EUOBSERVER / WEEKLY AGENDA - MEPs will gather in Strasbourg for the first legislative session of 2009 with a debate with Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek on Wednesday to fill the most seats in the chamber. MEPs are likely to grill Mr Topolanek, currently chairing the EU, on the state of play with the EU's Lisbon treaty. MEPs will discuss air security issues in Strasbourg The charter, containing several new rules on the institutional functioning of the bloc, has not yet been through parliament in the Czech Republic. It faces a difficult run having become embroiled in domestic politics. In addition, it has a high-profile critic in Vaclav Klaus, the outspoken eurosceptic and president of the ex-communist country. Deputies are also set to quiz the Czech prime minister on his plans for relations with Russia as well as on the EU's approach to the on-going conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the tenth anniversary of the single European currency, the euro, will be marked on Tuesday with a debate attended by eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker, European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet and Joaquin Almunia, the economic affairs commissioner. Former president of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing will also be present for the debate which will take place against the backdrop of the global financial crisis.
EUOBSERVER / WEEKLY AGENDA - MEPs will gather in Strasbourg for the first legislative session of 2009 with a debate with Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek on Wednesday to fill the most seats in the chamber. MEPs are likely to grill Mr Topolanek, currently chairing the EU, on the state of play with the EU's Lisbon treaty.
MEPs will discuss air security issues in Strasbourg
The charter, containing several new rules on the institutional functioning of the bloc, has not yet been through parliament in the Czech Republic. It faces a difficult run having become embroiled in domestic politics. In addition, it has a high-profile critic in Vaclav Klaus, the outspoken eurosceptic and president of the ex-communist country.
Deputies are also set to quiz the Czech prime minister on his plans for relations with Russia as well as on the EU's approach to the on-going conflict in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the tenth anniversary of the single European currency, the euro, will be marked on Tuesday with a debate attended by eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker, European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet and Joaquin Almunia, the economic affairs commissioner. Former president of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing will also be present for the debate which will take place against the backdrop of the global financial crisis.
Fears were raised yesterday over a decision to restart a potentially dangerous decommissioned nuclear power plant in the centre of Europe because of a shortage of gas caused by Russia's dispute with Ukraine. Slovakia, defying undertakings given when it joined the European Union, said that it would reactivate a Soviet-style nuclear generator that has a record of safety problems because it had received no Russian gas since last Thursday. Russia again found a reason to delay turning the taps back on yesterday, despite an agreement brokered by Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister, on behalf of the EU, which was signed by Russian and Ukrainian leaders at the weekend. President Medvedev said last night that the agreement allowing EU monitors to check on the flow of gas was no longer valid because Ukraine had attached a hand-written document contradicting the deal.
Fears were raised yesterday over a decision to restart a potentially dangerous decommissioned nuclear power plant in the centre of Europe because of a shortage of gas caused by Russia's dispute with Ukraine.
Slovakia, defying undertakings given when it joined the European Union, said that it would reactivate a Soviet-style nuclear generator that has a record of safety problems because it had received no Russian gas since last Thursday.
Russia again found a reason to delay turning the taps back on yesterday, despite an agreement brokered by Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Prime Minister, on behalf of the EU, which was signed by Russian and Ukrainian leaders at the weekend.
President Medvedev said last night that the agreement allowing EU monitors to check on the flow of gas was no longer valid because Ukraine had attached a hand-written document contradicting the deal.
to which the Ukraine will declare that it was opposite day. keep to the Fen Causeway
At issue was a handwritten phrase that Ms. Tymoshenko wrote beside her signature early Sunday morning, after the document had already been signed by Mr. Putin. In English, she wrote, "with declaration attached."
In fact, she had spent time in prison a few years ago for doing exactly what her "declaration attached" asserts innocence for....wait for the surprise..."arrested on charges of forging customs documents and smuggling of gas between 1995 and 1997 (while president of United Energy Systems of Ukraine) but was released several weeks later." [sorry for using her wikipedia page as source]
As JoP has mentioned, this is a much bigger game that we are being allowed to see. My theory is that the Russians are playing a long game of getting little changes from the Ukraine every year and now it is getting to a turning point...so, as order is put into the system, disorder comes blaring out as propaganda and corruption at all the seams. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Taxpayers are funding the repatriation of hundreds of homeless Eastern European immigrants who have been living on the streets. Hundreds of thousands of pounds is being spent annually on travel costs for the immigrants, mainly Polish, who have been unable to find work in Britain and have no access to benefits. Local authorities and charities are using government grants to fund one-way bus and air tickets, with one London council spending £100,000 on the scheme in the past year alone. The strategy is to be widened this week in response to the recession, which has left increasing numbers in need of help.
