Migration into and out of the European continent has always been a touchy issue. Now EU ministers are calling on tougher rules, which discourage illegal immigrants while still encouraging skilled foreign labor. European Union justice ministers have announced that Europe should take complete control of migration into and out of the continent, working with the rest of the world to end illegal migration and manage legal flows. The news comes as EU ministers meet with their counterparts in the southern French beach resort of Cannes. The informal meeting, a regular feature of EU politics, is aimed at getting ministers to agree on the broad outline of policies, so that they will find it easier to agree on the technical details at future, formal meetings. Monday's talks were set to be dominated by a proposal from the French government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, to create a "pact on immigration and asylum" between the EU's 27 member states.
European Union justice ministers have announced that Europe should take complete control of migration into and out of the continent, working with the rest of the world to end illegal migration and manage legal flows. The news comes as EU ministers meet with their counterparts in the southern French beach resort of Cannes.
The informal meeting, a regular feature of EU politics, is aimed at getting ministers to agree on the broad outline of policies, so that they will find it easier to agree on the technical details at future, formal meetings.
Monday's talks were set to be dominated by a proposal from the French government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, to create a "pact on immigration and asylum" between the EU's 27 member states.
It wasn't a meeting of the European Council, which is the "Summit" that gets all the attention but is not an EU institution. However, it was a meeting of the Council of the EU in its configuration of "Justice and Home Affairs" which is an EU institution.
DW's confusion about the ministers may come from the "justice" bit in the name. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
Didn't we conclude that it became one? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Part five -- Institutions of the Community TITLE I -- Provisions governing the institutions Chapter 1 -- The institutions Section 1 -- The European Parliament Section 2 -- The Council Section 3 -- The Commission Section 4 -- The Court of Justice Section 5 -- The Court of Auditors Chapter 2 -- Provisions common to several institutions Chapter 3 -- The Economic and Social Committee Chapter 4 -- The Committee of the Regions Chapter 5 -- The European Investment Bank
TITLE I -- Provisions governing the institutions
Chapter 1 -- The institutions
Section 1 -- The European Parliament
Section 2 -- The Council
Section 3 -- The Commission
Section 4 -- The Court of Justice
Section 5 -- The Court of Auditors
Chapter 2 -- Provisions common to several institutions
Chapter 3 -- The Economic and Social Committee
Chapter 4 -- The Committee of the Regions
Chapter 5 -- The European Investment Bank
Article 203 The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member State. The office of President shall be held in turn by each Member State in the Council for a term of six months in the order decided by the Council acting unanimously.
Article 203
The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member State.
The office of President shall be held in turn by each Member State in the Council for a term of six months in the order decided by the Council acting unanimously.
Article 4 The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof. The European Council shall bring together the Heads of State or Government of the Member States and the President of the Commission. They shall be assisted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States and by a Member of the Commission. The European Council shall meet at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the Head of State or Government of the Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council. The European Council shall submit to the European Parliament a report after each of its meetings and a yearly written report on the progress achieved by the Union.
The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof.
The European Council shall bring together the Heads of State or Government of the Member States and the President of the Commission. They shall be assisted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States and by a Member of the Commission. The European Council shall meet at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the Head of State or Government of the Member State which holds the Presidency of the Council.
The European Council shall submit to the European Parliament a report after each of its meetings and a yearly written report on the progress achieved by the Union.
PART SIX INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS TITLE I INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS Chapter 1 The institutions Section 1 The European Parliament Section 2 The European Council Section 3 The Council Section 4 The Commission Section 5 The Court of Justice of the European Union Section 6 The European Central Bank Section 7 The Court of Auditors
TITLE I INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 1 The institutions
Section 1 The European Parliament
Section 2 The European Council
Section 3 The Council
Section 4 The Commission
Section 5 The Court of Justice of the European Union
Section 6 The European Central Bank
Section 7 The Court of Auditors
I agree with you: the distinction of the "Council of the European Union" and the "European Council" was only nebulous in my mind until recently, and didn't realise that it was nebulous legally, too, and that it was just the Lisbon Treaty that finally cleared this nebulosity. That's a bad point.
One of these days, you, me and Jérôme should browse through the treaty and then battle it out over just how the treaty really shifts power and relative weight between Parliament, Council (both of them) and Commission. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The usually-well-informed Canard Enchaîné last week trips over its webbed feet in mixing up the European Council and the Council of Europe: in an erratum notice about a previous mix-up!
Canard, 18 June: a story says the Council of Europe has launched a campaign against smacking children (true). But it mixes up the Council of Europe with the European Union, which is not the case.
Canard, 2 July: an erratum note says they mixed up the Council of Europe and the European Council. The note says the Council of Europe is composed of the 27 heads of state of the EU, and the European Council, founded in 1950, is made up of 47 members including Russia and Turkey.
Aaarrggh!
But does the problem exist in Hungarian, for instance?
