChristianDemocrats/EPP, Joseph Daul.

    "EuroFora" had asked President Daul if he thought that EU Parliament could now go well beyond its important Legislative work and deal also with Big Political Issues which interest EU Citizens, such as Europe's Future, Identity and Borders, Environment and Climate, how to overcome the Global Financial Crisis, Global Governance, etc., as it was reportedly discussed, last week in Paris, during the visit of EU Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek, who met also with French President Sarkozy, at the eve of an exceptionally important Franco-German Summit with Chancellor Merkel (See earlier "EuroFora" NewsReports from that last event in Paris).

 

    - "All Big (Political) Issues will be addressed" by EU Parliament, "even if they are not (strictly) Legislative", ensured Daul in his reply.

    - "Big issues will start to arrive, now, with the new (EU) Commission", he observed, speaking the same Day that EU Parliament's Plenary in Strasbourg debated and voted for the 27 New EU Commissioners, after a series of previous Hearings.

    F. ex., "we have an important issue which will soon arrive to us : It's the Budget : - "What Budget for Europe, after 2013 ?".  That's the 1st big file which is going to arrive" to EU Parliament, Daul anounced.

    The point is notoriously linked both with Strategic pluri-Annual choices on Agriculture, Industrial, Research, Cohesion and Regional EU Policies, but also with the ongoing debate on EU's Enlargement, and particularly with Turkey's controversial EU bid, that some speculations in the Past had, since long, estimated as probable around 2014, if EU's financial situation allows to spend enough for the exceptionally expensive cost of efforts to integrate it.

 

    EU Parliament's Rapporteur on the Financial Perspectives, experienced German ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP, Reimer Böge, former President of the Budget's Committee, confirmed to "EuroFora" that he's indeed working on the issue of EU's funds beyond 2013, (which is inevitably linked with the idea that one might have for Europe's future).

 

    And his collegue and compatriot, the experienced German MEP of the Governing ChristianDemocrat/EPP Majority, Elmar Brok, EU's Rapporteur on the Enlargement Strategy and former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking to "EuroFora", stressed that, indeed, "the People must know what Vision we (EU Parliament) have for Europe's Future".

    - Various more " big issues will start to arrive, now, with the new Commission", continued EPP Group's President Daul in his reply to "EuroFora"'s question.

     - "We have many occasions, currently", to discuss big Political issues, he noted.. Because "our problem, in EU Parliament, as I've already told you, is that we didn't have enough work", at least as long as the new Commission wasn't yet elected.

    But, "naturally, the big Legislaive files which will soon start to emanate from the new EU Commission. So, we (EU Parliament) shall have much work to do", Daul warned.

    However, "at any case, all big issues are always discussed" by EU Parliament, "even if they are not (strictly) Legislative", he ensured, as a matter of general principle.

    - "Now, the Time has come (for the EU) to start really working", President Daul stressed earlier, speaking to Journalists in Strasbourg including "EuroFora" on the vote by a large EU Parliament''s majority of the new EU Commission, under the new Lisbon Treaty.

    - "If some others had heard us (ChristianDemocrats/EPP), we could have started much earlier", he regretted for the Time lost between the June 2009 EU Parliament's Election and the February 2010 vote by a large Majority of MEPs for the New EU Commission.

    It was endorsed by 488 votes in favour, 137 againsy and 72 Abstentions, "for the period until 31 October 2014", as EU Parliament's President, Jerzy Buzek, anounced, signing immediately the official documents in front of the Press, including "EuroFora", in order to gain precious Time.

    - "The Challenges EU faces today require Urgent Action", and 'we are Ready",replied to Buzek's call, in front of Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora", the re-elected President of the New EU Commission, Jose Barroso.

    - "The mission that we are giving you today by our votes is to serve the construction of a Political Europe, audaciously and ambitiously, able to looking towards a big Horizon, by facing the current Global Crisis with an EU equiped versus competition, completing the Internal Market, and "doubling energy on External issues, ("Defence, Security and Technologic, Industrial challenges"). "And we shall judge you on the progress that you shall make in this direction", stressed also Daul, as President of the largest Group of MEPs, whose support was indispensable for the Barroso II Commission. With 13 ChristianDemocrat/EPP Commissioners, the rest comming from the Socialist and Liberal Group, which also supported the new EU Commission, even if for "different reasons each one of them", as the Chairman of the "Green" Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit claimed earlier, speaking to Strasbourg Journalists, including "EuroFora".

    - "I didn't personally vote for Barroso, (even if many Socialist MEPs did, including from Spain and Portugal, etc.), but I know that we (EU) need a Commission to start working asap, so we vote for it today, as a Collective body", added meanwhile the President of the Socialist Group, German, MEP Martin Schultz.

