Issue 257 26 November 2007 California’sCalifornia’s Linda Adams and Mary Nichols on how the Golden State is set to tackle climate change both at home and abroad California INSIDE dreaming The road to Bali: “FOR GOVERNORGOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGERSCHWARZENEGGER JOININGJOINING Guido Sacconi Karl-Heinz Florenz ICAP IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THE Katerina Batzeli STATE’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING” Roger Helmer World Aids Day ALCOHOL: EU-India László Kovács Eurostar Alessandro Foglietta Joaquín Almunia Richard Corbett on the global Alexander Stubb credit squeeze Catherine Stihler Issue 257 26 November 2007 Editor’s comment organisation which would (UNAIDS), almost half of all adults living associate itself with such with HIV in the world today are women. The fight against HIV/Aids is one a topic, yet it is this very WAGGGS has introduced practical that affects people across the world. organisation that is taking programmes that encourage young people to On world Aids day it is important to the lead in the fight against take part in projects and activities to prevent reflect on the challenges and solutions. HIV/Aids in 144 countries the spread of HIV/Aids through change in Even the European commission admits across the world. behaviour; to provide care and support for people that not enough is being done to The aim is “not only to who are living with HIV and Aids; and to fight promote prevention. speak out on behalf of fear, shame and injustice showing innovation, A recent lunch time seminar held in girls and young women vision, perseverance and leadership in the face of the European parliament had representatives everywhere, but also to empower young this challenge. The guiding movement should be from Italy, Hungary, the UK, Cyprus and women to speak out for themselves”. One commended for their action and perhaps the EU Africa illustrating how girls and young of the most noticeable developments is the could learn a thing or two about their practical women are taking on the fight against Aids. spread and impact of HIV/AIDS among approach at dealing with a global challenge. The world association of girl guides and girl women and girls. According to the joint scouts (WAGGGS), is not often seen as an United Nations programme on HIV/Aids Catherine Stihler NEWSANALYSIS “It’s a fantastic 11 Do MEP votes count? opportunity to help Voting procedures in parliament may have been improved by electronic checks, but the UK play a big part bad calls are still being made, argues Graham Booth in the EU’s future and I really cannot think of 15 Channel hopping a better place to be” In bidding farewell to its home for the last 13 years, Eurostar, the high-speed train service between the UK and the continent, says it is trailing a blaze for environmental-friendly travel. Martin Banks travelled on the first train from Brussels to test the claim “For Governor Schwarzenegger joining 18 Foreign assignment ICAP is an important step He is Britain’s new man in Brussels but, as Martin Banks explains, a funny twist of forward in the state’s fate could have sent diplomat Kim Darroch is a very different career direction efforts to fight global warming. He understands 21 Urban action that ICAP represents the The EU needs to have a greater involvement in tackling the problems of urban future of international sprawl, argues Jean Marie Beaupuy cooperation” 22 Breaking down barriers Standfirst: The European parliament must continue to play a central role in “Given the wide championing the rights of disabled people, says Richard Howitt discrepancies between the rates in the 24 Learning lessons from the credit squeeze 27 member states, The turmoil that originated in the US sub-prime market over the summer underlines meaningful minimum the urgency of continuing to work towards integrating EU financial markets, writes excise duty rates are Joaquín Almunia necessary to avoid substantial distortions 25 Customers first of the internal market” The EU must help ensure that in every mutual or co-operative organisation, the interests of the customer are always given priority, writes Jonathan Evans 4 PARLIAMENTMAGAZINE 26 November 2007 COVERSTORY POLICYFOCUS The road to Bali 53 Common sense There is no value in developing a single blueprint for responsible 29 California dreaming drinking across the EU, says Richard Corbett Linda Adams and Mary Nichols report on how California, with its long history of environmental leadership, is addressing climate change 54 Vodka wars both at home and abroad The protection afforded to drinks such as whisky and beer should be fully extended to vodka, argues Alexander Stubb 33 Common positions The temporary committee on climate change’s recent mission to 57 Drinking culture China had a positive effect, writes Guido Sacconi How do we identify the line where moderate drinking gives way to excess and abuse, asks Catherine Stihler 37 Up for the challenge If Europe successfully shows that fighting climate change and Sustaining a strong economy are not mutually exclusive, Bali will INSIDEEU be very successful, says Karl-Heinz Florenz 59 Right to access 41 Model for change Access to medicines should be a recognised right for all citizens of It is clear that we will have to adapt our lifestyles if we are to fully the world, says Gianluca Susta address the issue of global warming, says Katerina Batzeli 63 Fighting back 43 Bali: Building on failure Zita Gurmai has just returned from Rwanda where she saw the effects New CO2 reduction programmes will probably be announced at of HIV/Aids, and vaccine trials which give hope for the future Bali, but any settlement will be little better than an agreement to keep talking, says Roger Helmer 66 Keeping the promise World Aids day provides civil society with an opportunity to urge governments and international institutions to live up to their promises POLICYFOCUS on tackling HIV and Aids, says Martijn Pakker Alcohol 68 Moving beyond business Europe and India may be inching closer together politically and 47 Tackling the issue economically, but differences remain. Filipe Rufino reports The EU must play a fundamental role in reducing alcohol related harm, even if it does not possess the power of member states in this 70 Reaping the benefits field, argues Alessandro Foglietta The forthcoming EU-India summit should set ambitious goals that will benefit the world’s two largest democracies, says Neena Gill 50 A taxing problem Abolishing minimum excise duties on alcohol, as recently proposed 73 The long road to recovery by parliament, will result in less freedom for private citizens and In the first of a two-part series, Struan Stevenson examines the human more tax barriers in the internal market, says László Kovács cost of Soviet nuclear tests on a devastated Kazakh community EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORIAL BOARD COMMERCIAL AND SALES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Managing editor Editor Director Philip Beausire Brian Johnson Catherine Stihler MEP Andrew Oliver Tel +44 (0) 20 7091 7661 Deputy editor Editorial board Anka Prpa, Yann Rio, Shiva Dhewar, PRINTER Chris Jones Johannes Blokland, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Edith Mastenbroek, Emma Miceli, Obe Seddiq Corelio Printing Vorst, Brussels Matt Williams Manuel Medina Ortega, Jan Olbrycht, Gérard Onesta, Alojz Peterle, Tel +44 (0) 20 7091 7662 Tel +32 (0) 2 210 0100 Martin Banks Karin Resetarits, Struan Stevenson, Alexander Stubb, Inese Vaidere Dods Parliamentary Communications is widely respected for producing Anthony Fletcher Subscriptions Nicholas Toghill authoritative and independent political publications. 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This conference provides the ideal European forum to present and disseminate the projects innovative products and findings and is strategically scheduled to coincide with EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for People with Disabilities) events in Vienna 2008. The successful culmination of ‘QOL Measures’ project provides the ideal opportunity for all relevant stakeholders involved in vocational, education training programmes and systems, as well as inclusive employment activities, for people with disabilities, to meet with the projects partners responsible for developing the instrument, with a view to exploring and exploiting the instruments future use within the disability sector. The conference will host an exciting line up of high profile international