Martine Aubry's narrow win over former presidential candidate Segolene Royal has further divided French Socialists. Aubry vows to take the Socialists further to the left than the more centrist Royal. The current mayor of the northern city Lille has been chosen as the new leader of the French Socialists, ending the infighting that left the party unable to provide effective opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy's right of center UMP party. Martine Aubry, 58, won by a razor thin margin of only 102 votes out of 134,800 cast, the former socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal according to official ballot results made public on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Aubry, a former labor minister best known for introducing the controversial 35 hour work week in France, is also the daughter of Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission. Over the weekend, Aubry had claimed victory with an initial lead of only 42 votes out of nearly 137,000 cast, prompting Royal to cry foul and demand verification of the vote count. Then on Monday, a party commission convened to look at claims by both camps and by Tuesday, decided which candidate was the winner.
The current mayor of the northern city Lille has been chosen as the new leader of the French Socialists, ending the infighting that left the party unable to provide effective opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy's right of center UMP party.
Martine Aubry, 58, won by a razor thin margin of only 102 votes out of 134,800 cast, the former socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal according to official ballot results made public on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Aubry, a former labor minister best known for introducing the controversial 35 hour work week in France, is also the daughter of Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission.
Over the weekend, Aubry had claimed victory with an initial lead of only 42 votes out of nearly 137,000 cast, prompting Royal to cry foul and demand verification of the vote count. Then on Monday, a party commission convened to look at claims by both camps and by Tuesday, decided which candidate was the winner.
Aubry is the product of a makeshift coalition (essentially: Anyone but Segolène) whereas Royal's strength lies in our own independent political machine and supporters. Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Bulgaria has irreversibly lost €220 million of pre-accession EU funding over its persistent failure to tackle corruption, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (25 November). Brussels in July suspended close to €800 million in aid to Bulgaria over corruption and fraud concerns, out of which €560 million under the PHARE pre-accession programme aimed at improving the country's infrastructure and institutions. Sofia has not done enough to fight corruption and fraud, Brussels says. It also withdrew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under PHARE. On Tuesday, the commission said it had decided to maintain the measures and not to continue the agencies' accreditation at this stage. "After careful analysis done by the European Commission, we regret that we have to maintain the suspension of payments and we are also for the moment not in a position to restore the accreditation for the two implementing agencies," commission spokesperson Krisztina Nagy told reporters in Brussels.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Bulgaria has irreversibly lost €220 million of pre-accession EU funding over its persistent failure to tackle corruption, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (25 November).
Brussels in July suspended close to €800 million in aid to Bulgaria over corruption and fraud concerns, out of which €560 million under the PHARE pre-accession programme aimed at improving the country's infrastructure and institutions.
Sofia has not done enough to fight corruption and fraud, Brussels says.
It also withdrew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under PHARE.
On Tuesday, the commission said it had decided to maintain the measures and not to continue the agencies' accreditation at this stage.
"After careful analysis done by the European Commission, we regret that we have to maintain the suspension of payments and we are also for the moment not in a position to restore the accreditation for the two implementing agencies," commission spokesperson Krisztina Nagy told reporters in Brussels.
Caught by surprise by the European Commission's decision on Tuesday (25 November) to strip Bulgaria of €220 million in EU money over persistent corruption concerns, the country's politicians voiced their frustration and disappointment. "I am extremely disappointed with Brussels' decision. We have achieved clear results. We have made conspicuous progress," Bulgarian deputy prime minister Meglena Plugchieva, in charge of EU fund management, said in a statement. Bulgaria says it has done its utmost to meet Brussels' requirements. "And all this in the context of a financial crisis, when the EU is shaking yet Bulgaria is stable and is not waiting for a financial injection. This decision is inadmissible," she also told Bulgarian daily Standart. Brussels on Tuesday said it would not renew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under the pre-accession PHARE programme, as it was not satisfied with Bulgaria's record of fighting corruption and fraud. In effect, this means the country has irretrievably lost €220 million, as no contracts for the sums have yet been signed and the deadline for this to happen is 30 November. Contracts for an additional €340 million under the programme have already been signed, but will remain frozen for now, Brussels said.
Caught by surprise by the European Commission's decision on Tuesday (25 November) to strip Bulgaria of €220 million in EU money over persistent corruption concerns, the country's politicians voiced their frustration and disappointment.
"I am extremely disappointed with Brussels' decision. We have achieved clear results. We have made conspicuous progress," Bulgarian deputy prime minister Meglena Plugchieva, in charge of EU fund management, said in a statement.
Bulgaria says it has done its utmost to meet Brussels' requirements.
"And all this in the context of a financial crisis, when the EU is shaking yet Bulgaria is stable and is not waiting for a financial injection. This decision is inadmissible," she also told Bulgarian daily Standart.
