Games open

Hectic days in EU head offices. Agriculture, the single currency, the economy, the environment, reforms are among the many issues that are being addressed in Luxembourg (Ecofin and Ministers of agriculture), Strasburg (Parliament), Brussels (Commission and the preparation of the end of October summit). With an eye to Stockholm: the direct, concrete active performance of the Swedish EU-president-in-office, is likely to bring the expected results. Agricolture on a European scale. Having acknowledged the difficulties that have hit the dairy industry, the Agricultural Council, which met in Luxembourg (where dairy farmers rallied in the streets) at the beginning of the week, backed the executive’s proposal to give 280 million euros in special aid to the dairy sector. The Parliament will vote the provision during the plenary in Strasburg (October 22). Mariann Fischer Boel illustrated the contents of the provision. But “the time of EU ‘milking’ is over”, she said, “there’s no more money”. This leads to conclude that should further recession or economic instabilities affect other agricultural, fishing and breeding sectors, these would remain without subsidies. Eskil Erlandsson, Swedish minister and President of the Agricultural Council, praised “the Commission’s initiatives” and the many provisions envisaged. Farmers are expected to receive further subsidies, however the primary sector remains competitive across Europe, considering the needs of both farmers and consumers, along with free market regulations. Namely, it is necessary to regulate the agricultural industry (production, markets, aids, consumption) on a European scale, and not at national or regional level.The Euro is too strong. The Euro-group (the finance ministers of the 16 countries adopting the single currency) and ECOFIN, the monetary and Economic affairs Council, convened in Luxembourg on October 19-20. Discussions centered on data regarding the economic situation, employment, production recovery, the costs of the provisions aimed at slowing down climate changes, the problem of public finances across all Member Countries, mostly due to the funding of anti-recession measures. The ministers underlined the excessively high euro: “I’m not yet worried – said Euro-group president Jean-Claude Juncker from Luxembourg-, but if things should continue this way I might start getting nervous”. Juncker recalled that an unbalanced ratio with the dollar “would penalize our exportations”, imperiling the fragile recovery that is gradually making its way through. Juncker’s trip to China by the end of the year with Commissioner Joaquin Almunia and BCE President Jean-Claude Trichet will also address the problem of exchange rates. 2010 Budget and Lisbon. Strasbourg’s agenda tackled a number of different issues. MEPs were called to discuss the European position in view of Copenhagen’s environment conference, highlighting the importance of granting financial support to poor countries in the implementation of measures against climate change. According to estimates, 100 billion euros are needed to implement provisions aimed at reducing greenhouse gases produced by the ‘South of the world’. The plenary addressed the question of the 2010 EU budget, the preparation of the 27 Member States’ summit, freedom of press in Europe, the establishment of EU diplomatic service, that is due to come into force along with the Lisbon Treaty. As relates to Lisbon, EP President Jerzy Buzek, said: “The Treaty’s ratification by Polish President Kaczynski is a step forward leading to the closure of the ratification process. Now only the signature of the Czech president is missing, which we hope will follow suit”. The new “question time”. Buzek highlighted the parliamentary works’ innovation. In fact, on October 20, a one-hour-long ‘question time’ took place in the EP, during which political group leaders and MEPs asked a series of questions to Commission president José Manuel Barroso. “This will happen in all the sessions in Strasbourg”, Buzek pointed out, “and we hope it will help liven up our debates and the political confrontation inside the EU”. With reference to EU budget, MEPs reiterated the request to invest “fresh” resources in the “action plan” against the economic crisis, and, in compliance with environmental sustainability, these will need to include gas and electricity infrastructures, air and sea networks, retaining and stocking carbon. MEPs asked to set aside 630 million euro to address the crisis in the dairy sector.