The meeting is said to be informal.
The Czech government has agreed to host facilities that would be used as part of the defensive shield the US wants to build in Europe. But the plans are unpopular among Czechs and many others. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the deal had been reached after meeting with her counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg in Prague. "We face with the Iranians, and so do our allies and friends, a growing missile threat that is getting ever longer and ever deeper, and where the Iranian appetite for nuclear technology ... is still unchecked," Rice told reporters in Czech capital. The radar system is part of a defensive shield intended to protect Europe against missile attacks by so-called "rouge states" like Iran. Washington hopes that the entire shield will be functional some time between 2011 and 2013. But Rice said the next US President would have to decide whether and how to go ahead with the shield.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the deal had been reached after meeting with her counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg in Prague.
"We face with the Iranians, and so do our allies and friends, a growing missile threat that is getting ever longer and ever deeper, and where the Iranian appetite for nuclear technology ... is still unchecked," Rice told reporters in Czech capital.
The radar system is part of a defensive shield intended to protect Europe against missile attacks by so-called "rouge states" like Iran. Washington hopes that the entire shield will be functional some time between 2011 and 2013.
But Rice said the next US President would have to decide whether and how to go ahead with the shield.
MOSCOW, July 8 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia will use military-technical rather than diplomatic methods in case of the deployment of U.S. missile defense elements in Europe, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in comments on the U.S.-Czech ABM deal. "If the agreement with the United States liable for ratification by the Czech parliament eventually becomes a law, and the deployment of U.S. missile defense elements really starts in the direct proximity to our borders, we will have to use military-technical rather than diplomatic methods," the ministry said. "There is no doubt that the deployment of U.S. strategic weaponry close to the Russian territory may be used for weakening our deterring potential. Obviously, Russia will have to take appropriate measures and compensate the forming potential threats to its national security. This is not our choice," the ministry said.
"If the agreement with the United States liable for ratification by the Czech parliament eventually becomes a law, and the deployment of U.S. missile defense elements really starts in the direct proximity to our borders, we will have to use military-technical rather than diplomatic methods," the ministry said.
"There is no doubt that the deployment of U.S. strategic weaponry close to the Russian territory may be used for weakening our deterring potential. Obviously, Russia will have to take appropriate measures and compensate the forming potential threats to its national security. This is not our choice," the ministry said.
Because the US has not done enough to create instability in the world... "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Russia tonight threatened to retaliate by military means after a deal with the Czech Republic brought the US missile defence system in Europe a step closer. The threat followed quickly on from the announcement that Condoleezza Rice signed a formal agreement with the Czech Republic to host the radar for the controversial project. Moscow argues that the missile shield would severely undermine the balance of European security and regards the proposed missile shield based in two former Communist countries as a hostile move. "We will be forced to react not with diplomatic, but with military-technical methods," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Russia tonight threatened to retaliate by military means after a deal with the Czech Republic brought the US missile defence system in Europe a step closer.
The threat followed quickly on from the announcement that Condoleezza Rice signed a formal agreement with the Czech Republic to host the radar for the controversial project.
Moscow argues that the missile shield would severely undermine the balance of European security and regards the proposed missile shield based in two former Communist countries as a hostile move.
"We will be forced to react not with diplomatic, but with military-technical methods," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
although I think the russians might be better served by letting them get on with it, even encouraging the missiles elsewhere. After all, it's all American treasure being wasted pointlessly and that has to be a positive from their point of view. keep to the Fen Causeway
It would be much wiser to let the US break itself and quietly chuckle from the side keep to the Fen Causeway
That's the neocon interpretation. But I agree, armament races are so adolescent and wasteful. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Presumbaly someone in the Pentagon still thinks Russia could be planning a first strike. But if so, there doesn't seem to be any evidence at all for that view.
Mr. Topolanek's coalition government does not have enough seats to assure support for the plans and may need opposition votes. Legislators from the Green Party -- the government's junior coalition partner -- have indicated they may block the proposals and opposition parties have demanded a national referendum. About two-thirds of Czechs oppose the radar deployment, according to polls. "Ratification will be difficult," said Jiri Schneider, program director at the Prague Security Studies Institute. "The missile defense plan has sparked a national debate about how exposed we want to be on the international stage." Czech political analysts said that, for the older generation, the missile defense plans had tapped into a deep and abiding suspicion of security alliances that stretched back across the past century. In 1938, on the eve of World War II, Czechoslovakia was carved up by the Nazis, with Western acquiescence, despite having a security agreement with France . In 1968, the country was invaded by troops from the Soviet Union. For the younger generation, opposition to the missile plan has become a way to express discontent with American policies, including the war in Iraq. Jan Tamas, 32, an information technology consultant in Prague who went on a 21-day hunger strike to oppose the plans, said he was motivated to do so by a mistrust of the Bush administration, fears of an arms race and opposition to having foreign troops on Czech soil. "The U.S. says we need missile defense to protect us from Iran," Tamas said. "But they made the same claims in 2003 about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction, and they were wrong." But Jiri Dolezal, 43, a commentator for the Czech weekly magazine Reflex, who has held a hunger strike in favor of the missile plans, said installing a radar base in his country would buttress national security and was an important expression of assertiveness after decades of Czech passivity under communist occupation. He called opponents of the plans a fringe of leftist radicals who were succumbing "to traditional Czech cowardice."
