The battle to choose the next head of the European Commission intensifies today when José Manuel Barroso will be nominated formally to keep the job, setting EU governments up in a straight fight with MEPs. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, which is holder of the rotating EU presidency, has been stung into action by the refusal of Socialist, Liberal and Green MEPs to hold a vote on a new term for Mr Barroso at next week's opening session of the European Parliament. He is understood to be annoyed that MEPs ignored his warning that blocking Mr Barroso would undermine the task of preparing a common EU position for climate change talks in Copenhagen in December. But an alliance of MEPs refused to be cajoled into an early vote and have demanded to see a programme of work from Mr Barroso for the next five years.
The battle to choose the next head of the European Commission intensifies today when José Manuel Barroso will be nominated formally to keep the job, setting EU governments up in a straight fight with MEPs.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, which is holder of the rotating EU presidency, has been stung into action by the refusal of Socialist, Liberal and Green MEPs to hold a vote on a new term for Mr Barroso at next week's opening session of the European Parliament.
He is understood to be annoyed that MEPs ignored his warning that blocking Mr Barroso would undermine the task of preparing a common EU position for climate change talks in Copenhagen in December.
But an alliance of MEPs refused to be cajoled into an early vote and have demanded to see a programme of work from Mr Barroso for the next five years.
Jose Manuel Barroso, the current European Commission president, has received the official backing of the European Union to serve a second five-year term, the EU's Swedish presidency said. "We now have a unanimous formal nomination on Jose Manuel Barroso from all the heads of state and government," said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrick Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "The [EU] council has now taken its responsibility to finalize the nomination of the commission president," he said in a statement. "Hopefully we will be able to, as soon as possible, move Europe to solve the important tasks ahead of us such as the climate and financial crisis," he added. The decision to nominate Barroso, coming after a so-called "silence procedure" over 48 hours during which none of the 27 member nations objected, formalizes a political agreement reached at a summit on June 18-19.
"We now have a unanimous formal nomination on Jose Manuel Barroso from all the heads of state and government," said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrick Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "The [EU] council has now taken its responsibility to finalize the nomination of the commission president," he said in a statement.
"Hopefully we will be able to, as soon as possible, move Europe to solve the important tasks ahead of us such as the climate and financial crisis," he added.
The decision to nominate Barroso, coming after a so-called "silence procedure" over 48 hours during which none of the 27 member nations objected, formalizes a political agreement reached at a summit on June 18-19.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament is on a level power footing with member states in the EU's complex institutional triangle after years of being a mere afterthought for EU governments, its outgoing president has said. Urging his successor to keep up the fight to "defend" parliament's interests, German conservative Hans-Gert Poettering on Wednesday (8 July) said: "We are very successful now as European Parliament to be as equal partners of the council." The vote on the next parliament president will take place next week He suggested that the parliament already has the upper hand over the commission, because it "only comes into office ...once we have voted in favour." This "institutional link" for controlling the council is missing Mr Poetterig said, but parliament should be "ambitious" to increase MEPs' powers towards member states.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament is on a level power footing with member states in the EU's complex institutional triangle after years of being a mere afterthought for EU governments, its outgoing president has said.
Urging his successor to keep up the fight to "defend" parliament's interests, German conservative Hans-Gert Poettering on Wednesday (8 July) said: "We are very successful now as European Parliament to be as equal partners of the council."
The vote on the next parliament president will take place next week
He suggested that the parliament already has the upper hand over the commission, because it "only comes into office ...once we have voted in favour."
This "institutional link" for controlling the council is missing Mr Poetterig said, but parliament should be "ambitious" to increase MEPs' powers towards member states.
They're known in Italy as "ronde" or vigilante groups patrolling major cities. Those who volunteer for them say they help deter street crime. But critics say they're a platform for politically motivated bullies. Italy's parliament last week legalized private patrol groups as part of a controversial set of laws aimed at clamping down on crime. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni of the right-wing party Lega Nord has defended the measure. Maroni said this legislation will help make sure that existing groups adhere to strict regulations: small groups, armed only with mobile phones or walkie-talkies to alert the police. Giorgio Marchesich, who is in charge of the regional branch of the Volontari Verdi in Trieste said his group was very happy about the new law.
Italy's parliament last week legalized private patrol groups as part of a controversial set of laws aimed at clamping down on crime. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni of the right-wing party Lega Nord has defended the measure.
Maroni said this legislation will help make sure that existing groups adhere to strict regulations: small groups, armed only with mobile phones or walkie-talkies to alert the police.
Giorgio Marchesich, who is in charge of the regional branch of the Volontari Verdi in Trieste said his group was very happy about the new law.
The law is full of nasty loopholes that will allow private paramilitia to form without any enforceable way to disband them. The whole matter is part one of a long term strategy to create regional police forces, a cherished dream of the Lega Nord.
The ploy gave amazing results in Yugoslavia.
don't be black, don't be a gypsy, don't be gay, try not to look east european.
But they'll be so cute
But at rallies in the night with the torches burning bright I feel a stirring in me I can not neglect and I'll grab with mad abandon any man with an armband on and who's cute salute is manly and erect So if some blue eyed boy would care to teach me strength through joy and see to it that all my liberal tendencies are cured I like the boots I like the attitude and when they say heil I smile and liquify inside I like their skin i like their discipline
But heAnd hel keep to the Fen Causeway
Gaetano Saya is well-known here (and here) at Eurotrib for having created a secret parallel police force in 2004. He presently runs a fringe maniac party based on the superiority of the Aryan race.
Opposition protest over Saya's new civilian cop racket is re-enforced by the fact that the new law has no effective provisions to disband these organizations.
The Minister of the Interior, the leghista Roberto Maroni helped found the so-called Guardia Nazionale Padana [sic] known as the "Greenshirts." Here is a document he wrote in 1996 to institute the organization for the "Provisional Government of Padania." In the statue you may find a reference to practicing firearms as a moment of relax and recreation. There is also a call to Gandhi's principals of passive resistance to oppression. But the bottom line is that this new law will give the GNP legal recognition in the long term strategy to create an "ethnic" regional police force.
We may be witnessing the reoccurrence of party militia that plagued Europe in the 1920's and 30's.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - German centre-right MEP Herbert Reul is being tipped to chair the EU parliament's industry committee, as political groups haggle over jobs following last month's elections. The industry appointment would ring alarm bells in Brussels' pro-green community, with Mr Reul noted for his scepticism on the human impact on global warming. Parliament awaits: the new members of the committees will be decided next week "Given the available scientific evidence and the ongoing discussion, we should be careful to point only to one cause for climate change," Mr Reul told this website. The industry committee is the EU assembly's most powerful law-making unit. But Mr Reul's job is not a done deal, with fellow German conservative Christian Ehler also making a strong bid for the post as talks continue.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - German centre-right MEP Herbert Reul is being tipped to chair the EU parliament's industry committee, as political groups haggle over jobs following last month's elections.
The industry appointment would ring alarm bells in Brussels' pro-green community, with Mr Reul noted for his scepticism on the human impact on global warming.
Parliament awaits: the new members of the committees will be decided next week
"Given the available scientific evidence and the ongoing discussion, we should be careful to point only to one cause for climate change," Mr Reul told this website.
The industry committee is the EU assembly's most powerful law-making unit. But Mr Reul's job is not a done deal, with fellow German conservative Christian Ehler also making a strong bid for the post as talks continue.
Major European gas suppliers, E.ON Ruhrgas and GDF Suez have said they are planning to challenge the EU executive's fine for cartel-type practices, announced on Wednesday (8 July). The European Commission, the EU's top regulator, slapped a €553 million fine each on Frances's GDF Suez SA and Germany's E.ON Ruhrgas AG for colluding on market share of natural gas in national markets. Neelie Kroes: "The Commission has no alternative but to impose high fines" The penalty refers to a deal struck by the two companies back in 1975 not to sell Russian gas transported by the Megal pipeline to Germany and France in each other's markets, following their joint investment in the pipeline. According to the commission, the energy giants kept the deal in place even after the EU's gas markets were liberalised and only ended their arrangement in 2005.
Major European gas suppliers, E.ON Ruhrgas and GDF Suez have said they are planning to challenge the EU executive's fine for cartel-type practices, announced on Wednesday (8 July).
The European Commission, the EU's top regulator, slapped a €553 million fine each on Frances's GDF Suez SA and Germany's E.ON Ruhrgas AG for colluding on market share of natural gas in national markets.
Neelie Kroes: "The Commission has no alternative but to impose high fines"
The penalty refers to a deal struck by the two companies back in 1975 not to sell Russian gas transported by the Megal pipeline to Germany and France in each other's markets, following their joint investment in the pipeline.
According to the commission, the energy giants kept the deal in place even after the EU's gas markets were liberalised and only ended their arrangement in 2005.
With underfunded, ill-equipped British troops struggling in Afghanistan, now is the time for European defence co-operationIt wasn't supposed to be like this. Labour's much-praised defence review of 1998 never contemplated an Iraq and an Afghanistan simultaneously. In military language it envisaged one "relatively short war - fighting deployment" and one "enduring non-war-fighting operation". Instead we have had two long hot wars, one of which, Afghanistan, has every sign of "enduring" for a long time to come. Iraq may to all intents and purposes be over, but as the death toll inexorably rises Afghanistan makes the assumptions of 1998 invalid.Commentators now plausibly argue that our defence is in crisis. The personnel are tired and the equipment is worn out. Procurement is in disarray and in its own annual report for 2008 the MOD noted that such was the impact of overstretch that fewer than half of all military units were ready to deploy on operations in an emergency. Only the goodwill and "can-do" attitude of the forces themselves have helped to paper over the cracks. Usually Trappist senior officers have felt compelled to speak out, first in private and then, more recently, in public. Afghanistan has brought all of this to a head. There is still no clearly enunciated strategy to co-ordinate political, economic, military and counter-narcotic policies. There is a continuing shortage of helicopters and armoured vehicles. The enemy has changed his tactics from outright confrontation to roadside bombs which we have been slow to counter.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Labour's much-praised defence review of 1998 never contemplated an Iraq and an Afghanistan simultaneously. In military language it envisaged one "relatively short war - fighting deployment" and one "enduring non-war-fighting operation". Instead we have had two long hot wars, one of which, Afghanistan, has every sign of "enduring" for a long time to come. Iraq may to all intents and purposes be over, but as the death toll inexorably rises Afghanistan makes the assumptions of 1998 invalid.
Commentators now plausibly argue that our defence is in crisis. The personnel are tired and the equipment is worn out. Procurement is in disarray and in its own annual report for 2008 the MOD noted that such was the impact of overstretch that fewer than half of all military units were ready to deploy on operations in an emergency. Only the goodwill and "can-do" attitude of the forces themselves have helped to paper over the cracks. Usually Trappist senior officers have felt compelled to speak out, first in private and then, more recently, in public. Afghanistan has brought all of this to a head. There is still no clearly enunciated strategy to co-ordinate political, economic, military and counter-narcotic policies. There is a continuing shortage of helicopters and armoured vehicles. The enemy has changed his tactics from outright confrontation to roadside bombs which we have been slow to counter.
LONDON -- Britain's most senior policeman ordered an inquiry Thursday into claims that journalists from a tabloid owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch illegally hacked into the mobile phones of hundreds of celebrities and politicians. Lawmakers also demanded answers after The Guardian reported that the News of the World _ the country's most popular Sunday paper _ paid private investigators to obtain voice mail messages, private phone numbers, bank statements and other information about figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and some of the country's most senior politicians. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the story "raises questions that are serious and will obviously have to be answered." Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson said he had appointed a senior Scotland Yard officer to look into the allegations against the News of the World, which is owned by News International Ltd., a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp., owner of U.S. media outlets including Fox Television, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.