Taxpayers are funding the repatriation of hundreds of homeless Eastern European immigrants who have been living on the streets.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds is being spent annually on travel costs for the immigrants, mainly Polish, who have been unable to find work in Britain and have no access to benefits.
Local authorities and charities are using government grants to fund one-way bus and air tickets, with one London council spending £100,000 on the scheme in the past year alone.
The strategy is to be widened this week in response to the recession, which has left increasing numbers in need of help.
The comments under the article do show some humanity. I'll back this one:
Taxpayer foots bill as homeless Polish workers are repatriated - Times Online
Please do not forget, that vast majority of Polish guys very hard working and living in UK also pay taxes to UK government. And all this money spent on helping homeless Poles is a small fraction of those taxes. It is nice to get cheap labour and get taxes from those Polish guys, right?Krzysztof, Warsaw, Poland
Please do not forget, that vast majority of Polish guys very hard working and living in UK also pay taxes to UK government. And all this money spent on helping homeless Poles is a small fraction of those taxes. It is nice to get cheap labour and get taxes from those Polish guys, right?
Krzysztof, Warsaw, Poland
But I can't help quoting this one from someone writing in defence of immigrants:
There is a key difference between coming to the UK to work and being of the white underclass born into the benefits system and to a teenage single parent aged 13.
Europe may be doomed, but Britain is fucked.
European Union energy ministers will meet on Monday to discuss how to loosen Russia's gas stranglehold over Europe and what can be done to prevent any future repetition of this winter's energy crisis as millions of people continue to freeze. Deep divisions are expected to surface over a decision by Slovakia to reactivate a Soviet-era nuclear power plant to tackle the crisis, a move that would in breach of the country's EU membership conditions.Ed Miliband, the Energy and Environment Secretary, will hear the latest news on the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis which dragged on yesterday as some EU countries entered the fifth day without supplies. "This is an opportunity to avoid a repetition of the latest crisis by looking at what can be done to reduce the EU's dependency in the medium and long term," said a British diplomat.
Deep divisions are expected to surface over a decision by Slovakia to reactivate a Soviet-era nuclear power plant to tackle the crisis, a move that would in breach of the country's EU membership conditions.
Ed Miliband, the Energy and Environment Secretary, will hear the latest news on the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis which dragged on yesterday as some EU countries entered the fifth day without supplies.
"This is an opportunity to avoid a repetition of the latest crisis by looking at what can be done to reduce the EU's dependency in the medium and long term," said a British diplomat.
EU says conditions have been met for Moscow to lift its blockade over gas supplies through Ukranian pipelines. The bloc's ministers want to develop other energy sources to reduce their dependance on Russia. European Union energy ministers planned Monday to call on Russia to resume gas supplies to Europe during an emergency meeting in Brussels. "The ministers will call on Russia to restore the gas supplies," the meeting's host, Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman, said on behalf of the bloc's presidency. Since all of the conditions set by Moscow have been fulfilled, "Russia has no reason not to restore the gas supplies immediately," Riman told journalists ahead of the meeting. Monday afternoon's talks are designed to shape "concrete measures" needed by the bloc to deal with the gas shortages, provoked by Russia blocking all supplies destined for Europe via Ukrainian pipelines.
European Union energy ministers planned Monday to call on Russia to resume gas supplies to Europe during an emergency meeting in Brussels.
"The ministers will call on Russia to restore the gas supplies," the meeting's host, Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman, said on behalf of the bloc's presidency.
Since all of the conditions set by Moscow have been fulfilled, "Russia has no reason not to restore the gas supplies immediately," Riman told journalists ahead of the meeting.
Monday afternoon's talks are designed to shape "concrete measures" needed by the bloc to deal with the gas shortages, provoked by Russia blocking all supplies destined for Europe via Ukrainian pipelines.
In a flurry of shuttle diplomacy over the weekend, the Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, secured the signature of Russia's prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin, in Moscow and then flew to Kiev, where Ukraine's prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, also signed the agreement. Yet by late Sunday, the off-again-on-again deal appeared to be off again. Russia's president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying he would not honor the pact. At issue was a handwritten phrase that Ms. Tymoshenko wrote beside her signature early Sunday morning, after the document had already been signed by Mr. Putin. In English, she wrote, "with declaration attached." Ms. Tymoshenko's declaration, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, said that Ukraine had not been guilty of stealing gas from the export pipelines, a statement essentially asking Moscow to backpedal on the allegation that had underpinned its justification for halting shipments to Europe.