"Ratification will be difficult," said Jiri Schneider, program director at the Prague Security Studies Institute. "The missile defense plan has sparked a national debate about how exposed we want to be on the international stage."
Czech political analysts said that, for the older generation, the missile defense plans had tapped into a deep and abiding suspicion of security alliances that stretched back across the past century.
In 1938, on the eve of World War II, Czechoslovakia was carved up by the Nazis, with Western acquiescence, despite having a security agreement with France . In 1968, the country was invaded by troops from the Soviet Union. For the younger generation, opposition to the missile plan has become a way to express discontent with American policies, including the war in Iraq.
Jan Tamas, 32, an information technology consultant in Prague who went on a 21-day hunger strike to oppose the plans, said he was motivated to do so by a mistrust of the Bush administration, fears of an arms race and opposition to having foreign troops on Czech soil.
"The U.S. says we need missile defense to protect us from Iran," Tamas said. "But they made the same claims in 2003 about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction, and they were wrong."
But Jiri Dolezal, 43, a commentator for the Czech weekly magazine Reflex, who has held a hunger strike in favor of the missile plans, said installing a radar base in his country would buttress national security and was an important expression of assertiveness after decades of Czech passivity under communist occupation.
He called opponents of the plans a fringe of leftist radicals who were succumbing "to traditional Czech cowardice."
Mr. Dolezal has a funny idea of what constitutes passivity and cowardice.
But Jiri Dolezal, ....... said installing a radar base in his country would buttress national security and was an important expression of assertiveness after decades of Czech passivity under communist occupation
So being submissive to the global hegemony of the US is okay and not a demonstration of the new passivity ? keep to the Fen Causeway
European Union interior ministers meeting in Cannes, France have announced that police in member states can deploy units to places frequented by tourists across the EU to handle problems and complaints. The EU-wide plan would see national police officers stationed for several months -- for example, during the summer holiday period -- at locations that citizens from that country often visit. Robert Maroni, Italian interior minister, said that Franco-Italian stations would be set up as early as August in French cities most popular with Italians: Paris, Versailles and Nice. The stations would allow citizens from an EU country "to have access to police from their home and who speak their language," said Michele Alliot-Marie, France's interior minister, who is chairing the security talks in Cannes. Besides being set up in the summer months, national police could also be deployed abroad for large-scale sporting events, such as the recent Euro 2008 soccer tournament.
The EU-wide plan would see national police officers stationed for several months -- for example, during the summer holiday period -- at locations that citizens from that country often visit.
Robert Maroni, Italian interior minister, said that Franco-Italian stations would be set up as early as August in French cities most popular with Italians: Paris, Versailles and Nice.
The stations would allow citizens from an EU country "to have access to police from their home and who speak their language," said Michele Alliot-Marie, France's interior minister, who is chairing the security talks in Cannes.
Besides being set up in the summer months, national police could also be deployed abroad for large-scale sporting events, such as the recent Euro 2008 soccer tournament.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs on Tuesday (8 July) approved a plan to include airlines into a pollution-reducing Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012 in a bid to cut the greenhouse gases emitted by the fast-growing sector. The move was approved by 640 votes in favour and 30 against and means that airlines will have to cut their CO2 emissions by 3 percent in 2012, and by 5 percent from 2013 onwards. The aviation deal "creates the worst of all worlds," according to the International Air Carrier Association Additionally, they will have to pay for permits covering 15 percent of their allowances to emit CO2 - the remaining 85 percent will be allocated for free. Following an agreement with EU governments last month, all steps have now been completed for the proposal to be transformed into law and it is to apply to all companies flying in and out of the EU, including non-European ones. "This can be considered a revolution because until now we have not yet included products from third countries," said the MEP in charge of the dossier, German Christian Democrat Peter Liese.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs on Tuesday (8 July) approved a plan to include airlines into a pollution-reducing Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2012 in a bid to cut the greenhouse gases emitted by the fast-growing sector.
The move was approved by 640 votes in favour and 30 against and means that airlines will have to cut their CO2 emissions by 3 percent in 2012, and by 5 percent from 2013 onwards.
The aviation deal "creates the worst of all worlds," according to the International Air Carrier Association
Additionally, they will have to pay for permits covering 15 percent of their allowances to emit CO2 - the remaining 85 percent will be allocated for free.
Following an agreement with EU governments last month, all steps have now been completed for the proposal to be transformed into law and it is to apply to all companies flying in and out of the EU, including non-European ones.
