EPP-ED Report
Issue 2 / February 2008

EU has a common strategy on Kosovo

By Knut Goelz

Following Kosovo's recent declaration of independence, the European Parliament has reached a broad consensus on how to develop relations between the EU and this new European state. Bernd Posselt MEP (D), EPP-ED rapporteur on Kosovo, has warmly welcomed this decision pointing out that the European Parliament had already endorsed the Athisaari Plan on "controlled independence" by a two-thirds majority.

Doris Pack MEP (D), Chairwoman of the EP's Delegation to South-Eastern Europe, also called on all parties involved to accept reality as it is. It was therefore "no surprise" that Kosovo aimed for independence following the atrocities committed by the Milošević regime in Kosovo between 1989 and 1999. Both MEPs agreed that there was no split in the European Union on Kosovo as European institutions and Member States had reacted quickly to this new situation and decided unanimously to dispatch the EULEX mission to guarantee a controlled and stable transition into independence.

It was, however, regrettable that no negotiation solution could be found on Kosovo with the participation of Serbia since everyone would have supported such a solution. Nevertheless, the declaration of independence was not an attack on Serbia, but necessary for the Serbs in Kosovo to make sure that the Athisaari Plan is met without reservation. This plan provides for the protection of Serb's minority laws, the respect of borders and the rule of law.

The responsible politicians in Kosovo should now organise the new state entity with determination. The struggle against unemployment can only be won on the basis of the rule of law. A consistent fight against criminality has first priority, if necessary with the support of EULEX. Kosovo is, however, no precedent, but a unique case. Its independence is the final stage of Yugoslavia's disintegration, provoked by Milošević in Kosovo in 1989 which now has to be borne by his democratic successors. "Serbia should avoid going back to isolation and relying only on Russia. We thus hope that Serbian politicians will use all their might to help Serbia find its way into the European Union", concluded Doris Pack and Bernd Posselt.

French Presidency priorities

By Ioannis Zografos

The EPP-ED Group welcomed the Prime Minister of France to its meeting in Strasbourg this week. François Fillon outlined the priorities of the French Presidency of the Union which France will take up in July. The French Government has already worked out its priorities.

François Fillon unveiled an ambitious project to the EPP-ED Group Members and promised to co-operate closely with the European Parliament in order to succeed.

"First of all, is the fight against global warming. We want Europe to set in legislation the objective to which we are all committed; to reduce gas emissions by 20%.

Secondly, is the issue of immigration and asylum rights. We will push for the harmonisation of the legislation on the matter, for better controls at the Union's borders and for an efficient development policy.

The third priority is European defence. Europe needs autonomous defence as it receives a lot of demands for peace-keeping missions, but the Union does not possesses the appropriate means.

The fourth priority is a check-up on the Common Agricultural Policy in order to reflect on its future".

François Fillon promised MEPs that his government will work closely with them.

A clear "yes" to the Lisbon Treaty

By Pedro López de Pablo

This week, the European Parliament approved the Lisbon Treaty by a large and clear majority, clearing the way for the ratification of the text in all the 27 parliaments of the Member States. Five of them - Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, Romania and France - have already ratified it, the rest have the compromise to do it before the end of this year.

The plenary voted with 525 in favour, 115 against and 29 abstentions on the recommendation tabled by EPP-ED Spokesman in the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (E), which claimed support for the Lisbon Treaty as it provides the EU with "the tools to be more democratic and more efficient in the years ahead" as well as "the opportunity to continue building policies that are an added value for all Europeans."

"Europe should provide answers to the citizens' expectations. Europe cannot hide itself and do ostrich policies. Europe should speak in the world with one voice, should have a presence and should resolve today's problems like climate change, the fight against illegal immigration and nuclear proliferation. We need to face these problems and the new Treaty gives us the necessary tools and the strength to do it", Méndez de Vigo said.

The great winners of the new Treaty are both the European Parliament and European citizens as the extension of decisions by majority voting means more powers to the Parliament and more democratic accountability to the Union in subjects like the environment, immigration, energy, sport or protection of consumers: "Policies that matter in citizens' everyday lives and that's what counts", he underlined.

The European Parliament was more ambitious and wanted to go further but recognises that even if the new text is not the former Constitutional Treaty, it safeguards its essential achievements at the same time resolving the problem of the rejection in two countries of the constitutional project. This may be the reason why the new text collected more votes in favour in the plenary than the Constitutional Treaty three years ago.

The increase of European Parliament powers, a bigger role in the decision-making process for the national parliaments, the binding nature of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the new shape of the EU's institutions, which improves the Union's ability to act, will be a reality once the Lisbon Treaty is fully implemented.

The Euro is in good shape

By Ioannis Zografos

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking at the EPP-ED Group meeting, praised the successes of the common currency by emphasising that without the Euro, European economies would have suffered during major crises like the ones in Russia, Mexico and Argentina, while the French and Dutch currencies would have been threatened - if they existed - after the respective negative results of their referenda on the European Constitution.