    From its very inception, EuroZone was destinated to develop a bold Economic policy, without being limited only to stricty Monetary issues, but today this has become an urgtent necessity for the EU in order to safeguard the European integration in front of the Global Financial Crisis and growing Worldwide Competition, stressed in substance the new President of EU Parliament's Liberal Group, former Prime Minister of Belgium, MEP Guy Verhofstadt, speaking to "EuroFora".

    - "It may be", indeed, that when EuroZone was created, the real aim already was to incite EU Citizens to start asking for a European-level Economic and Social policy, since all the Monetary powers were previously transfered to Europe, agreed Verhofstadt with "EuroFora", who reminded EU Parliament's Historic 1995-1998 debates in Strasbourg for the creation of the €.

    - "At any case, now we need a much Bolder Economic policy" from Europe, Verhofstadt stressed speaking to "EuroFora".

    He was referring in particular to his call for EU Measures able to put Pressure on EU Member States to really incite them to move on Economic and Social policy, in order to overcome the "failure" of the previous EU Lisbon strategy, which had been limited to express mere wishes, without any coercitive power, as he said earlier at a Press meeting with Journalists in Strasdbourg, including "EuroFora".

    The result was to dangerously augment economic development "Gaps" inside Europe, as fex. between Germany and Greece, which became bigger than it was in the Past, aggravating risks for crisis.                 

    - It's "from the Beginning that there was a Lack of Unity", when the Central European Bank was created. So, "the problems also existed from the beginning. They didn't appear yesterday", Verhofstadt stressed.

    The time has not come yet for the "Greens" to support the proposal of a "Carbon Tax" at EU's external borders vis a vis those 3rd Countries which don't respect the Rules for Climate protection, but this shouldn't have any negative reperecussions on the Economy claimed the President of the "Green" Group in EU Parliament, Franco-German MEP, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, speaking to "EuroFora".   

    He was reacting to an Amendment in favor of instauring a Carbon Tax at EU external borders, tabled by French MEP Rachida Dati on a Draft Resoluition about Climate Change after the Copenhagne UN Summit (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from Copenhagen), that EU Parliament's Plenary will vote tomorrow (Wednesday) noon.

    Asked by "EuroFora" if this strange opposition by the "Green" Group's leadership against a Climate-protection measure didn't risk to dissuade EU's industrial enterprises from respecting Climate protection rules, since, otherwise, they would be facing Unfair Competition from 3rd Countries who don't respect Environment legislation, Cohn Bendit claimed that there wasn't such risk, at least for the moment :
 

   - "No, because, for the time being, Carbon Tax (doesn't affect) the enterprises, as long as there are exchanges at a rate of Zero per cent, they are not charged", was Cohn Bendit's curious (and precarious) reply to "EuroFora"s question above.

    Cohn-Bendit referred "EuroFora" to a Letter addressed to Dati by another "Green" MEP, Yanick Jadot, who replied with a similar claim to the question if he wasn't afraid that, by refusing a Carbon Tax at EU external borders, this might dissuade EU businesses from respecting Climate protection rules if they were abandoned without protection to unfair competition from 3rd Countries, who didn't respect such rules :  

    - "I don't think that there is now such a risk, at least as long as the (European) enterprises are not yet submitted to quota, since, for the moment, the CO2 quota are free of charge",  he said.

    - "EU pretends that it is in advance in Climate protection, while, in fact, it's below other countries", Jadot, (to whom Cohn-Bendit referred), curiously believed, despite  the fact that the EU notoriously made the comparatively most substantial proposals at Copenhagen's UNO Summit.  

 
    As he told "EuroFora",  in his view, for the "Greens" to support Carbon Tax at EU's external borders, EU must previously enhance even further its position against Cimate change, by unilateraly accepting 30% CO2 reductions, even if other Countries in the world didn't accept yet to move... At Brussels' December 2009 EU Summit (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the event) EU decided to cut CO2 Emissions by 20% and offer even - 30% if there were reciprocal moves also from other Countries in the World.

    But it's precisely in this direction that Rachida Dati's Amendment appears to be moving :  - "It should be a means to put pressure on the other participants of the UN Climate Change Conference, and should encourage the signing of an (International) agreement containing more ambitious commitments", stresses Dati in the "Justification" of her Amendment.

 

    - "Given the weak agreement which was signed at Copenhagen, a Carbon Tax at the EU's Borders should be established" because "this .. should help fight against Unfair Competition of Countries which don't comply with the same objectives as the EU, in terms of reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions", she adds.

