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BackWhat has become a reality in Rumania since March 1st is now also being discussed at EU level, i.e. a tax on particularly unhealthy food. The Conservative Rumanian MEP Oana Antonescu, who demanded the Europe-wide introduction of a Fast Food Tax, triggered the debate. The objective of this measure would be to counteract the effect obesity, diabetes and other nutrition-related diseases have on health.
Obesity as a social risk
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BackLast week, the European Parliament (EP) voted on a new Framework Agreement on cooperation with the Commission. This will be newly negotiated for each legislative period. Barroso made far-reaching concessions and secure the still undecided votes of the MEPs for the “Team Barroso II” and his second term in office as the President of the European Commission.
Legislative Initiative reports request Commission to act at last
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BackThe European Parliament (EP) and the Council this week agreed by way of informal trialogue, to make community funds of € 100 million available to grant disadvantaged groups in the labour market micro credits to assist them in starting their own business. Right to the end, the issue of financing put the entire project into question. Agreement was reached almost at the last second, however, not without severely curtailing the original requests of the EP.
EP wanted more, but was not able to assert itself in the end
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BackThe coming into effect of the Lisbon Treaty will once again result in changes of the legislative process. From now on, Council and European Parliament have an equal say in the matter. A glance at the statistics shows that it can take years until both EU institutions, together with the author of the draft bill of the European Commission, come to an agreement: in extreme cases, negotiations of a new legislative act can last up to 13 years.
If Council and European Parliament come to an instant agreement, a legislative act can be passed in just one reading.
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BackThis week, the European Commission introduced the annual Social Situation Report and the first Special Eurobarometer Social Climate Survey. The latter concerns the subjective well-being of European citizens. The survey examines long-term social trends within the EU in more detail to obtain current, reliable and comprehensive information on the social situation. It is a shame though that the report uses data from 2006/2007, hence long before the outbreak of the financial and economic crisis.
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BackLast week, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament met in Brussels to discuss the impending issues within the area of financial market regulation. The deliberations of the MEPs, however, were very much under the impression of the far-reaching new proposals of the US President on tougher banking regulations, which caused quite a stir.
How should banks be regulated in future?
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BackWill future food labelling take the wishes of consumers into account or will the interests of the food industry prevail? The discussions in the relevant committee of the European Parliament increasingly indicate that in particular the proposals of the industry might be taken into account.
This week, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety debated the amendment proposal of the MEPs on food labelling.
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BackSpain has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the fourth time, for the first time in a trio with Belgium and Hungary. The Spanish Presidency starts with some reforms in the EU structure being in place: the Lisbon Treaty has come into force and a new Commission takes office. Under the motto “Innovating Europe”, the Presidency will try over the next 6 months to get the financial, economic and employment crisis under control.
Social and employment policy overshadowed by a deep employment crisis
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BackIn a 3-hour hearing this week, the Hungarian commissioner-designate for employment and social affairs László Andor answered the questions of the MEPs. In demand were pragmatic ideas and long-term visions. The setting of the hearing did not do justice to these requests. László Andor left many concrete questions unanswered and did not get involved in details.
Most important goal: combating unemployment within the EU
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BackThis week in Brussels, Michel Barnier, the French Commissioner-designate for the internal market and services, was responsible for one of the most convincing appearances during the current hearings of the candidates for the future Commission by the European Parliament. His attempt to draw a clear line under the neoliberal course of his predecessors has been successful.
“The efficiency of the market must serve the citizen”