"This can be considered a revolution because until now we have not yet included products from third countries," said the MEP in charge of the dossier, German Christian Democrat Peter Liese.
European ETS Vote: The Wrong Answer Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) severely criticised today's European Parliament vote to bring aviation into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). "It's absolutely the wrong answer to the very serious issue of environment," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. "We support emissions trading, but not this decision. Europe has taken the wrong approach, with the wrong conditions at the wrong time."
Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) severely criticised today's European Parliament vote to bring aviation into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
"It's absolutely the wrong answer to the very serious issue of environment," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. "We support emissions trading, but not this decision. Europe has taken the wrong approach, with the wrong conditions at the wrong time."
AEA - Airlines Count the Cost of Parliament Vote on Emissions Trading
"This legislative package destroys the industry's ability to invest, gives no incentive to Europe's governments to commit to airspace modernization and invites conflict rather than collaboration with international partners. We looked for European leadership and what we have got is political opportunism, which is hardly the template for a global approach to the challenge".
We looked for European leadership and what we have got is political opportunism, which is hardly the template for a global approach to the challenge".
Question to you: does this legislation also affect non-EU carriers landing in Europe? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
MEPs adopted legislation on including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), all flights starting and/or landing in Europe (including intercontinental flights) to be included in the ETS from 1 January 2012.
And that's exactly the point where IATA is threatening the whole thing:
European ETS Vote: The Wrong Answer
The Wrong Approach: Europe's unilateral and extra-territorial approach will apply ETS to all aircraft flying to or from Europe. Without international agreement this will only spark international legal battles. "What right does Europe have to impose ETS charges on, for example, an Australian carrier flying from Asia to Europe for emissions over the Middle East? Article 1 of the Chicago Convention prohibits this. And it goes against Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol. Fuelling legal battles and trade wars is no way to help the environment. Already over 130 states have vowed to oppose it.
Without international agreement this will only spark international legal battles. "What right does Europe have to impose ETS charges on, for example, an Australian carrier flying from Asia to Europe for emissions over the Middle East? Article 1 of the Chicago Convention prohibits this. And it goes against Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol.
Fuelling legal battles and trade wars is no way to help the environment. Already over 130 states have vowed to oppose it.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU finance ministers on Tuesday (8 July) agreed to publish reports on their oil reserves on a weekly basis in a bid to reassure traders and reduce the soaring fuel prices. French finance minister Christine Lagarde - whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency - said the move to be more transparent about stocks would make it easier to get a more "coherent picture" of what is happening on the oil market, with most member states currently publishing this information on a monthly basis. Most member states publish information on oil stocks on a monthly basis. The European Commission is to outline exactly how countries will go about doing this in a report to be published in October. The move is supposed to add some predictability to the market with some analysts suggesting that speculators are driving up the fuel prices. However, others say it is simply a question of supply and demand - a view put forward by EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy who argued after the meeting that while speculative investors could lead to some "short-term volatility" it is the "fundamentals of the market (...) which are the main drivers."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU finance ministers on Tuesday (8 July) agreed to publish reports on their oil reserves on a weekly basis in a bid to reassure traders and reduce the soaring fuel prices.
French finance minister Christine Lagarde - whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency - said the move to be more transparent about stocks would make it easier to get a more "coherent picture" of what is happening on the oil market, with most member states currently publishing this information on a monthly basis.
Most member states publish information on oil stocks on a monthly basis.
The European Commission is to outline exactly how countries will go about doing this in a report to be published in October.
The move is supposed to add some predictability to the market with some analysts suggesting that speculators are driving up the fuel prices.
However, others say it is simply a question of supply and demand - a view put forward by EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy who argued after the meeting that while speculative investors could lead to some "short-term volatility" it is the "fundamentals of the market (...) which are the main drivers."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has opted to allow reduced sales tax for housing, local restaurants and some small services in a move welcomed by France but poised to spark opposition in other countries, mainly Germany. The proposal, unveiled by EU tax commissioner Laszlo Kovacs on Monday (7 July), enables the bloc's member states to apply lower VAT rates for some specific sectors on a permanent basis. France has lobbied hard to get permission for reduced sales tax on restaurants Up until now, national capitals could use a scheme of temporary exemptions from regular VAT rates on a number of so called "labour intensive" services, such as bike and shoe repairs, house renovations or hairdressers. The experimental scheme was originally applied by 11 countries and after strong discussions among national finance ministers, it was prolonged in 2006 until the end of this decade. While goods and services are generally subject to a minimum 15 percent VAT in the EU, member states may apply reduced rates of not less than 5 percent to some sectors, as set out in a restricted list.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has opted to allow reduced sales tax for housing, local restaurants and some small services in a move welcomed by France but poised to spark opposition in other countries, mainly Germany.