    Therefore, the Amendment tabled by Dati to EU Parliament's draft Resolution "calls on the (EU) Commission, in the absence of any Binding International Agreement, to propose a Carbon Tax at the EU's borders".

    The new Leader of the French Governing Party UMP to EU Parliament, MEP Jean-Pierre Audy, (just elected in Strasbourg to replace Michel Barnier, elected new EU Commissioner), speaking to "EuroFora", confirmed that "we support Dati's amendment", (even if a relevant paragraph to the initial Draft Resolution might be meanwhile abolished).

 
    Earlier, Dati already succeeded to make the vice-President of EU Commission,  now in charge of Industry, Antonio Tajani, declare, during his January 2010 Hearing at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, that "the idea of a "CO2 tax .. is an Hypothesis to consider, actually laid down in the ICC Legislation".

    But  "it's better to wait until (UNO's) Copenhagen Summit's process is completed, (i.e. by collecting the Commitments of each Country, on January 2010, and by advancing towards a Binding Treaty : See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from Copenhagen, 12/2009), assess the situation, and take EU decisions on the basis of informations given by the UN also on other Countries' stance, Tajani advised then.

    Dati welcomed Tajani's statements, because, unlike other Commissioners, he appeared open to "Anti-Dumping" measures, if EU has to face "Unfair Competition" by "Social and/or Environmental Dumping"  from 3rd Countries, (fex. China or Turkey, etc), who produce "cheaper" just because they don't respect neither Workers' elementary Rights, nor the Environment.

    Meanwhile, French President Sarkozy, meeting with German Chancelor Merkel last week in Paris (See "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the event) said that the German Government Coalition (i.e. Liberals included) agreed to discuss about an adjustment mecanism at EU's external borders against Unfair Competition, and that this was even what the US were currently considering to do, so that the EU should speak with Washington DC about that in order to coordinate International efforts for Climate protection.

Ukraine could find support if it wishes to enter the EU, or to have closer relations, including, perhaps, on Military Transport Airplane cooperation with Antonov, but all this depends on the sovereign decision of the Ukranian People, replied the vice-President of EU Parliament's EuroConservative/Reformist Group, MEP Jan Zahradil, Head of the Czech delegation to an "EuroFora"s topical question after last Sunday's Ukranian Presidential Elections.

Both ECR's vice-Presidents, British Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope, and Czech MEP Jan Zahradil, were asked by "EuroFora" about their "feelings after the recent Elections on Ukraine's eventual wish to approach the EU, in one way or another", at the same moment that EU Parliament plans to debate on EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans and on Turkey's controversial EU bid.

 

This could include "also, maybe Antonov Airplanes, where cooperation might be useful (to EU Countries), because there are some problems today with the A400M", "EuroFora" observed.

    - "On Ukraine, and in general on the whole Enlargment agenda, we respect results of Democratic Elections, and we think that who is elected as President, is a completely Sovereign decision of the Ukranian People, as well as to decide what course this country wants to take towards the EU", replied vice-President Zahradil to "EuroFora".

    - "We are ready to support any efforts of the Ukranian Government and of the new Administration to get closer to the EU, to cooperate as much as possible, and even to become a Member of the EU, if Ukraine wishes to do so", he stressed.

    - "But this is a Sovereign decision of the State, which has yet to be made", he concluded carefully.

    EU Parliament is due to debate developments since last Sunday's Presidential Elections in Ukraine tomorrow, Wednesday in a Plenary discussion in Strasbourg.
The apparent winner of these elections, Viktor Yanukovich, who could become the new President of the  country, is traditionally known for close links to Russia, while also having recently expressed a will for closer economic relations with the EU.  His competitor, Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, who has presented herself as favorable to close links to the EU, depends from the Parliament, which is independent from the Presidency, competent, however, for Foreign policy issues.

Ukraine was officially recognized as an "European Country" with legitime EU aspirations during the French EU 2008 Presidency  :  - "It's enough to simply walk accross Kiev's streets in order to realize that you are in a European country", had stressed French President Sarkozy at a Press Conference given together with EU Commission's President Barrioso in Elysee palace, attended by "EuroFora", as early as since September 2008.

Ukraine's Antonov airplane constructor has often been cited as a possible help for the EU to jointly build a new Military Transport airplane (perhaps in cooperation with Airbus/EADS) more efficient and less costly than the controversial A400M.

Meanwhile, at the latest Franco-German Summit, last week in Paris, both German Chancelor Merkel, and French President Sarkozy, stressed their will to avance towards a positive Strategic Partnership with Russia, on the base of Russian President Medvedev's recent proposals. Something which might faciltate also Ukraine's closer rapprochement to the EU, since Kiev is a natural GeoPolitical link between Moscow and the rest of Europe, including on Gas transit.