In a flurry of shuttle diplomacy over the weekend, the Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, secured the signature of Russia's prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin, in Moscow and then flew to Kiev, where Ukraine's prime minister, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, also signed the agreement.
Yet by late Sunday, the off-again-on-again deal appeared to be off again. Russia's president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying he would not honor the pact.
Ms. Tymoshenko's declaration, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, said that Ukraine had not been guilty of stealing gas from the export pipelines, a statement essentially asking Moscow to backpedal on the allegation that had underpinned its justification for halting shipments to Europe.
The dispute between Russia and Ukraine seems to have been resolved, but the question of blame remains. Did Moscow deliberately risk allowing half of Europe to go without heat merely to teach Kiev a lesson? Whoever is to blame it is clear that neither Brussels nor Berlin did much over the past few years to avert the crisis. Oleg Dubina, 49, the chairman of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz, looks like he has been up all night. With deep rings under his hooded eyes, he sits in conference room ASP 5G3 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Dubina is considered the most adept crisis manager in the former Soviet republic. When he flew to Brussels via Moscow last Thursday his most important, and no less cunning, opponent in the current game of poker over natural gas in Europe was sitting only a few seats away: Alexei Miller, the head of the Russian gas company Gazprom. On that same day, Europeans were growing increasingly indignant over the consequences of the latest natural gas dispute in the eastern part of the continent.
The dispute between Russia and Ukraine seems to have been resolved, but the question of blame remains. Did Moscow deliberately risk allowing half of Europe to go without heat merely to teach Kiev a lesson? Whoever is to blame it is clear that neither Brussels nor Berlin did much over the past few years to avert the crisis.
Oleg Dubina, 49, the chairman of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz, looks like he has been up all night. With deep rings under his hooded eyes, he sits in conference room ASP 5G3 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Dubina is considered the most adept crisis manager in the former Soviet republic.
When he flew to Brussels via Moscow last Thursday his most important, and no less cunning, opponent in the current game of poker over natural gas in Europe was sitting only a few seats away: Alexei Miller, the head of the Russian gas company Gazprom. On that same day, Europeans were growing increasingly indignant over the consequences of the latest natural gas dispute in the eastern part of the continent.
In a letter to Barack Obama, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier offers the US president-elect a "new dimension of cooperation" in trans-Atlantic relations. He foresees the US and Europe standing shoulder to shoulder and says Germany will "step up its contribution" to help create a stable Iraq. United States President-elect Barack Obama Dear Barack Obama: Last July, hundreds of thousands gathered before the Victory Column in Berlin to hear your vision of a better America and a more peaceful world. Your words moved millions of TV viewers. You rekindled the American dream for which countless people the world over have admired your country for more than 200 years, the dream of a society that has the power to change, that is open to new ideas, and that gives those with courage room to take their destiny into their own hands.
In a letter to Barack Obama, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier offers the US president-elect a "new dimension of cooperation" in trans-Atlantic relations. He foresees the US and Europe standing shoulder to shoulder and says Germany will "step up its contribution" to help create a stable Iraq.
United States President-elect Barack Obama
Dear Barack Obama:
Last July, hundreds of thousands gathered before the Victory Column in Berlin to hear your vision of a better America and a more peaceful world. Your words moved millions of TV viewers. You rekindled the American dream for which countless people the world over have admired your country for more than 200 years, the dream of a society that has the power to change, that is open to new ideas, and that gives those with courage room to take their destiny into their own hands.
Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across the continent to protest Israel's war on Gaza over the weekend in the biggest pan-European demonstrations the continent has seen since those against the launch of the Iraq war in 2003. The largest protests took place in Spain, with some 250,000 rallying in Madrid on Saturday (10 January) and another 100,000 in Barcelona, according to organisers. Police declined to give their own estimate for Madrid, but reckoned 30,000 marched through the Catalonian capital. A girl in Brussels protests Israel's war on Gaza Massive protests also took place in London, Brussels and throughout France. Sizeable demonstrations also took place in German and Italian cities, as well as Athens, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Bregenz, Oslo and Stockholm. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, the first European leader to take part in such rallies, addressed a protest in Ourense. "It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire," he told the protest, which as with others throughout the country, was organised by NGOs, trade unions and the prime minister's own Socialist Workers' Party, the PSOE.
Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across the continent to protest Israel's war on Gaza over the weekend in the biggest pan-European demonstrations the continent has seen since those against the launch of the Iraq war in 2003.
The largest protests took place in Spain, with some 250,000 rallying in Madrid on Saturday (10 January) and another 100,000 in Barcelona, according to organisers. Police declined to give their own estimate for Madrid, but reckoned 30,000 marched through the Catalonian capital.