The proposal, unveiled by EU tax commissioner Laszlo Kovacs on Monday (7 July), enables the bloc's member states to apply lower VAT rates for some specific sectors on a permanent basis.
France has lobbied hard to get permission for reduced sales tax on restaurants
Up until now, national capitals could use a scheme of temporary exemptions from regular VAT rates on a number of so called "labour intensive" services, such as bike and shoe repairs, house renovations or hairdressers.
The experimental scheme was originally applied by 11 countries and after strong discussions among national finance ministers, it was prolonged in 2006 until the end of this decade.
While goods and services are generally subject to a minimum 15 percent VAT in the EU, member states may apply reduced rates of not less than 5 percent to some sectors, as set out in a restricted list.
EUOBSERVER / FOCUS - At a time when studying in a country other than one's own is getting increasingly popular in the EU, a post-graduate university with campuses in two member states claims to be "the most genuinely 'European'" university institute of European studies. Seen as churning out most of the EU's elite, the College of Europe situated in Bruges, Belgium and Natolin (Warsaw), Poland, gathers more than 400 students from both the EU and beyond. The College of Europe's campus in Natolin opened in 1994 - it is part of a 120 hectare historical park and nature reserve In the 2007 to 2008 academic year 412 students from 54 nationalities were present on the two campuses of the College, but since it opened its doors in 1949, the institution has handled almost 10,000 students altogether. It offers post-graduate programmes in a number of EU-related disciplines on its Bruges campus - economy, law, political and administrative studies, international relations and diplomacy, as well as a more general European Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies programme in Natolin. In order to study in the College of Europe, candidates have to demonstrate good levels of French and English, a good academic background, as well as present recommendation letters from professors to back up their capacities.
EUOBSERVER / FOCUS - At a time when studying in a country other than one's own is getting increasingly popular in the EU, a post-graduate university with campuses in two member states claims to be "the most genuinely 'European'" university institute of European studies.
Seen as churning out most of the EU's elite, the College of Europe situated in Bruges, Belgium and Natolin (Warsaw), Poland, gathers more than 400 students from both the EU and beyond.
The College of Europe's campus in Natolin opened in 1994 - it is part of a 120 hectare historical park and nature reserve
In the 2007 to 2008 academic year 412 students from 54 nationalities were present on the two campuses of the College, but since it opened its doors in 1949, the institution has handled almost 10,000 students altogether.
It offers post-graduate programmes in a number of EU-related disciplines on its Bruges campus - economy, law, political and administrative studies, international relations and diplomacy, as well as a more general European Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies programme in Natolin.
In order to study in the College of Europe, candidates have to demonstrate good levels of French and English, a good academic background, as well as present recommendation letters from professors to back up their capacities.
EU presidency France has suggested that popular tourist destinations in member states be staffed with police from all over the bloc. The proposal was presented by French interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie as she hosted an informal meeting with her European counterparts in Cannes, France, on Monday (7 July). "These would not be monstrous mega-police stations," says the French interior minister "These would not be monstrous mega-police stations, but rather offices where people from a foreign country can come and be assisted when they have something nasty happen to them, if they've been attacked or had their pockets picked, and where they will be well looked after," Ms Alliot-Marie said, according to media reports. In practice, the proposal would allow for police officers from Germany - for example - to be stationed with Czech police forces in Prague in order to assist German citizens - something that could also be applied for big sport events. According to Euronews, France is set to launch a pilot project in the pilgrim city of Lourdes when the Pope comes to visit in September. French and Italian police will be operating in Paris, Versailles and Nice ahead of and during the papal visit.
EU presidency France has suggested that popular tourist destinations in member states be staffed with police from all over the bloc.
The proposal was presented by French interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie as she hosted an informal meeting with her European counterparts in Cannes, France, on Monday (7 July).
"These would not be monstrous mega-police stations," says the French interior minister
"These would not be monstrous mega-police stations, but rather offices where people from a foreign country can come and be assisted when they have something nasty happen to them, if they've been attacked or had their pockets picked, and where they will be well looked after," Ms Alliot-Marie said, according to media reports.
In practice, the proposal would allow for police officers from Germany - for example - to be stationed with Czech police forces in Prague in order to assist German citizens - something that could also be applied for big sport events.
According to Euronews, France is set to launch a pilot project in the pilgrim city of Lourdes when the Pope comes to visit in September. French and Italian police will be operating in Paris, Versailles and Nice ahead of and during the papal visit.
Berlin is planning to ease restrictions on the immigration of educated workers in order to address skills shortages in German industry. At the same time it wants to extend limits on the migration of Eastern European labor. A worker checks a part at MWL a maker of pressure containers for the petrochemical industry. Many German firms have been hit by a shortage of skilled workers. Germany wants more immigrants -- at least as long as they are qualified workers. The German government plans to ease restrictions on the immigration of educated foreigners with much needed skills. However, at the same time Berlin wants to further delay the migration of unskilled labor from Eastern Europe. On Monday, government spokesman Thomas Steg told reporters that there had been no final decision on the shake up of Germany's immigration rules but confirmed media reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet planned to discuss the matter later in July. Last week, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Labor Minister Olaf Scholz presented an "action plan" on easing immigration to their colleagues in the governing left-right coalition.
