Energy, economy, foreign affairs

He attracted major political and media attention long before his arrival in Strasbourg. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, also known as Abu Mazen, was invited by the Euro-parliament in the framework of the initiatives for intercultural dialogue. His presence in the hemicycle, announced for February 3, took on a different note due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,that stoked in the past weeks causing a high number of casualties and fomenting tensions on the international plane.Which energy for the future? However, the meeting between MEPs and Abu Mazen is just one of the plenary session’s tight schedule highlights (February 2-5). On February 2, MEPs debated an energy policy report calling Member States to support the creation of gas-stock facilities, “major infrastructure projects”, along with “interconnected electricity networks” along with a security action plan, and “intensify relations between Russia and the Mediterranean countries” to facilitate supply. Rapporteur Anne Laperrouze pointed out European “energy policy must pursue three principal and equally important objectives in an integral manner, namely security of supply and solidarity among Member States, tackling climate change including a strong commitment to and implementation of the Union’s own targets, and competitiveness”. Also since “the Union currently imports 50% of the energy that it consumes and whereas this proportion could rise to 70% by 2030”. The report of the French MEP highlights the importance of energy efficiency, renewable sources and research. Renewed consideration is given to nuclear energy “provided its use complies with EU safety regulations”. Enterprises, e-commerce and Guantanamo. A number of other economic and foreign policy issues were included in the working programme. An oral question for an oral answer posed to the Commission triggered a policy debate regarding “the tools to protect European textiles’ yield and employment to the light of problems caused by the expiry of the agreement with China”. Also in the economic framework, automobile industry crisis (with the possibility of State subsidies), the presence of small and medium enterprises on world markets and e-commerce development were debated. February 3 was devoted to CIA activities in Europe and the possibility of a joint response to President-elect Barack Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo detention camp. This topic was addressed to the presence of Council and Commission representatives after the 27 Foreign Ministers had failed to reach an agreement over the resettlement of 245 Guantanamo prisoners in Europe. Kosovo, a year later. The EU Parliament addressed the question of Kosovo, a year since its self-proclaimed independence (February 17 2008). The previous day the European Union had decided in favour of the deployment throughout the territory of Kosovo, in the framework of a UN Resolution, of the European Union Rule of Law (EULEX) mission, whose mandate will expire “as soon as Kossovar authorities will have acquired the necessary experience to ensure the Rule of Law to all citizens”. The mission is officially operative only since past December 9 and the Czech presidency declared it ought to become “as efficient as possible”. While Member States remain divided as relates to the question of Pristina’s independence. China: trade, rights, safety. The report by Dutch MEP Corien Wortmann-Kool, scheduled for February 5, will address the relations between Europe and China. The document dwells into the Union’s commercial dealings with the Asian country. Indeed, starting in 2006 the EU will be China’s major business partner, while since 2007 China is the Union’s second business partner. Wortmann-Kool underlined that the business relations between the two global actors “ought to be based on reciprocity, sustainable development, respect of environmental limits, contribution to the world climate change prevention objectives, fair trade and competition”. The report also reiterates that the partnership development “ought to proceed at the same pace of the development of efficient and fruitful political dialogue”. In this direction, attention is drawn on the problems regarding the protection of human rights, the fight against child labour, the promotion of free association. The document reiterates the urgent need for joint action to counter counterfeit goods while expressing “serious concern” over “the high number of accidents caused by dangerous merchandise” such as toys, medicines and food.