European Union

Britain's David Cameron addresses the press on his way into the EU summit on Thursday evening

David Cameron is in a hole. His flagship policy to curb EU migration – a four-year ban on benefits for migrant workers – looks doomed. When it was announced more than a year ago, Cameron was told it violated a fundamental EU principle of non-discrimination. If the EU stands for anything, it is ensuring EU workers don’t pay a higher effective tax rate on the basis of their passport.

This was flagged up by British officials at the time. Cameron nevertheless ploughed on. While Downing Street were drafting the Conservative party election manifesto, aides suggested leaving out the four-year idea. He ploughed on. When Mr Cameron preparing a letter to other EU leaders on his reform demands, he was told by Whitehall and Brussels the four-year ban was all but impossible and should be dropped. He ploughed on.

The final reckoning may come this evening. Cameron makes a make-or-break pitch for the idea. Having spent far too long trying to understand how the problem will be fixed, it may also be my last opportunity to inflict a benefit reform listicle on Brussels Blog readers.

So while there is still time: behold the nine ways Cameron’s four-year benefits saga may end.

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New rules on data transfers for policing and judicial purposes, informally agreed on Tuesday and backed by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Thursday morning, will set high standards of data protection to protect citizens' rights and freedoms. They should also enable police forces across Europe to work together faster and more efficiently to counter serious crime and terrorism.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New rules on data transfers for policing and judicial purposes, informally agreed on Tuesday and backed by Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on Thursday morning, will set high standards of data protection to protect citizens' rights and freedoms. They should also enable police forces across Europe to work together faster and more efficiently to counter serious crime and terrorism.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : The Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to wildlife conservation, said Parliament in a resolution adopted on Thursday. MEPs called for measures to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also home to the endangered mountain gorilla species.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : The Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has become one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to wildlife conservation, said Parliament in a resolution adopted on Thursday. MEPs called for measures to protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also home to the endangered mountain gorilla species.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Member states must apply the EU's eight-point code on arms exports more rigorously, particularly with the changed security environment in the EU's neighbourhood, the EP said on Thursday. It stressed that these trade flows are not in the EU's direct security interests and national political and economic considerations must not override decision-making on export licences.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Member states must apply the EU's eight-point code on arms exports more rigorously, particularly with the changed security environment in the EU's neighbourhood, the EP said on Thursday. It stressed that these trade flows are not in the EU's direct security interests and national political and economic considerations must not override decision-making on export licences.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A ban on the patenting of products obtained by conventional breeding techniques, such as crossing, is essential to sustain innovation, food security and small businesses, says a non-legislative resolution voted by Parliament on Thursday. MEPs, surprised by the European Patent Office decision to allow patents on such products, call on the EU Commission to clarify existing EU rules as a matter of urgency and protect plant breeders’ access to biological material.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : A ban on the patenting of products obtained by conventional breeding techniques, such as crossing, is essential to sustain innovation, food security and small businesses, says a non-legislative resolution voted by Parliament on Thursday. MEPs, surprised by the European Patent Office decision to allow patents on such products, call on the EU Commission to clarify existing EU rules as a matter of urgency and protect plant breeders’ access to biological material.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Growing insecurity, the lack of political moves towards reconciliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Burundi, a country that tops the Global Hunger Index, are highlighted by MEPs in a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday. They welcome consultations under the Cotonou Agreement that could lead to suspension of EU aid to the Burundi government, and ask the EU and its member states to consider re-directing non-humanitarian EU aid to civil society there.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : Growing insecurity, the lack of political moves towards reconciliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Burundi, a country that tops the Global Hunger Index, are highlighted by MEPs in a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday. They welcome consultations under the Cotonou Agreement that could lead to suspension of EU aid to the Burundi government, and ask the EU and its member states to consider re-directing non-humanitarian EU aid to civil society there.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New rules to curb the influx of pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa, caused by increased trade and climate change, stop them spreading and eradicate the most dangerous ones were informally agreed by MEPs and the Luxembourg Council Presidency on Wednesday. The provisional deal also introduces preventive measures for imported plants and fast-response mechanisms for high-risk ones.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

New rules to curb the influx of pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa, caused by increased trade and climate change, stop them spreading and eradicate the most dangerous ones were informally agreed by MEPs and the Luxembourg Council Presidency on Wednesday. The provisional deal also introduces preventive measures for imported plants and fast-response mechanisms for high-risk ones.
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

As I have emphasized for many months, in fact from the very beginning of the migration crisis, there is no good alternative to border protection. And this is why I welcome with great satisfaction the European Commission's proposal of strengthening our external borders, because in fact border control is a conditio sine qua non of each and every migration policy. 

Border protection is and should be in the first place the domain of national states. This is why we have to analyse the most controversial idea of the European Border Guard entering the territory of sovereign states.

But Europe cannot remain vulnerable when Schengen states are not able to effectively protect their borders. If we reject the Commission's proposal, we will have to find another, but I'm afraid, an equally painful solution.

Also crucial is of course the UK issue. The consultations I have led with all Member States show good will of all the parties involved, but it doesn't change the fact that some parts of the British proposal seem unacceptable. However, if Prime Minister Cameron persuades leaders tonight that we can work together to find solutions regarding all four baskets, then we will have a real chance to strike a deal in February.

And finally, on EMU. Even if Europe is overwhelmed by the migration crisis today, we cannot afford to wait with the necessary reforms for better days. This summit should make clear whether Member States are ready to take difficult decisions on the Banking Union and economic governance.

Plenary sessions : The Commission's recent proposals for completing European Monetary Union (EMU) are insufficient to address the current shortcomings in the institutional framework of the euro area. More parliamentary oversight and public debate is needed to ensure democratic accountability and get citizens on board, Parliament says in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Plenary sessions : The Commission's recent proposals for completing European Monetary Union (EMU) are insufficient to address the current shortcomings in the institutional framework of the euro area. More parliamentary oversight and public debate is needed to ensure democratic accountability and get citizens on board, Parliament says in a resolution adopted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP