Some European issues to note
01 March 2010
The Greek Bail-out
According to some reports the bailout, which totals between €20 and 25 billion, would be paid in proportion to each country's share in the European Central Bank (ECB). (Spiegel, 20 February) If this is the case, then the
A statement from the German Foreign Ministry denied that there are "concrete plans" but has not denied the existence of a blueprint for a Greek rescue, saying only that no decision had yet been taken on a package and who would be footing the bill. (EurActiv, 23 February)
Patient care suffering under EU Working Time Directive.
Following a survey of 1,500 junior doctors, the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors' Committee has warned that patient care is suffering as a result of the EU's Working Time Directive. Under the Directive, junior doctors' hours were reduced from 56 to a maximum of 48 hours a week in August 2009. Four in ten junior doctors are now saying that they are working in teams that do not have enough people, rising to six in ten in accident and emergency departments. (Telegraph BMA press release, 23 February)
EU biofuel targets accused of "driving global human tragedy".
A new report from Action Aid has warned that the EU's target to obtain 10% of all transport fuels from biofuels by 2020 is disastrous for poor countries and could put up to 100 million more people at risk of famine, increased food prices and landlessness. The report also found that the EU biofuel industry has received €4.4bn in incentives, subsidies and tax relief to date, which could triple to over €13.7bn if the EU meets its 2020 target. (Guardian, 15 February)
Notable Quote:
"The issue is not the failure to match economic and monetary union with political union. It is the naked disregard for democratic engagement in the entire system that in no small part explains why voter turnout in EU elections has plummeted by more than 30% in the last 30 years. Whenever people vote no to a phase of integration - as they did in