A girl in Brussels protests Israel's war on Gaza
Massive protests also took place in London, Brussels and throughout France. Sizeable demonstrations also took place in German and Italian cities, as well as Athens, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Bregenz, Oslo and Stockholm.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, the first European leader to take part in such rallies, addressed a protest in Ourense.
"It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire," he told the protest, which as with others throughout the country, was organised by NGOs, trade unions and the prime minister's own Socialist Workers' Party, the PSOE.
But two punks sending a Molotov cocktail against a synagogue (a nasty act, but not a very meaningful nor momentous one) get flu front page headlines and outraged statements by all authorities of the State.
Sigh... At least France is not accused of being antisemitic (yet?) In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
A new poll suggests that a majority of Irish voters may back the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum set to be held this year. The Sunday Independent / Quantum Research survey carried out last Friday showed that 55 percent of the 500 people asked would support the treaty while 37 percent said they would oppose it and 15 percent said they were undecided. A second referendum is to be held this year These latest figures showed a strong rise in support (plus 16%) for the charter when compared to a survey carried out by the same newspaper in December. Those saying they would vote against the treaty decreased by seven percent. The poll comes after EU leaders in December agreed to give Ireland guarantees that the treaty would not affect issues such as tax and neutrality. Ireland's deteriorating economy is likely to be an important factor behind the change of heart, with many still shocked and angered by last week's announcement that 1,900 jobs at the Dell plant in Limerick are to be transferred to Poland. The poll also shows a steep decline in support for the government and Prime Minister Brian Cowen and a corresponding rise in support for opposition parties and in particular Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.
A new poll suggests that a majority of Irish voters may back the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum set to be held this year.
The Sunday Independent / Quantum Research survey carried out last Friday showed that 55 percent of the 500 people asked would support the treaty while 37 percent said they would oppose it and 15 percent said they were undecided.
A second referendum is to be held this year
These latest figures showed a strong rise in support (plus 16%) for the charter when compared to a survey carried out by the same newspaper in December. Those saying they would vote against the treaty decreased by seven percent.
The poll comes after EU leaders in December agreed to give Ireland guarantees that the treaty would not affect issues such as tax and neutrality.
Ireland's deteriorating economy is likely to be an important factor behind the change of heart, with many still shocked and angered by last week's announcement that 1,900 jobs at the Dell plant in Limerick are to be transferred to Poland.
The poll also shows a steep decline in support for the government and Prime Minister Brian Cowen and a corresponding rise in support for opposition parties and in particular Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.
urvey carried out last Friday showed that 55 percent of the 500 people asked would support the treaty while 37 percent said they would oppose it and 15 percent said they were undecided.
55% + 37% +15% = 107% ... "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
The European Commission has admitted that the European Union citizens feel that collective decisions are better for the EU in general but especially in the field of science and technological research. Citing a new qualitative study regarding the image of science and the perceptions and attitudes on the European research policy of the EU citizens, the Commission said, "The study shows that the predominant hopes and fears are concentrated on subjects that are perceived as concretely affecting peoples' daily lives or likely to affect them." "These results are particularly encouraging: they prove science matters to people and that the Commission's objective to build the European Research Area is going in the good direction" said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. "European citizens believe in science as a tool of progress and support a more cooperative European approach to science and technology policy. Pooling brains and resources is key to make the EU competitive globally: we are more intelligent together than on our own!".
"The study shows that the predominant hopes and fears are concentrated on subjects that are perceived as concretely affecting peoples' daily lives or likely to affect them." "These results are particularly encouraging: they prove science matters to people and that the Commission's objective to build the European Research Area is going in the good direction" said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. "European citizens believe in science as a tool of progress and support a more cooperative European approach to science and technology policy. Pooling brains and resources is key to make the EU competitive globally: we are more intelligent together than on our own!".
Catholics who claim they have seen the Virgin Mary will be forced to remain silent about the apparitions until a team of psychologists, theologians, priests and exorcists have fully investigated their claims under new Vatican guidelines aimed at stamping out false claims of miracles. The Pope has instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to draw up a new handbook to help bishops snuff out an explosion of bogus heavenly apparitions. [...] The visionaries will then be visited by a team of psychiatrists, either atheists or Catholics, to certify their mental health while theologians will assess the content of any heavenly messages to see if they contravene Church teachings.
The Pope has instructed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to draw up a new handbook to help bishops snuff out an explosion of bogus heavenly apparitions.
[...]
The visionaries will then be visited by a team of psychiatrists, either atheists or Catholics, to certify their mental health while theologians will assess the content of any heavenly messages to see if they contravene Church teachings.
