EPP-ED Report
Issue 8 / September I 2008

EU-Russia relations dominate plenary

By Ioannis Zografos

The crisis in Georgia and the future of EU-Russia relations have dominated the European Parliament's plenary session in Brussels. Immediately after the extraordinary EU summit, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner presented its conclusions to Parliament.

He said that the European Council has asked its President to pursue discussions to ensure the full application of the Six-Point Agreement. The President of the Council, along with the President of the Commission and the EU's High Representative, will visit Moscow on the 8th of September. "The bilateral negotiations on the partnership agreement will be postponed until Russian troops have been withdrawn", he added.

MEPs welcomed the decision - they have asked the Council and the Commission to show determination in negotiating with Moscow and to make it clear that Russia has to respect international law.

"Russia has the same rights and duties of all states in the international community. One of these duties is to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally-recognised borders. But by invading and occupying Georgian territory and recognising the independence of the secessionist Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the Russian authorities have systematically violated each of these three fundamental principles of international law."

Elmar Brok MEP (DE) called for calm in dealing with Russia, and also asked for support for Georgia's reconstruction.

"It is important to make it clear that we do not accept certain things, but - in order to avoid an escalation - at the same time, we must make it clear that we should remain on speaking terms with all parties involved. We need to strengthen ourselves and this means strengthening our friends", he said.

Social Europe - job creation is the key to future progress

By Gunnar Larsson

Two months ago, the Commission unveiled its social package, based on consultation with European social partners. This package was the main topic of the key debate during the Parliament's plenary session. Joseph Daul (F), Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, welcomed the Commission's proposals, but was not entirely satisfied. "My Group would like to see the Commission go further, with more concrete measures. The fight against poverty, the integration into labour markets of those now excluded, the promotion of worker mobility and improvement of workers' training, are areas which require clear, concrete measures and a strong commitment from the European Union and its Member States", he said.

"We believe the most effective tool we have is economic growth", Daul continued. "We are convinced that to achieve the Lisbon goals, we have to promote entrepreneurship, because only businesses can create jobs. We must improve the image of the European entrepreneur and convince young people to start businesses. We must also promote a competitive environment for our businesses and in particular we must support small and medium-sized companies, which are the key to job creation."

Daul called for an increased application of 'flexicurity' in Europe. "The concept of flexicurity has demonstrated its efficiency where it has been introduced", he claimed. "It provides businesses with the flexibility needed to be competitive in the global marketplace, while protecting workers."

Philip Bushill-Matthews (UK), Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and Rapporteur on the European Works Council Directive, which is part of the social package, also emphasised the importance of job creation.

"We respect the importance of the rights of workers, but my political group would also highlight the rights of non-workers - those people who currently do not have a job, who have been frozen out of the job market for whatever reason, and who want to have a job", he said. He concluded: "They are increasingly important, especially in these difficult times of a global credit crunch where unemployment is likely to get worse before it gets better. So we have to make certain that everything that we do helps the creation of jobs and helps more individuals into those jobs."

More rights for consumers and a European Body to regulate telecom markets

By Pedro López de Pablo

The European Parliament this week debated the reform of the rules governing telecom markets since 2002 to take account of new technologies - wireless, mobile, digital TV - and to boost the growth potential of a sector with 500 million consumers, which already represents 3% of EU GDP and accounts for 25% of overall economic growth.

Increasing the benefits and rights of consumers and assuring fair competition by the creation of a Body of European Regulators in Telecom (BERT), have been the two top priorities for the new regulatory framework supported by the EPP-ED Group.

Malcolm Harbour (UK), responsible for the Directive which will regulate users' rights, explained that the aim of the reform was to provide consumers with better information on their rights because electronic communications offers are now more complex and diverse than before.

"We want empowered, well-informed consumers to make their choices on the basis of maximum information on price, on what is included in the service, on whether there are any restrictions and on whether the cost of a handset is included if they take a longer contract. We want them to be able to shop easily and to be able to transfer their number quickly. We also want them to be able to study the length of the contract and for the length of the contract not to be used as a restriction when they try to move", he said.

The new Directive will also check consumers' entitlements, for example, to data security, security and availability of networks, good quality of universal emergency services or equivalent access to communications for disabled people.

The other main point of the new legislation is the Body of European Regulators in Telecom (BERT) to improve a 'co-regulation' system between national regulators and the European Commission. Pilar del Castillo (ES), author of the proposal, said that rather than the creation of a new authority with a big bureaucratic structure and a heavy budget, BERT will be a most "coherent and consistent" solution because what the markets need now is to share responsibility to develop competition.