Brussels on Tuesday said it would not renew the accreditation of two government agencies charged with handling EU money under the pre-accession PHARE programme, as it was not satisfied with Bulgaria's record of fighting corruption and fraud.
In effect, this means the country has irretrievably lost €220 million, as no contracts for the sums have yet been signed and the deadline for this to happen is 30 November. Contracts for an additional €340 million under the programme have already been signed, but will remain frozen for now, Brussels said.
Actually, the high-level decisionmakers, they didn't.
What did they expect if people earn 300-500 Euros A MONTH and with EU prices ?
Low pay of low-level public servants is indeed a point -- but the most corrupt are always on the top, NOT the €300-500 people. (In fact, the corrupt top bureaucrats and ministerial secretaries are fleecing the €300-500 people!) And that's what the EU observers noticed.
Regarding EU prices, I think I understand what you mean, but we'll have to spell it out to others. One would naively think that joining the EU would simply bring down prices: with the elimination of tariffs on imported stuff. However, open market requirements meant that countries joining also had to reduce social price support subsidies and eliminate fixed prices, above all in the energy sector.
On the other hand, considering both the recent oil/gas price hikes, and the Eastern Block recapitulation of the West's Second Energy Crisis in the eighties, I think it would have taken MUCH MORE than staying out of the EU to avoid these price hikes. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Like they didn't know before how strong corruption is in Eastern block Actually, the high-level decisionmakers, they didn't.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Union sports ministers are set to consider French proposals for EU regulation of professional sports club financing later this week. The French EU presidency is to unveil at a meeting of the ministers in Biarritz on Thursday (27 November) and Friday its plans to reform European sporting governance in a move that UK Tories are criticising as approaching a sports "super-regulator." France is not looking for an EU sporting super-regulator, the presidency insists Paris would like to see implemented at the European level a body modelled on France's national pro-sports regulator, the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), which oversees professional football in the country. British Conservative MEPs say the proposals are the "culmination of a campaign by President Sarkozy" to govern the sector, noting the French leader had first announced similar plans in the European Parliament at the beginning of the French EU presidency. UK Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, the chair of the European Parliament's sports "intergroup," said an "EU sports super-regulator would devastate British sport."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Union sports ministers are set to consider French proposals for EU regulation of professional sports club financing later this week.
The French EU presidency is to unveil at a meeting of the ministers in Biarritz on Thursday (27 November) and Friday its plans to reform European sporting governance in a move that UK Tories are criticising as approaching a sports "super-regulator."
France is not looking for an EU sporting super-regulator, the presidency insists
Paris would like to see implemented at the European level a body modelled on France's national pro-sports regulator, the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), which oversees professional football in the country.
British Conservative MEPs say the proposals are the "culmination of a campaign by President Sarkozy" to govern the sector, noting the French leader had first announced similar plans in the European Parliament at the beginning of the French EU presidency.
UK Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, the chair of the European Parliament's sports "intergroup," said an "EU sports super-regulator would devastate British sport."
An Irish parliamentary committee is to debate a report arguing that a second referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty is legally possible. The draft report, first seen by the Irish Times, has been discussed in a private session by the Subcommittee on Ireland's Future in the EU and is due to be presented to the joint Committee on European Affairs on Thursday (27 November). Irish MPs are to debate a report suggesting possibilities for a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty It argues that a second poll on the EU's new reform treaty - following the debacle in June when the Irish voters rejected the document by a clear majority - would be preferable, suggesting a vote on the same text but accompanied by clarifying declarations on controversial issues. One concrete issue of the kind likely to be considered is a protection of the country's neutrality. Parliamentarians argued that a new procedure should be set up to boost national decision-making powers regarding military-related matters.
An Irish parliamentary committee is to debate a report arguing that a second referendum on the EU's Lisbon treaty is legally possible.
The draft report, first seen by the Irish Times, has been discussed in a private session by the Subcommittee on Ireland's Future in the EU and is due to be presented to the joint Committee on European Affairs on Thursday (27 November).
Irish MPs are to debate a report suggesting possibilities for a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty
It argues that a second poll on the EU's new reform treaty - following the debacle in June when the Irish voters rejected the document by a clear majority - would be preferable, suggesting a vote on the same text but accompanied by clarifying declarations on controversial issues.
One concrete issue of the kind likely to be considered is a protection of the country's neutrality. Parliamentarians argued that a new procedure should be set up to boost national decision-making powers regarding military-related matters.
BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats will gather Monday in Stuttgart for their annual party congress. It will be far from a set-piece conference. Merkel, after years of uncontested success, is facing massive pressure not only from other countries, but from within her own party, to beef up the German government's response to the financial crisis. She will have to give an outstanding speech to retain her reputation as a disciplined, calculating and determined leader. "The speech is everything," said Philipp Missfelder, chairman of the Christian Democrats' young conservatives. "It does not matter what the stock markets do that day. What matters is that Merkel delivers a speech that gives Germans a perspective. The party needs it, and so does the public." The speech Monday has become so important because Merkel has publicly shown little leadership during a crisis that seems to be turning more serious by the day. While often fiercely critical of plans by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and other EU leaders for protecting Europe against the meltdown, she has come up with no alternative. "Madame Non," the Parisian daily Les Echos dubbed her.
BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats will gather Monday in Stuttgart for their annual party congress. It will be far from a set-piece conference.
Merkel, after years of uncontested success, is facing massive pressure not only from other countries, but from within her own party, to beef up the German government's response to the financial crisis. She will have to give an outstanding speech to retain her reputation as a disciplined, calculating and determined leader.
"The speech is everything," said Philipp Missfelder, chairman of the Christian Democrats' young conservatives. "It does not matter what the stock markets do that day. What matters is that Merkel delivers a speech that gives Germans a perspective. The party needs it, and so does the public."
The speech Monday has become so important because Merkel has publicly shown little leadership during a crisis that seems to be turning more serious by the day. While often fiercely critical of plans by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and other EU leaders for protecting Europe against the meltdown, she has come up with no alternative. "Madame Non," the Parisian daily Les Echos dubbed her.
Merkel has publicly shown little leadership
The IHT fails to recognize the Kohlian paradigm of government: let your subordinates burn their political capital so you don't have to.
Granted it may well fail in the current instance, but it's generally a pretty effective way to remain in control of (if not "run") a coalition. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
TBILISI, Georgia -- A parliamentary hearing on the origins of the war between Georgia and Russia in August ended in a furor on Tuesday after a former Georgian diplomat testified that Georgian authorities were responsible for starting the conflict. Skip to next paragraph Related U.S. Presses NATO on Georgia and Ukraine (November 26, 2008) Erosi Kitsmarishvili, Tbilisi's former ambassador to Moscow, testified for three hours before he was shouted down by members of Parliament. A former confidant of President Mikheil Saakashvili, Mr. Kitsmarishvili said Georgian officials told him in April that they planned to start a war in Abkhazia, one of two breakaway regions at issue in the war, and had received a green light from the United States government to do so. He said the Georgian government later decided to start the war in South Ossetia, the other region, and continue into Abkhazia.He would not name the officials who he said had told him about planned actions in Abkhazia, saying that identifying them would endanger their lives.
TBILISI, Georgia -- A parliamentary hearing on the origins of the war between Georgia and Russia in August ended in a furor on Tuesday after a former Georgian diplomat testified that Georgian authorities were responsible for starting the conflict. Skip to next paragraph Related U.S. Presses NATO on Georgia and Ukraine (November 26, 2008)
Erosi Kitsmarishvili, Tbilisi's former ambassador to Moscow, testified for three hours before he was shouted down by members of Parliament.
A former confidant of President Mikheil Saakashvili, Mr. Kitsmarishvili said Georgian officials told him in April that they planned to start a war in Abkhazia, one of two breakaway regions at issue in the war, and had received a green light from the United States government to do so. He said the Georgian government later decided to start the war in South Ossetia, the other region, and continue into Abkhazia.
He would not name the officials who he said had told him about planned actions in Abkhazia, saying that identifying them would endanger their lives.
And I gotta refresh my href'ing skills.... A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government -- Edward Abbey
Burjanadze, 44, formally launched her political comeback on November 23 -- the fifth anniversary of the Rose Revolution -- with the opening of her new political party, Democratic Movement-United Georgia (http://www.democrats.ge). "The authorities have lost confidence both within and outside the country," she said during the party convention Sunday. "Today we need wise policies and restoring [Georgia's] image of a reliable partner and then we need a dialogue with everyone in order to secure our country's interests through this dialogue." Few details are known so far about the party's platform, although it is widely believed that Burjanadze will pull ideas from her Foundation for Democracy and Development, a think-tank she created in July.
"The authorities have lost confidence both within and outside the country," she said during the party convention Sunday. "Today we need wise policies and restoring [Georgia's] image of a reliable partner and then we need a dialogue with everyone in order to secure our country's interests through this dialogue."
Few details are known so far about the party's platform, although it is widely believed that Burjanadze will pull ideas from her Foundation for Democracy and Development, a think-tank she created in July.
