Europolitics
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPECIAL European Parliament’s priorities DOSSIER in run-up to elections EUROPOLITICS The European affairs daily Monday 9 March 2009 N° 3709 37th year FOCUS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Key issues still ahead before The last straight June elections At the end of February, Europolitics By Europolitics staff, coordinated by Célia Sampol The next assembly will hold its first or reviewed the different projections con- ‘constituent’ session in mid-July and will cerning the renewal of the European The European Parliament will soon be start voting in mid-September. It will Commission set for next autumn. As renewed for another five years through the resume work on reports still open and will a tool for actors and observers of the elections to be held from 4 to 7 June in address new issues. The context will be EU institutions, Europolitics has now the 27 EU member states. In the mean- somewhat precarious, however, since the mobilised its team to review all the time, though, it still has a lot of work to European Commission will also be in a important issues the European Parlia- do and a number of more or less urgent phase of renewal, with all the uncertain- ment still has to address before the end of the present legislative period. These two central EU bodies will be mobilised in the coming months on questions other than their usual func- tion, while they will continue to con- centrate on taking forward and devel- oping Community policies. This by no means implies that Europe will be put on hold. First, these outgoing bodies are, as always in such cases, interested in completing what they have begun – often at the price of huge effort – and in emptying their drawers before making way for the next team. Second, pro- cedural deadlines must be respected in dealing with the pending issues. Lastly, the world keeps spinning, and as the economic crisis shows, impor- © Belpress The next assembly will hold its first or ‘constituent’ session in mid-July tant EU initiatives must be completed come what may. issues to address before the end of this leg- ties still hanging over the future of the Europolitics will of course continue, islative period. There are still five plenary Lisbon Treaty. as usual, to follow closely and analyse sessions left - four of them in Strasbourg Against that backdrop, Europolitics the evolution of these issues through - and the final voting session is set for early presents an overview of the important to conclusion, whether before or after May. MEPs will then campaign in their issues (mainly subject to co-decision) in the elections. home countries. So, strictly speaking, they each sector that the current Parliament EvP have only two months left to tie up all the will try to bring to conclusion before loose ends. packing its bags. (continued on page 4) Sold by subscription only © reproduction strictly prohibited in any language www.europolitics.info EUROPOLITICSTHE EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DAILY We have the details EU news for professionals www.europolitics.info ❏ Yes, I would like to subscribe to EUROPOLITICS daily: ❏ 6 MONTHS, 112 issues (paper version) + unlimited online access at the price of €890 (1). HELPGETTING US GET TO TO KNOW KNOW YOU YOU BETTER… BETTER… ❏ 1 YEAR, 223 issues (paper version) + unlimited online access at the price of €1,700 (1). YOUR ACTIVITY YOUR INTERESTS (1) ❏ Embassy ❏ Agro-industry and agriculture ❏ 6 MONTHS, 112 issues (PDF + html) at the price of €765 . ❏ EU institution ❏ SMEs ❏ 1 YEAR, 223 issues (PDF + html) at the price of €1,450 (1). ❏ Association, federation, ❏ Competition ❏ ❏ trade union, NGO ❏ General EU policy I would like to receive Europolitics in: French English ❏ Research, scientifi c institute, ❏ Consumers ❏ I would like to receive a free issue of EUROPOLITICS daily in: ❏ French ❏ English university ❏ EU-third countries’ relations ❏ Chamber of commerce ❏ Energy ❏ Science and research ❏ Media and communication ❏ Environment First name:.......................................................................................................................... Last name: .......................................................................................................................................................... ❏ Consultant, lawyer ❏ Security and defence ❏ ❏ Organisation: ........................................................................................................................... Activity: .......................................................................................................................................................... Ministry and national Finance, taxation and economy government ❏ Social policy and employment Job title: ................................................................................................ VAT: ❏ No ❏ Yes: N° ........................................................................................................................................................... ❏ Enterprise ❏ Industries and corporate ❏ Mission, EU ❏ Information society Address:....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... representation ❏ Justice and home affairs ❏ Finance, bank, insurance ❏ Transport ❏ Media Post code: .....................................................................................City: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... ❏ Other: ............................................ ❏ Other: ............................................ Date and signature: Please pay upon receipt of your invoice. If the invoice address is different from the delivery address, please Country: ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... indicate it. Note that any cancellation (no e-mail admitted) must be sent at least one month prior to the expiry date. One year subscription will automatically be renewed. (1) Excluding VAT but including postal charges. Offer reserved to new subscribers. For multi-user licences Phone: ..............................................................................................Fax: .............................................................................................. and special discounts, please contact us. Missing information in the order form will unfortunately not be registered. In order to keep you informed of our activities, your details will be stored on EIS’s fi les, ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... E-mail: Rue d’Arlon 53, B-1040 Brussels. Pursuant to the law, you are free to access this information, request correc- tions and consult the Register of the Committee for the Protection of Privacy. Any subscription implies for the Subscription order form to be returned by fax or mail to: EUROPOLITICS subscriber the full acceptance of general sales conditions available at www.europolitics.info. Rue d’Arlon 53 / B-1040 Brussels or by fax to: +32 (0)2 732 67 57 AP08 EUROPOLITICS N° 3709 Monday 9 March 2009 3 Contents N° 3709 Top Stories SPECIAL European Parliament’s priorities DOSSIER in run-up to elections Pages 1-7 Special Dossier Economic & monetary affairs, External relations European Parliament: Key issues taxation EU/US: Clinton charms with open still ahead before June elections .............1 Ecofin Council: Czech ambassador style, assures on climate and Russia .....16 refutes idea of CEE bloc ......................12 EU/US: Obama to be star guest Institutions for EU summit in Prague .....................17 European Parliament: Numerous Sectoral policies EU/India: Joint declaration co-decision votes on plenary agenda ......8 Agriculture: Member states propose signed on multilingualism ....................17 Access to documents: Test of strength limiting control of cloning ....................12 between the institutions gets under way .... 8 Animal welfare: Ministers call Trade policy European Parliament: Opinions for international declaration .................13 Intellectual property: EU-China diverge on election quotas for women....9 Regions: Regional and local authorities IP forum presents results.......................17 demand greater say in policy making .....14 Business & competitiveness Competitiveness Council: Ministers Defence & security Telecommunications: Telecoms discuss research area and infrastructure ..14 Defence: Parliament debates NATO’s package: National proposals Justice and Home Affairs: transformation .......................................18 to help forge a compromise ..................10 Parliament defends fundamental Car industry: Opel crisis: Meeting freedoms on internet .............................15 In Brief to coordinate national responses ...........11 Commission appoints Audiovisual policy: Public broadcasters Social affairs representative in Sweden ......................19 press for status quo on state aid ................11 Economic crisis: Report takes Conference on future of transport ........19 Electricity: Energy goals for temperature