LONDON -- Britain's most senior policeman ordered an inquiry Thursday into claims that journalists from a tabloid owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch illegally hacked into the mobile phones of hundreds of celebrities and politicians.
Lawmakers also demanded answers after The Guardian reported that the News of the World _ the country's most popular Sunday paper _ paid private investigators to obtain voice mail messages, private phone numbers, bank statements and other information about figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and some of the country's most senior politicians.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the story "raises questions that are serious and will obviously have to be answered."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson said he had appointed a senior Scotland Yard officer to look into the allegations against the News of the World, which is owned by News International Ltd., a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp., owner of U.S. media outlets including Fox Television, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU's telecommunications chief, Viviane Reding, blamed the current internet business model for the rise in online piracy on Thursday (9 July), during a speech in which she outlined a new medium-term strategy for a 'digital Europe.' Ms Reding said the European Commission intends to open up a broad consultation period on the 'digital Europe' strategy next month, but already she has indicated that a central part of the plan for the next five years will be to provide greater access to good quality online content. Online piracy is prevalent among young users of the internet The debate over what can be legally downloaded from the internet has flared up in recent months, fuelled by proposed French legislation that would have allowed a new state agency, known by the acronym Hadopi, to shut down web access for up to a year for those downloading materially illegally. With the original proposal thrown out by the country's top court last month, adjusted legislation was approved by the French senate on Wednesday under which the final decision on cutting off web users has been moved from the state agency to the courts.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU's telecommunications chief, Viviane Reding, blamed the current internet business model for the rise in online piracy on Thursday (9 July), during a speech in which she outlined a new medium-term strategy for a 'digital Europe.'
Ms Reding said the European Commission intends to open up a broad consultation period on the 'digital Europe' strategy next month, but already she has indicated that a central part of the plan for the next five years will be to provide greater access to good quality online content.
Online piracy is prevalent among young users of the internet
The debate over what can be legally downloaded from the internet has flared up in recent months, fuelled by proposed French legislation that would have allowed a new state agency, known by the acronym Hadopi, to shut down web access for up to a year for those downloading materially illegally.
With the original proposal thrown out by the country's top court last month, adjusted legislation was approved by the French senate on Wednesday under which the final decision on cutting off web users has been moved from the state agency to the courts.
A number of deaths have already been attributed to the drug, which is used as a stimulant. Counsellors at Vinkki, a substance abuse treatment centre in Helsinki, say MDPV users come in the door on a daily basis. "MDPV is stronger than regular amphetamines, and it carries serious mental and physical side effects," says Teemu Tiensuu, regional director of Vinkki.
wikip:
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone, also known as MDPV or MDPK, is a stimulant drug which acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, reportedly with four times the potency of methylphenidate.
Subjective effects include CNS stimulation, euphoria, hypersexuality, agitation/anxiety and insomnia, with a duration of three to four hours, with aftereffects such as high BPM and CNS stimulation lasting from six to eight hours. High doses have been observed to cause intense, prolonged anxiety attacks in stimulant-intolerant users, and there are anecdotal reports of addiction at higher doses or more frequent dosing intervals. MDPV has been remarked about more than once for its powers as an aphrodisiac, which have been said to rival those of methamphetamine when dosed correctly.[3] Users often report to feel compelled to continue redosing, usually not due to the main stimulating effects of the drug, but due to the desire to retain the pro-sexual aphrodisiac qualitites experienced.
The protests began after the death of Mohamed Benmouna, a local 21-year-old who was found hanging in his cell after being arrested for attempted extortion.
Representatives of the Nabucco consortium in Vienna have confirmed that Joschka Fischer--former Green Party leader and foreign minister in the former Social Democratic Party (SPD)-Green government--has taken a post as adviser to the Nabucco pipeline project, in which the German RWE company is also involved. According to media reports, the "six-digit salary" consultancy contract has already been signed.