The Chairman of the Euro-Group also said that during the nine years of the existence of the Euro, 17 million jobs have been created compared to only three million during the nine years previous to the Euro. This is an obvious sign of the healthy status of the European economy.

He also warned about the problems and challenges lying ahead, such as excessive national budget deficits, inflation and differential levels of development among the common currency members.

Free movement of goods becomes reality

By Antti Timonen

The European Parliament adopted the most extensive legislative package on the free movement of goods since the 1992 Single Market Project. Alexander Stubb MEP (FI), Rapporteur on the Regulation on Mutual Recognition of Goods, is pleased with the final outcome:

"All European companies, large and small, must realise that they should from now on be able to sell their products from one EU country to another, without any red tape", he noted.

The Regulation is based on the 'Cassis de Dijon' court ruling of 1979 which stated that if a product is accepted in one country, it should be accepted in other Member States as well. Despite this ruling, the principle of mutual recognition has not worked properly in practice. Member States have come up with an array of protectionist measures to prevent the free entry of goods to their territory.

To tackle the problem, the new EU Regulation which will apply in nine months, shifts the burden of proof from the economic operator to the Member State.

"The effects of this are threefold: firstly, consumers will have more choice. Secondly, SMEs will face less red tape and an easier market access. Thirdly, through increasing trade, we expect higher growth. The cost of the non-application of mutual recognition is estimated at €150 billion annually", said Stubb.

"Now a company should not be afraid of entering any other EU country's market. If the product is accepted somewhere in Europe, it cannot be denied in another Member State unless the authorities can provide evidence that the application of a national technical rule is justified. The number of such cases should now be reduced to a minimum", he added.

Prime Minister with a vision for Europe

By Gunnar Larsson

Recalling how, as a young politician, he visited the European Parliament, dreaming his country would one day become a part of the European Union, Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt took to the floor of the Parliament's debating chamber in Strasbourg. Now, at 42, a fairly young politician, Reinfeldt was invited to take part in a debate on the future of Europe.

"We have to ask the essential questions. Where do we want to go and how do we get there?", Reinfeldt said, underlining the need for a clear vision for Europe. "We should not be afraid of a strong Europe, we should be afraid of a weak Europe."

"The Lisbon Treaty will give us the means to create an open, an efficient and a dynamic Europe", Reinfeldt said. "We will be able to deal with future challenges, such as the climate, energy, jobs, economic growth, demography, migration and Europe's role in the world."

Joseph Daul (F), Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, agreeing on the opportunities given by the Treaty, called for a continued ratification process at "a steady pace", to shape the future of Europe, "to give substance to the aspirations of its citizens".

Asked several questions about the future role of the rotating Presidency, which will pass to Sweden next year, Reinfeldt said he believes in a Union strongly linked to Europe's different parts; "I believe the rotating Presidency will also have a clear role to play in the future. The Councils will still be chaired by national Ministers and they will answer to their Prime Ministers", he said.

Oral question on product safety

By Knut Goelz

The European Parliament has underlined the importance of a common and sustainable system of product safety markings in the European Union. Leading the debate, Andreas Schwab (D), Deputy Co-ordinator on the Internal Market Committee, welcomed the decision to keep both the CE marking and the national signs until further notice. However, there was broad consensus in Parliament that a study shall be carried out by the Commission on the efficiency of the present system and possible improvements.

There is also a growing need for Member States to punish offences and counterfeits of products and safety markings more quickly and more effectively: "Consumers need more transparency and information with regard to the existing markings. We therefore urge the Commission to carry out this study within the next 12 months." Parliament expects to gain more information on what the CE marking really means to consumers. The same goes for the national markings such as the German 'GS-sign'.

Parliament's goal remains to enable consumers to easily judge whether a product was examined for its security without imposing additional costs and bureaucracy on the industry. To boost the present market volume of €1.5 trillion, the principle of mutual recognition should also be considered for the safety markings.

Fight Against Fraud

by Atilla Agárdi

The Plenary of the European Parliament has adopted a report on the Protection of the Communities' Financial Interests and the Fight Against Fraud Annual Reports 2005-2006. Francesco Musotto MEP (IT), Rapporteur for the EPP-ED Group on the report, expressed his satisfaction on its adoption.

The Rapporteur highlighted that the implementation of the structural funds, which represent almost one third of the Community's budget, remains ridden with irregularities and that hardly any progress can be noted. The main cause of this situation is the fact that, according to the European Court of Auditors, the supervisory and control systems in the Member States were ineffective and the Commission maintained only a moderately effective supervision in their functioning.
Mr Musotto requested that information on how Member States have improved their fight against irregularities be integrated in the Commission's next annual report:

• What administrative and policy structures in Member States are involved?
  
• How do Member States cooperate among themselves and with the Commission services?
  
• What databases do Member States and Commission services share?
  

In addition, the Rapporteur criticised Member States for apparently ignoring the so-called Missing Trader Fraud.

The British House of Lords estimated the loss to the national income due to Missing Trader Fraud in 2005/2006 at £4.75 billion in the United Kingdom alone.