Brussels briefing
The global financial crisis can be the mother of opportunity, not least for business interests.
Hard-pressed to beat down energy taxes, business enjoyed a small victory in the European Parliament, which voted to allow diesel continue to be exempted from energy tax — despite it being among the most polluting of the carbon fuels.
The idea was that the revised Energy Tax Directive should make it less attractive for drivers to cross their nearest border to fill up where lower taxes make fuel cheaper.
Luxembourg is a favourite of trans-European lorry drivers. They have the cheapest diesel in the EU and breach emission limits. But the state makes enough on diesel sales to allow it buy carbon credits to offset the polluting CO2 all those lorries create.
There’s no way the Government could be Machiavellian enough to plan the fiscal treaty referendum in such a way that it could very well have the perfect excuse for re-running it if necessary?
We go to the polls on May 31, but by June 29 the whole treaty could be out of date. If France returns a Socialist president, his first act at his first EU summit will be to demand changes to the treaty.
François Hollande just wants to add in something on the need for growth and jobs. But if Ireland has voted no, we just could be offered a chance to change our minds — taking into account Hollande’s adjustments.
Plus ça change — plus c’est la même chose...
After years of wrangling, the EU is about to sign a controversial deal with the US on allowing them collect and use data from passengers arriving in the States.
Some, including Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld voted against it saying she believed there were not enough safeguards for EU citizens — not least because US authorities can already access airline data.
The info can be kept on file for 15 years with data used to detect, prevent, investigate and prosecute terrorism and any transnational crime that carries a three-year jail sentence.
Little wonder the US has 23% of the world’s jailed population with just 5% of the global population.
Young footballers are often taken advantage of by professional clubs.
All the main football bodies, including UEFA, have been coaxed into agreeing to a contract for these would-be stars by EU employment commissioner, László Andor.
The model contracts set out minimum standards including salary, health insurance, social security and paid leave. It also binds them to training, disciplinary procedures and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The calm in Brussels this week is an uneasy one. The next summit is not until the end of June — it will be the longest time without an emergency meeting of EU leaders in years.
Even the German obsession with austerity will not solve this latest phase of the economic debacle. But nobody appears able to come up with a plan to stop the catastrophic descent into ever slower growth and increasing unemployment.
The IMF during the week warned of the euro crisis posing a continuing risk to the global system.
Now the EU’s darling, Mario Monti, above, has said that like Spain, Italy will not be able to cut its deficit as prescribed. The uneasy calm may not last long.
Is food from an oil-heated greenhouse, zapped with chemicals better when it’s grown next door? Or is it better to import it from where it is grown in its natural climate? How many product ingredients should be local and should it come from a small grower to qualify?
“Buy local” campaigns are a natural outcome of hard times and are springing up all over Europe. But do they really help hard-pressed communities? It’s not as straight- forward as it sounds. Labour’s Phil Prendergast told MEPs that consumers were confused and needed a clear definition of what was local. But Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness (pictured) believes the EU should stay out of the debate.
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