Brussels Briefing
However, just in time, a paper investigating the ethical framework for assessing research, production and use of energy has been produced by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies that advises the president of the European Commission.
This little-known but very august body reported on the sustainable energy mix in Europe and recommended that if a proper study shows of the safety and environmental impact of fracking be carried out and if issues remain.
For some unexplained reason the president of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, decided to deliver his statement about the ‘exemplary’ Irish and their economy in what he referred to as “Irish”.
But it’s definitely time he renewed his acquaintance with Cork. His “Irish” was a mixture of Belfast and Glasgow and not anything as lilting as he might have learned during his months in UCC.
At the same press briefing Olli Rehn made his farewell speech. He has had a roller-coaster ride over five years as Euro commissioner. The cool Finn’s voice broke at one point. He just might miss the job as he moves to the European Parliament.
The latest OECD report finds that the poor are getting poorer and more are joining their ranks as the 10% richest are getting richer since the crisis — with 9.6 times the income of the poorest 10% in 2011, up from 9.3 in four years.
In Ireland the numbers with less than half the median income increased, although they found that income inequality before taxes and transfers fell.
But the young are for the first time in many places, including Ireland, are at greater risk of poverty compared to those retired.
Women outnumber men from just four countries in the EU in the new European Parliament. And Ireland is one of them.
Finland has 7 of their 13; Ireland 6 of their 11, including Liadh ni Riada, above, Malta 4 of their 6 and Sweden 11 of their 20 are women.
And Sweden also returned the first from a Feminist party and she is a Romani, reveals Irish man Eamonn Bates who has a public affairs company in Brussels that keeps track of such details.
The anti-money laundering rules are being revised with a view to tightening them, with negotiations between member states, the EU Parliament and Commission, beginning in October.
It’s part of the global clamp down on anonymous companies and trusts that are used by corrupt politicians, organised criminals, and tax dodgers to hide their money.
Transparency International says that key will be the way that information on real ownership is collected.
While the general belief is that this is all about third world failed states, nearly €50bn flowed illegally into and out of ‘emerging’ EU economies in 2011.
A French woman in London left her job as a teaching assistant when she was six months pregnant as she found it too strenuous. But when she claimed income support for having her baby she was refused on the grounds that she was not a worker.
Jessy Saint Prix returned to work three months after her baby was born but took her case to the Supreme Court, which then referred it to the European Court of Justice. It ruled that a woman giving up work because of the physical constraints of the late stages of pregnancy and the aftermath of childbirth have the status of ‘worker’ — provided they return to work after the normal maternity leave period.
The battle against counterfeit products takes many directions. One of them is the seizure of websites selling such goods.
During the week, Europol, working with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, together with police from eight countries, seized 188 domain names.
The authorities got tip-offs from the trademark holders, and anybody accessing the sites now will find nothing other than a banner telling them about the site’s fate and an education about copyright theft.
An EU Court of Auditors report has questioned how Germany has spent the €30m it contributed to the new Berlin airport that is both well over budget (at an estimated €5.5bn) and over time.
The European Investment Bank is also worried about its €1bn — one of the biggest infrastructure loans it has ever given in Europe. The developers say they need €50m to finish and without it, they could go broke.
The German state bank, KfW, which has put money into Irish SMEs, says they are unwilling to continue funding until they get reliable accounts and a finishing date.
This could end with the European Commission looking for its money back.
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