Parliament supports ban on animal clones for food

By Eimear O'Mahony

MEPs have massively voted for a ban on animal cloning for the purposes of supplying food.

Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Neil Parish MEP (UK), asked the Commission on Tuesday to clarify its position on animal cloning, specifically whether or not it finds cloning animals and their offspring for food production ethically justified. Mr Parish went on to ask the Commission what steps it had taken to prevent the import of cloned animals, and whether any new proposals were in the pipeline to prohibit this practice.

The European Commissioner for Health said the Commission was evaluating what steps to take following an opinion by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) adopted in July, which highlights uncertainties regarding the health and welfare of animal clones.

The Commissioner added that although efficiency of animal cloning had improved, mortality rates and adverse health effects were still higher in clones than in sexually reproduced animals, and that the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) had found in a report published in January 2008 that there were no convincing arguments to clone animals for food supply. The results of a Eurobarometer survey, examining the public's opinion on the issue, are soon to be published.

Parliament's Resolution, tabled by the Chairman on behalf of the Agriculture Committee, was adopted on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority.

Visa Information System: EPP-ED supports safe and quick crossings of the Schengen border

By Klemen Žumer

At their first plenary meeting in Brussels after the summer recess, Members of the European Parliament discussed a report by Mihael Brejc (SL) on the use of the Visa Information System (VIS) under the Schengen Borders Code.

Brejc expressed his satisfaction with the final text: "This arrangement will be helpful for EU citizens and third-country nationals requiring a visa to enter the European Union. It will reduce queues at border crossings while also ensuring security at the EU external borders."

Mr Brejc presented the chronology of the development of this report and stressed key issues regarding the use of the Visa Information System (VIS) as proposed by the European Commission. The initial proposal suggested systematic checks of each visa number and taking fingerprints from all third-country nationals every time they cross the Schengen border. "Such systematic checks by consulting the VIS for third-country nationals holding a visa every time they cross an external border will largely increase waiting times at border crossings, particularly in the tourist season and at the beginning and end of public holidays", said Brejc. "That would harm not only visa holders, but EU citizens as well."

After several consultations with the Commission and the Council, Mihael Brejc MEP put forward a compromise solution whereby systematic checks by consulting the VIS for third-country nationals holding a visa will be at times of intense traffic on a random basis.

The new Visa Information System (VIS) allows Member States' authorities, such as police and customs, to instantly check on the validity of visas. VIS helps avoid the multiple granting of visas, avoids illegal entry at borders and accelerates the repatriation of third-country nationals whose visas have expired.

New Coastal Zone Policy can yield €660m gain for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Europe

By Theo Georgitsopoulos

The vast majority of the European Parliament adopted a report by Ioannis Gklavakis (GR) on Fisheries and Aquaculture in the context of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe.

The idea of Integrated Coastal Zone Management was first mooted in 1994, when a Council Resolution stressed the need for a Community strategy for coastal zones based on the principles of sustainable development. The coastal areas are today the most intensively exploited regions and have up to 50% more population from continental regions. At the same time, they have strategic importance for the EU's economy because they constitute a basic source of food and raw material. Furthermore, they play a vital role in transport and trade, they include rich ecosystems and they constitute a preferred destination for entertainment. According to an evaluation of a European Committee, the implementation of the new policy will make a profit of between €130-€660m per year. The main aspects of the report are:

• Long-term planning involving representatives of all sectors in coastal zones
  
• Effective coordination of the competent authorities in managing these zones
  
• Regional cooperation including third countries
  
• The establishment of a supporting body if the coordination shortcomings continue
  

Mr Gklavakis stressed that the Integrated Coastal Zone Management constitutes a suitable framework for the sustainable development of coastal zones and the viable development of activities pursued in these zones, emphasising fisheries and aquaculture.

New classification of chemicals to improve safety

By Thomas Bickl

The classification and labelling of chemicals in the EU will follow international rules by 2011. This week, the European Parliament adopted a Directive on the implementation of the so-called Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling (GHS). The aim of the GHS is the international harmonisation of classification and labelling systems, for example for transport, protection of consumers and the environment. An agreement on the Directive was reached between the Parliament and Council before the vote. "The new labelling leads to a better understanding and more transparency for consumers. Warning symbols for substances used in households will be the same throughout the world", said Amalia Sartori (IT), who is the European Parliament's Rapporteur.