Berlin is planning to ease restrictions on the immigration of educated workers in order to address skills shortages in German industry. At the same time it wants to extend limits on the migration of Eastern European labor.
A worker checks a part at MWL a maker of pressure containers for the petrochemical industry. Many German firms have been hit by a shortage of skilled workers. Germany wants more immigrants -- at least as long as they are qualified workers. The German government plans to ease restrictions on the immigration of educated foreigners with much needed skills. However, at the same time Berlin wants to further delay the migration of unskilled labor from Eastern Europe.
On Monday, government spokesman Thomas Steg told reporters that there had been no final decision on the shake up of Germany's immigration rules but confirmed media reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet planned to discuss the matter later in July.
Last week, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Labor Minister Olaf Scholz presented an "action plan" on easing immigration to their colleagues in the governing left-right coalition.
Time to learn german. keep to the Fen Causeway
I always feel better when I know my problems are my own fault.
A simple language, skills and work experience requirement is the key approach. Trying to be too restrictive with education, phd, funds, etc, requirements would be foolish and counter-productive. The hungriest Americans who would be most beneficial to a European economy are the 25-45 age group with 4+ years of experience in their field.
If possible, favor single people by not offering visa's to the spouse/children or whatever. Those people can be granted other means but if your goal is emigrant brain-drain you need to get the young, mobile and energized Americans who are uncertain about their futures here. There are many and they can offer you as much as you offered the US these past 200 years.
Which country meets those specifications? I'm thinking Spain...
MILAN: Several thousand Italians protested in Rome on Tuesday against government plans to push laws through Parliament that critics say were tailor-made to help Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sidestep legal troubles. Lawmakers began discussing a measure that would grant immunity from prosecution to the top four Italian leaders, including Berlusconi, who is on trial in Milan on corruption charges. "It's inconceivable because it would allow the president to kill his wife or slash up his lover or sell drugs without being prosecuted," said Antonio Di Pietro, an opposition leader who helped promote the rally. Organizers initially said 15,000 people had attended the demonstration in Piazza Navona, while the police said fewer than 6,000 participated. Later, the protest grew, filling the square.
MILAN: Several thousand Italians protested in Rome on Tuesday against government plans to push laws through Parliament that critics say were tailor-made to help Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sidestep legal troubles.
Lawmakers began discussing a measure that would grant immunity from prosecution to the top four Italian leaders, including Berlusconi, who is on trial in Milan on corruption charges.
"It's inconceivable because it would allow the president to kill his wife or slash up his lover or sell drugs without being prosecuted," said Antonio Di Pietro, an opposition leader who helped promote the rally.
Organizers initially said 15,000 people had attended the demonstration in Piazza Navona, while the police said fewer than 6,000 participated. Later, the protest grew, filling the square.
I think Marco Travaglio made the best speech all around as far as content, irony and intelligence. Di Pietro was hoarse while Grillo was far too into a rant to be comprehensible. Everyone can have a rant- I wouldn't mind "acting out" myself but Grillo only rants now a days. Sabina Guzzanti really let loose with a good old "Garibaldian" attack on the church and a very heavy attack against the sober sex-pot minister of very equal opportunities, Mara Carfagna. Sabina grounded her sketch based on an article that appeared in the Argentine Clarin, GRABACIONES CON FUERTE CONTENIDO EROTICO that- according to her- details lessons in how to blow The Man to power. Eat yer heart out, Monica!
From a political point of view it may be counterproductive, but with all the center-lefty sissies that want to pretty-please a Tyranosaurus Rex on post-Viagra drugs, it's worth it.
Mara has said that she is sueing Guzzanti. (They always say that.)
In the final analysis, the demonstration showed the vitality of the opposition with all its contrasts. It will be dismissed because of Guzzanti and Grillo (oh, yes, Travaglio's a must!) but I personally don't give a shit what the press has to say tomorrow. After all, the fuck wits that voted for Berlusconi are just dying to read about Carfagna's technical prowess- or just look at the pictures.
The European Commission has launched a scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to schools across Europe in a drive to curb child obesity. The commission aims to spend 90m euros (£71m; $141m) annually on the scheme - a sum to be matched by participating governments, who are yet to approve it. About 22 million children in the EU are overweight - more than five million of them obese, the commission warns. The figure is expected to rise by 400,000 annually. The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 400g of fruit and vegetables per person. Most of the EU's 27 member states currently fail to meet that target.
The European Commission has launched a scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to schools across Europe in a drive to curb child obesity.
The commission aims to spend 90m euros (£71m; $141m) annually on the scheme - a sum to be matched by participating governments, who are yet to approve it.
About 22 million children in the EU are overweight - more than five million of them obese, the commission warns.
The figure is expected to rise by
400,000 annually.
The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 400g of fruit and vegetables per person. Most of the EU's 27 member states currently fail to meet that target.
Is it compatible with EU rules on the single market? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Whether it's a realistic or useful idea is another matter. It feels like PR gesticulation to me.
It's a centuries-old tradition, but even modern-day Albania is still plagued by blood feuds. Thousands in the country don't leave their homes for fear of falling victim to revenge murders. But reconciliations are on the rise. Mr. Puci, 52, and his family are afraid to leave their house due to an ongoing blood feud. On the wall is a picture of his two murdered brothers. The small picture of two grim looking men in suits is the only adornment on the white wall of the family's living room. The two were Mr. Puci's brothers -- and they were murdered four years ago. Revenge was taken, and as a result, Puci and his family, including the five children of his dead brothers, are unable to leave their two-storey home here in this bleak suburb just outside the Albanian capital, Tirana. "The children cannot go to school," says Puci, 52, a former construction worker who asked that his full name not be published. "We will run out of money soon. Somebody needs to work, but if they go to work they're going to be killed. The other family will be watching everything we do. They'll wait for their chance."
It's a centuries-old tradition, but even modern-day Albania is still plagued by blood feuds. Thousands in the country don't leave their homes for fear of falling victim to revenge murders. But reconciliations are on the rise.
Mr. Puci, 52, and his family are afraid to leave their house due to an ongoing blood feud. On the wall is a picture of his two murdered brothers. The small picture of two grim looking men in suits is the only adornment on the white wall of the family's living room.
The two were Mr. Puci's brothers -- and they were murdered four years ago. Revenge was taken, and as a result, Puci and his family, including the five children of his dead brothers, are unable to leave their two-storey home here in this bleak suburb just outside the Albanian capital, Tirana.
"The children cannot go to school," says Puci, 52, a former construction worker who asked that his full name not be published. "We will run out of money soon. Somebody needs to work, but if they go to work they're going to be killed. The other family will be watching everything we do. They'll wait for their chance."
The Socialist mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, has championed a change to rules that currently limit the height of inner-city buildings to 37 metres (122 feet), despite polls showing that two-thirds of Parisians oppose the change.
On Tuesday, Paris city council voted to launch a public consultation on plans to build towers of up to 200 metres at six emblematic sites just inside the city walls.
Part of wide-ranging regeneration plans, the towers would mix shops, offices and childcare centres. Delanoe also backs the construction of new 50-metre apartment blocks to counter a shortage of affordable housing in the capital.
The 37-metre ceiling was brought in 1977 to call a halt to a string of high-rise projects -- including the Montparnasse tower south of the River Seine -- that were quickly seen as failed experiments in urbanism.
"We will not repeat the mistakes of the past," Delanoe told the city council before the vote.
I don't think the goal here is to increase density, but to "provide affordable housing". High-rises tend to fail at that, to judge by the experience of the US "projects" and UK "estates", precisely because of the lack of services and open spaces. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
That said, there's already a severe street-parking shortage near my office, and they're currently building two more highrises across the street; it looks like at least one of the buildings, if not both, are ignoring the city's requirement to build parking in any new construction, so we're bracing for a nightmare if and when those buildings are actually occupied. (Which, the way things go here, could be years after they're actually built.)
Washington D.C. also has a height restriction, as do some of the surrounding communities; this blogger based in the Maryland suburbs has some interesting suggestions for regulating the construction of taller buildings so as to make them greener and more workable.
NYC has strict parking space laws that work in the opposite direction in Manhattan - i.e. you are not allowed to build much of it. That's a good thing - the core of the Midtown office district has about 700,000 jobs packed into one square kilometer, I'm not quite sure how one would handle that with car based commuting.
Lack of parking space has been shown to be the single most important factor driving traffic in Paris, so the city is busy reducing the overall stock inside Paris. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Also, what is really critical is indeed to avoid the lack of services (open spaces are present in French projects, and are mostly misused ; also, towers in Paris would be within an urban environment, unlike the projects in the suburbs which suffer of exclusion from the rest of the city).
Also, the goal may be to provide "affordable housing", but the target isn't the poor, but rather the middle class (people like me) who can't afford Paris any more. The social problem this potentially causes are quite different... Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
I don't know the number of 8+ story buildings in NYC, but given that there are over 5600 12+ story ones within the city limits I'd beg to differ. (Paris has less than 500 - not completely comparable, a much smaller land area, on the other hand the outer parts of the outer boroughs are generally zoned low rise or even single family in some cases)
Also, you have to make sure you have enough services and open spaces in the vicinity.
The services aren't a problem. Open spaces, well thanks to some nice city planning over a century ago NYC does fine on that count, but it isn't easy to reverse engineer into a different layout.
More seriously, there already are some high-rise housing neighbourhood in the outer arrondissements of Paris, and they are not unlivable. Both need to be done : density increase within and out of Paris. Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
There are arguments (e.g. those involving affordable housing, population density and urban sprawl) for building things higher than 37 meters. There is, however, a big difference between 37 m and 200 m....
Another nuclear safety agency official, Charles-Antoine Louet, said the liquid contained about 360 kilograms (794 pounds) of un-enriched natural uranium, which he said is only slightly radioactive although toxic.
Ah yes, the downside of nuclear power.
French independent nuclear watchdog CRIIAD comments on storage of nuclear waste at the site and on the emission level of the release. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
They also compare their estimated activity level of 300,000 Bq/l with the limit set for liquids after treatment, 50 Bq/l.
The first report is actually totally unrelated: it was released just ahead of the incident by chance. It discusses their research into illegal/improper dumping of nuclear waste at the site. There is an earth mound on the site that is the apparent source of high radiation levels that hides nuclear waste from 1969-76, improperly (no groundwater shielding, defense against erosion), but it appeared in the national registry of nuclear waste only in 2002, with lacking detail, and the nuclear authority carries out no checks just trusts the owner. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Nucleaire ?? Non merci !!! keep to the Fen Causeway
I fail to see how this is an indictment of either the nuclear industry or the French regulators. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
However, it wouldn't have to be much worse to become a major problem, one where a government would have difficulty putting the jhin back in the back. We know that, as the Finnish can agree, even with the best will in the world, governments cannot enusre that things are as they should be.
And when nuclear goes wrong, it is catastrophic.
And just cos the government pays, it still doesn't mean that dismantling and making safe is effectively costed into the current price of the electricity. Nasty legacy to leave for a civilisation that will probably be struggling with the post-oil mess we bequeath it.
So i'm just voincing my skepticism about the safety and economics. keep to the Fen Causeway
The photovoltaic devices will cover the space of about 42 football fields, Carl-Peter Forster, the U.S. company's head for Europe, said today in a presentation to reporters in Zaragoza, near GM's factory in the town of Figueruelas.
The 50 million-euro ($78.5 million) installation will avoid about 7,000 tons a year of emissions that would be generated if power plants supplied the same amount of electricity. Detroit-based GM is the world's biggest automaker and the Spanish factory is its largest in Europe.
The Italian premier's penchant for a pretty face usually arouses nothing more than a snigger. But now it could land him in court.For years, Italy's perma-tanned 71-year-old prime minister has got away with acting like a sultan in his harem, and the Italian media, forgiving to a fault of private peccadilloes, has left him to it. He has laid siege to television eye candy, appointed some of the prettiest and least qualified ministers in Europe, then sent them billets-doux across the parliament chamber, and Italy has merely tittered and shrugged. Now the chickens are coming home to roost. His efforts to get pretty actresses jobs at RAI, Italy's state broadcaster, have sparked a corruption case which was taken up by Rome prosecutors yesterday. Mr Berlusconi's bevy of beauties - or his "little butterflies" as he preferred to call them - include Antonella Troise, Elena Russo, Evelina Manna, Camilla Ferranti and Eleonora Gaggioli. Transcripts of phone taps splashed across the Italian press in recent weeks reveal the prime minister working overtime to find the five women television work, and offering financial favours as inducement. In a phone call with Agostino Sacca - the head of television fiction at the national broadcaster and the co-accused in the corruption case - the prime minister pleads for help with the comely blonde Ms Troise. "This nutter has taken it into her head that I hate her, and am blocking her career, so do me this favour because she's getting dangerous," Mr Berlusconi begs.
For years, Italy's perma-tanned 71-year-old prime minister has got away with acting like a sultan in his harem, and the Italian media, forgiving to a fault of private peccadilloes, has left him to it. He has laid siege to television eye candy, appointed some of the prettiest and least qualified ministers in Europe, then sent them billets-doux across the parliament chamber, and Italy has merely tittered and shrugged. Now the chickens are coming home to roost.
His efforts to get pretty actresses jobs at RAI, Italy's state broadcaster, have sparked a corruption case which was taken up by Rome prosecutors yesterday.
Mr Berlusconi's bevy of beauties - or his "little butterflies" as he preferred to call them - include Antonella Troise, Elena Russo, Evelina Manna, Camilla Ferranti and Eleonora Gaggioli. Transcripts of phone taps splashed across the Italian press in recent weeks reveal the prime minister working overtime to find the five women television work, and offering financial favours as inducement.
In a phone call with Agostino Sacca - the head of television fiction at the national broadcaster and the co-accused in the corruption case - the prime minister pleads for help with the comely blonde Ms Troise. "This nutter has taken it into her head that I hate her, and am blocking her career, so do me this favour because she's getting dangerous," Mr Berlusconi begs.