It's a longish article, but I hope it provides you with the info you're looking for. A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government -- Edward Abbey
Civil.Ge | Ex-Envoy's Hearing at War Commission Ends in Brawl
In the second half of April, 2008, I have learnt from the President's inner circle that they have received a green light from the western partner to carry out a military operation; When asked to specify "the western partner" Kitsmarishvili said: after a meeting with the U.S. President George W. Bush [the meeting between Bush and Saakashvili took place in Washington on March 19], our leadership was saying that they had the U.S. support to carry out the military operation; In order to double-check this information, I have met with John Tefft, the U.S. ambassador in Tbilisi and asked him whether it was true or not; he categorically denied that; Kitsmarishvili was then pressed by commission members from the ruling party to specify what he meant under "the leadership" and how he had learnt about that information. Kitsmarishvili responded: I can not reveal names of those people, who have told me about it because of their security; After meeting with the U.S. ambassador, Kitsmarishvili continued, I went to meet with President Saakashvili; that meeting was attended by Davit Bakradze [who is now the parliamentary chairman] and Defense Minister, Davit Kezerashvili; Kitsmarishvili was asked whether he raised at that meeting the issue of that alleged information about "the U.S. green light on military operation." Kitsmarishvili initially said that Bakradze rejected having any "green light;" but later, when pressed on the matter, the ex-ambassador said Bakradze "neither conformed, nor denied it." Saakashvili, he continued, "agreed that such information existed, but he was interested who the source was and who told me about it;" At that meeting I warned against any military operation and I asked the Defense Minister whether we had enough military capability ready for the operation, Kezerashvili responded to me: we will not have such a strong army, which we have now, in next four years; The military operation should have been undertaken in direction of Abkhazia; military instructors from Israel were brought here in order to prepare that military operation; Kezerashvili also said at that meeting that the operation should have started in early May, or at least before the snow melted on the mountain passes; This decision was not materialized;
They often wore only army-regulation shorts and T-shirts to protect them from atomic explosions, and were stationed dangerously close to mushroom clouds or hosed-down contaminated equipment wearing just swimming trunks. The soldiers and civilians who worked on France's notorious nuclear tests in the Sahara desert and south Pacific have long fought for compensation for the cancer and long-term health effects they blame on the state's failure to protect them. But for years France resisted, fighting veterans in the courts and building a wall of silence around the dangers of the controlled explosions. Yesterday the French defence minister finally broke the taboo, saying a law would be introduced in January to compensate those suffering illnesses among the 150,000 army and civilians who worked on the tests in Algeria and French-owned Polynesian atolls. Hervé Morin said France would draw up a list of health problems that could be linked to radiation exposure over the course of 210 tests from 1960 to 1996. He admitted that France lagged behind countries such as the US in failing to acknowledge long-term health effects, saying: "Today, we must recognise these victims.""We were guinea pigs who have had no proper medical support," said Michel Verger, president of the veterans' pressure group, Aven. The group, which has about 3,000 members, surveyed more than 1,000 veterans and found 35% had one or two cancers and one in five were infertile. Verger said veterans suffered a range of illnesses, including cancers of the blood and cardiovascular problems, and their children and grandchildren were also suffering health complications.
They often wore only army-regulation shorts and T-shirts to protect them from atomic explosions, and were stationed dangerously close to mushroom clouds or hosed-down contaminated equipment wearing just swimming trunks. The soldiers and civilians who worked on France's notorious nuclear tests in the Sahara desert and south Pacific have long fought for compensation for the cancer and long-term health effects they blame on the state's failure to protect them.
But for years France resisted, fighting veterans in the courts and building a wall of silence around the dangers of the controlled explosions.
Yesterday the French defence minister finally broke the taboo, saying a law would be introduced in January to compensate those suffering illnesses among the 150,000 army and civilians who worked on the tests in Algeria and French-owned Polynesian atolls.
Hervé Morin said France would draw up a list of health problems that could be linked to radiation exposure over the course of 210 tests from 1960 to 1996. He admitted that France lagged behind countries such as the US in failing to acknowledge long-term health effects, saying: "Today, we must recognise these victims."
"We were guinea pigs who have had no proper medical support," said Michel Verger, president of the veterans' pressure group, Aven. The group, which has about 3,000 members, surveyed more than 1,000 veterans and found 35% had one or two cancers and one in five were infertile. Verger said veterans suffered a range of illnesses, including cancers of the blood and cardiovascular problems, and their children and grandchildren were also suffering health complications.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has given Hungary the highest score in an annual assessment of economies in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The EBRD gave Hungary a score of 3.96 on a scale of 1 to 4+ in its Transition Report 2008, which evaluates four areas - the corporate sector, the trade market system, the financial sector and infrastructure - based on nine criteria, among them privatization, competition policy, rate policy, bank reform and exchange rate system.
The EBRD projected Hungary's economy would grow 0.5% in 2009.
Meanwhile, after improved inflation numbers (oil price effect...) and an interest rate cut, the Forint is stable around 260 an Euro. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
