A busy agenda

Economic governance, Balkans, consumer protection and security (mandatory food labelling, limiting production and exports of arms for civilian use) are among the items on the agenda of the Parliamentary Commissions, due to be debated by the EP and EU institutions. The subject is being discussed in Brussels, also in view of the upcoming Plenary scheduled to take place next May 9 to 12 in Strasbourg.The Balkans’ future. With the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, the EU Parliament opened a debate on the economic governance package, ensuing the Economic Affairs Commission’s approval before Easter. Amendments to the Barroso Commission proposal – that received general consensus – were aimed at enforcing tougher sanctions for national deficits and at ensuring macroeconomic surveillance across Member States. The provision, submitted to the EP on several occasions, is due to be given the final green light at the Council of Heads of Government or State of EU27 next June. The EU27 Assembly is in the process of drawing up the agenda of May’s plenary session. In the meantime, MEPs discussed the outcomes of the inter-parliamentary reunion of mid-April that focused on the future of the Western Balkans. The purpose of the two-day meeting, attended by leaders from the EU and the Western Balkans was to highlight, as put by the Euro-Chamber president Jerzy Buzek, the EP’s “strong committment to the European future of the Western Balkans”.Enclave in the midst of Europe. “The region still shares many challenges: enacting judicial reforms, stepping up the fight against crime and corruption and continuing regional reconciliation and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal”, Mr. Buzek said. MEPs equally addressed the issue of economic development, reforms, relations with neighbouring countries, respect of minorities and fundamental rights. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, EU President-in-Office, underlined the priority commitment undertaken by his government in favour of the EU’s cautious opening to the Western Balkans, supporting Croatia’s EU membership status. The Western Balkans constitute “a sort of enclave within the territory of the European Union”, Orban said. “This doesn’t mean that all the difficulties have been overcome: different cultural sensitivities must be taken into account. But if we do not integrate this region, others will”. For the Hungarian Premier, Croatia is rapidly following the negotiating path, and “it can represent an example for other States”.Regional cooperation. Numerous MEPs and other EU institution representatives attended the meeting. The President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso underlined: “The reunification of Europe will not be completed without the Western Balkans as part of the European Union”. He added: “Each of these countries holds its European future in its hands. And the pace of accession depends on progress on key reforms”. Remarkable emphases were made by the President of the Croatian President Luka Bebic, who pointed out that “regional cooperation should help foster peace, stability and prosperity”, that can be obtained by stepping up economic and cultural cooperation alongside with greater infrastructures in a dimension of rapprochement with the EU.Other items on the agenda. The European Parliament is developing new rules “aimed at making exports of arms for sport and recreational uses more transparent and efficient”. “The regulation is based on article 10 of the 2001 UN Firearms Protocol adopted in 2001 aimed at fighting the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms. So far only 13 EU countries have ratified the protocol”, states a release by the EP. It is the first EU regulation on arms for civilian use, an industry that is important for Europe, considering that in 2009 the EU authorised the export of €40.3 billion in military equipment. “Homogenous rules will make control and sanctions easier and should help fight illegal trafficking”. A different issue is being tackled by the Public Health and Food Safety Committee, which a few days ago amended a legislative proposal to ensure mandatory food labelling that should include nutritional information, inter alia on trans fats and the country of provenance.