Archive for category European Union
EU’s flagship green scheme siphons cash from consumers and employers to energy fat cats
Posted by Nick Cowen in Economics, Environment, European Union, Press Release on 04/01/2012
Emissions Trading System shrinks economy but not Britain’s carbon footprint
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is siphoning billions from industry and consumers to plump up finance and energy fat cats, according a new Civitas report. The report reveals that, via the EU ETS, each EU citizen is effectively subsidising the power industry by £30 a year. [p. 13] In addition, the Government is adding more costs to UK families and businesses via the carbon price floor which sets a minimum price for carbon credits. This carbon price floor is expected to push another 110,000 British households into fuel poverty by 2016. [p. 61]
CO2.1, by David Merlin-Jones, is a comprehensive examination of how the EU ETS fails at its own goal of reducing carbon emissions. It details how carbon traders, banks, energy companies and the government are extracting billions from productive businesses and consumers via the EU ETS, while undermining the vulnerable UK economic recovery.
No one puts David in the corner!
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 09/12/2011
The UK woke up reeling from the astonishing news that Prime Minister David Cameron has walked out of an EU Summit and effectively removed the UK from EU treaty negotiations: treaty negotiations which were aimed at ‘salvaging’ the Eurozone. Not just making headlines in the UK; it seems David Cameron’s decision has captured attention across the globe. Of all the angles being examined, two are particularly striking – the apparent shock that David Cameron has followed through and done exactly as he said he would, and whether such a brash move has damaged the UK’s international standing and its ability to negotiate with its EU neighbours.
Serbia’s long and winding road to EU accession
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 01/12/2011
By Lucy Hatton
Next week’s EU Summit provides the perfect opportunity to review Serbia’s progress towards EU membership – a contentious issue since Serbia applied in 2009. Earlier this year it was suggested that Serbia might be granted official candidate status at the EU Summit on Friday (9th December), yet this is looking increasingly unlikely, due to Serbia’s unresolved issues with Kosovo.
Schengen enlargement shaping up for March 2012
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 18/11/2011
Earlier this week, Finland announced it no longer opposes Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone in 2012, providing their entry is managed in two-phases. No doubt in pre-Eurozone crisis days Finland’s decision to drop their veto would have been closely analysed, but the fact that it has only captured limited attention should not be considered a reflection of its impact on shaping Schengen: the EU’s internal border-free club.
It’s déjà EU… all over again
Posted by Natalie Hamill in Economics, European Union on 10/11/2011
By Scott Benson
On 10th October, a vote of no confidence, which was tied to plans to enhance the European Financial Stability Facility, forced Slovakian Prime Minister Iveta Radičová to step down. Exactly a month later, the Greek and Italian Parliaments have put similar pressure on their respective leaders to resign.
Greek Expectations
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 02/11/2011
If there is one thing we should learn from the Eurozone crisis it is to expect the unexpected and, whatever you do, don’t breathe a sigh of relief too soon. With every hard-negotiated plan to keep the euro area afloat another twist emerges; for who could have predicted that Greece – given a lifeline just a week ago after an eleventh hour summit – would be so ready to cut its own rope and potentially take the rest of Europe down with it. Mere days after the markets bounced back and headlines declared there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has left many in the EU horrified by his decision to put the latest bailout package to a Greek referendum.
