Hungary’s new constitution, media law touches nerves in Brussels

9 January 2012 By

An EU official has warned that talks with Hungary over emergency funding could be frozen and the country faces possible legal action if its controversial new constitution breaches European treaties.

Full story at http://www.euractiv.com/

The new constitution entered into force on 1 January, accompanied by legislation which critics say undermine the independence of the central bank, the judiciary and the media – and entrench the position of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party which is affiliated with the European People’s Party.

Tens of thousands of people protested in Budapest on Monday (2 January) alleging that the new laws are authoritarian.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Orbán exchanged a series of letters at the end of December in which Barroso warned the prime minister not to jeopardise the independence of the Bank of Hungary, and re-iterated concerns about media independence.

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Filed Under: EU, Quotes for Comment Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Chinese airline refuses to accept EU carbon emission law

9 January 2012 By

European Commission spokesman AIsaac Valero-Ladron on Thursday said that airlines flying in European airspace have to comply with EU law despite objections expressed by China on charging airlines for carbon emissions.

On 1 January, the EU brought airlines under its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which aims at curbing emissions of climate-changing gases.

Today, Chai Haibo of the China Air Transport Association said that its members would not cooperate with the ETS.

AIsaac Valero-Ladron stated that ‘If the Chinese want to do business in Europe, like open a restaurant or something, they have to comply with the health and the safety requirement. This is not that different. This is just that if you want to operate in Europe, you have to respect the law.’

Airlines which do not comply with the new EU tax can be fined.

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Filed Under: Climate, Quotes for Comment

Romania’s Boc pleads for ‘United States of Europe’

9 January 2012 By

Emil Boc, Romania’s Prime Minister, is in favor of discussions among EU leaders and member states that could lead to the creation of a ‘United States of Europe’, according to his brief intervention at a debate organized by the Center of Euroopean Studies, the think tank of the European People’s Party. This debate was organized early in December in Marseille.

For more on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Boc

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Euro crisis, in 2011, triggers debate on existence of EU

22 December 2011 By

The European debt crisis in 2011 developed in such a way that some analysts now argue that the European Union is facing an existential crisis. EUX.TV Producer Laura Fernandez compiled key soundbites from the year that is now ending and talked to Janis A. Emmanouilidis, senior policy analyst at the Centre for European Studies in Brussels.

Also read the year’s review on EurActiv.com

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Medvedev: Russia stands by to help Europe

15 December 2011 By

Speaking after the EU-Russia summit, President of ~Russia’s Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, on Thursday stated that Russia will offer Europe financial aid in order to help stabilize the European Union and the euro. “Russia will continue reinforcing financial stability of the euro area, first and foremost, through the IMF”, Medvedev said. “The European Union is our major trading partner”, he concluded.

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EU concerned about elections as Russia pledges euro support

15 December 2011 By

In a joint press conference, President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, on Thursday expressed his concerns over the transparency of the recent Russian elections. “We are concerned about irregularities and lack of fairness”, Mr. Van Rompuy said.

For his part, EC President, Jose Manuel Barroso, highlighted the importance of the “Common steps visa-free travel” launch, which will lay down the path to achieve a visa-free travel regime between the EU and Russia.

President of Russia’s Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, said that Russia is willing to help Europe solve the current crisis. “Russia will continue reinforcing financial stability of the euro area, first and foremost, through the IMF”, Medvedev said. Russia’s president also commented on EU-Russia’s energy cooperation, stating that Russia’s “interests” will guide them in the north European gas pipeline developments.

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Barroso, Van Rompuy outline December summit result

13 December 2011 By

Speaking at the European Parliament’s plenary session, president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, stated that the demands made by UK’s PM, David Cameron, during last week’s euro summit would harm the European market and, therefore, they were “impossible” to meet. This is an agreement of 27 minus”, Barroso said.

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