The new classifications have already been incorporated in the new EU chemicals policy REACH. However, GHS provides for new warning symbols. The new pictogrammes take the form of an octothorpe with a red margin and a black symbol on a white background. They replace the current symbols with a yellow-orange background. For substances, the new GHS standards will be binding as from 2011. For blends, the new provisions apply as from June 2015. Parliament negotiated testing on animals to be reduced.

Parliament wants better market access for hydrogen vehicles

By Knut Goelz

The plenary of the European Parliament has almost unanimously adopted a report by German MEP Anja Weisgerber regarding type approvals of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles: "Hydrogen power is an alternative to conventional engines. However, up to now there was no functioning internal market for hydrogen-powered vehicles in the EU. Parliament has therefore paved the way for this new technology by establishing EU-wide minimum standards and licensing criteria in the European Union", she said.

Together with biofuels and electrical drives, hydrogen power can provide a substantial contribution to reduce dependence on oil, to lower air pollution and to reach CO2 aims in the traffic sector. There are already manufacturers with practical experience regarding hydrogen-powered cars. With the adoption of EU-wide criteria, the European Union can establish itself ahead of global research and ensure investment security for market access of this future technology. By setting minimum standards, the European Union could now also provide guidance for global licensing in this sector.

Furthermore, research and development of hydrogen power is an example of how the European Union can set basic conditions for new technologies. "Here, we are setting an example by showing how the European Union strengthens the economy by the promotion of new technologies and thus provides jobs", the Rapporteur underlined. Car manufacturers are willing and innovative enough to invest in new technologies. Thus the economy is also ready to take part in a public partnership for the promotion of the European hydrogen economy adding up to €940m.

Towards a more efficient and sustainable European freight transport

By Greet Gysen

The first plenary session of the European Parliament after the summer break concluded with an own-initiative report on European freight transport. With this report, Parliament gave its input to three Commission documents aimed at boosting the efficiency, integration and sustainability of freight transport. Shadow Rapporteur Mathieu Grosch (BE) underlined that a more sustainable and efficient freight transport is the key to coping with global economic competition, to increasing road safety and meeting the EU's objectives as regards climate change and energy saving.

Mathieu Grosch stressed that all modes of transport need to be used in an optimal way: "We have to strive to choose the most appropriate and most efficient mode of transport for each load and improve compatibility between different modes of transport. High-speed railway lines, for example, constitute a valuable and eco-friendly alternative to air transport for light transport during the night."

A more efficient freight transport requires further standardisation, Grosch underlined. "We need to achieve standard information flows and make sure that data is interoperable. For the same reason, we also support the creation of a single international intermodal transport document."

Grosch stressed that transport is an important source of employment and that Member States should invest in the logistics education delivered by their universities.

The transport sector is responsible for almost 30% of CO2 emissions in Europe and freight transport is expected to grow by 50% in tonne-kilometres between 2000 and 2020.

Decisive influence of environmental factors and climate change on health

By Theo Georgitsopoulos

The new health threats caused by climate change and the emission of electromagnetic radiation will be taken into consideration in the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010. Shadow Rapporteur Antonios Trakatellis (GR) added amendments to the Mid-Term Review of the plan which was voted at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Mr Trakatellis worked closely with the Rapporteur and included in the amendments:

• the recognition that climate change will play a critical role in the increased appearance of certain diseases, due to the changes in the nature of the ecosystems as well as the changes in the temperature and humidity of animals, plants, insects, protozoans, germs and viruses
  
• the continuous accumulation of scientific data which provides evidence for the fact that some types of cancer, such as cancer of the bladder, bone cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer and others, are attributed to the effect of chemical substances, radiation, particles that exist in the air, but also to the effect of other environmental factors
  
• the necessity to take into account, regarding the impact of environmental factors on human health as the main starting point, the vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns, children and elderly people.
  
• the need to epidemiologically register the number of persons who become ill due to the effects of the environment in order to provide a clear picture of the diseases that are merely attributed to environmental factors
  
• Calls on the Council to amend its Recommendation 1999/519/EC in order to take into account the Member States' best practices and thus to set stricter exposure limits for all equipment which emit electromagnetic waves in the frequencies between 0.1 MHz and 300 GHz
  

Mr Trakatellis criticised the insufficiency of the forecast budget, pointing out that the profits of an effective European strategy in the sector of environmental health will be multiple and diffused in all sectors.