Viewpoint: Time to decide on Kosovo
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By Wolfgang Ischinger
German ambassador to the UK
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Some five months ago, the UN Security Council could not agree on Kosovo's future status.
Wolfgang Ischinger (left) was the EU's representative on the troika
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In order to keep up the momentum in the negotiating process, European
diplomats proposed a mediating troika comprised of representatives from
the US, Russia and the EU.
From August onward, this troika held 10 major sessions
of talks with the delegations from Belgrade and Pristina. In the course
of these talks, the troika discussed all reasonable solutions for
Kosovo.
However, none of the models discussed found traction on both sides.
Despite a wide range of ideas, including a German
proposal for a co-operation agreement that would set aside the status
question, both delegations insisted on their firmly held positions.
Kosovo favoured supervised independence, Serbia offered only substantial autonomy. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7141076.stm>
EU offers Serbia deal on Kosovo
Serbia said it would never accept anything in exchange for Kosovo
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EU leaders have offered to accelerate Serbia's membership in the
bloc, but only after Belgrade hands over war crime fugitives still at
large.
The move is seen as a way of keeping the Balkans stable, with Kosovo set to declare independence from Serbia.
The leaders also agreed in principle to send a 1,800 security force to Kosovo.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the breakaway
region's independence was "inevitable" but the leaders refrained from
backing a unilateral declaration.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said the
recognition of Kosovo's independence would be "the most dangerous
precedent after World War II".
Mr Kostunica also said the EU plan to send its mission to Kosovo would create "a puppet state" on Serbian soil. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7143817.stm>
Key EU health care report delayed
Patients could claim reimbursement for treatment abroad
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The EU has delayed releasing controversial proposals that would have
made it easier for patients to travel abroad within the bloc for health
care.
The European Commission report was to argue that any EU
citizen should be entitled to care elsewhere, if the treatment was
allowed in their state.
The commission's proposals follow court rulings that patients should be reimbursed for care at home or abroad.
It is not yet known why the report's release was delayed at the last minute. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7150879.stm>
Expanded Schengen attracts tourists
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By Konstantin Rozhnov
Business reporter, BBC News
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Borders controls are scrapped in the Schengen area
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A much-awaited expansion of the European Union's
Schengen arrangement, which allows people to cross borders without
having their passports checked, is cheered by tourists visiting from
outside the EU.
The expansion will make it easier for them to travel
within large parts of Europe, and thus it is also greeted warmly by
tourism industry officials in old and new EU states alike.
The Schengen zone, which does not include the UK and
Ireland, will be joined by nine countries on 21 December: Poland,
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania and Malta. Switzerland will follow suit in 2008, becoming the
25th Schengen state. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7152051.stm>
Kosovo to test Slovenia leaders
Kosovo Serbs protested against a planned EU police mission
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Sixteen years after independence, Slovenia has taken up the presidency of the EU, offering to act as a bridge with the Balkans.
The breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo is itself
expected to declare independence within weeks, presenting the EU with a
potential crisis.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has said he aims to resolve the Kosovo issue by the end of June.
The EU will send a civilian team to Kosovo to assist the Nato-led force. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7162806.stm>
EU wants tax on imports from countries not tackling climate change
01/15/2008 | 09:50 PM
BRUSSELS, Belgium - European trade unions called Tuesday for a tax on
imports from countries that refuse to fight the carbon emissions that
cause global warming, saying it was needed to protect thousands of jobs.
The European Trade Union Confederation said a carbon tax would be the
only fair way to keep jobs in Europe and prevent heavy industry from
moving to regions with lower costs for carbon polluters such as
Ukraine, Russia or Turkey.
''What we don't want is for companies to fire people in Europe and
relocate to cheaper, dirtier locations,'' said the trade union's
general secretary John Monks.
Next week, the European Commission will set out new rules designed to
cut the EU's carbon emissions by a fifth by 2020 urging member
countries to save more energy and switch to cleaner and renewable
sources to help counter climate change.
Major polluters already trade carbon permits, meaning they must spend
money to buy more allowances or upgrade their plants if they fail to
meet a tight cap on how much carbon dioxide they can release.
The European Trade Union Confederation said a carbon tax ''would
equalize carbon costs for companies outside Europe and in Europe'' and
prevent heavy industry from slashing jobs in the European Union or
moving elsewhere. <http://www.gmanews.tv/story/76651/EU-wants-tax-on-imports-from-countries-not-tackling-climate-change>
Italy's PM under pressure to quit
There is growing speculation that Romano Prodi will resign
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Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is under pressure to stand down ahead of a crunch confidence vote in the Senate.
He comfortably survived a first vote on Wednesday in the
lower house, but analysts say he now faces almost certain defeat in the
upper chamber.
A small party in Mr Prodi's coalition deserted him this week, handing his Senate majority to the opposition.
Mr Prodi has been urged to quit and the country's president is reported to have asked him to avoid the second vote.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says there is
speculation that Mr Prodi will tender his resignation to President
Georgio Napolitano after a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7206040.stm>
EU reveals energy plan of action
Mr Barroso says climate change is the ultimate political challenge
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European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has announced
"historic" plans to make Europe "the first economy for the low-carbon
age".
He said Europeans wanted "a vision and a plan of action"
against climate change and the measures would cost 3 euros (£2.10) a
week for every citizen.
The aim would be a 20% cut in the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, which could rise to 30% with a global deal.
He told the European Parliament there was a cost, "but it was manageable". <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7203514.stm>
Sarkozy's rescue plan for suburbs
Mr Sarkozy is unpopular in some suburbs after his 2005 remarks
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned the "very idea of the
nation is at stake" unless poor, mainly immigrant suburbs wracked by
riots are revived.
He spoke as he unveiled a rescue plan to deploy 4,000
more police over three years and a half billion euro aid lifeline to
flashpoint neighbourhoods.
Mr Sarkozy also declared "war without mercy" on drug dealers in such areas.
As interior minister in 2005 he was criticised for saying he would cleanse the suburbs of what he called "rabble".
Those remarks came amid nationwide riots that saw a state of emergency declared. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7234088.stm>
UK police say blast killed Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto's party disagrees with Scotland Yard's account
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British detectives investigating the death of ex-Pakistani Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto say she died from the effect of a bomb blast,
not gunfire.
Detectives from Scotland Yard were asked by Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf to examine the circumstances surrounding
Bhutto's death in December.
Scotland Yard's account matches that of the Pakistani authorities.
But Bhutto's party has insisted she was shot by an assassin, and has accused the government of a cover-up.
The BBC's Aamer Ahmed Khan says the exact cause of death may help shed light on who was behind the attack.
Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has suggested
that if sophisticated weaponry were used it could indicate the
involvement of elements of the security establishment. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7234147.stm>
Cypriot victor rallies for unity
Christofias has already arranged to meet the Turkish-Cypriot president
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Left-wing Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias has won the
presidential election and promised to work on re-uniting the divided
island.
He defeated rival right-winger Ioannis Kasoulides in a second round of voting.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey sent
troops into the north after a coup by Greek Cypriots designed to
produce union with Greece.
Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat telephoned Mr Christofias to congratulate him on his victory.
The two men agreed to meet "at the earliest possible
date" for discussions on the status of Cyprus, a spokesman for Mr Talat
said.
For his part, Mr Christofias told a stadium full of
exuberant supporters that he "extended a hand of friendship to my
compatriots the Turkish Cypriots and their political leadership".
"I call on them to work together for our common cause, a country of peace," said the 61-year-old president-elect. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7261195.stm>
Nine-month crisis over in Belgium
Mr Leterme failed to secure a deal on increased devolution
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The political deadlock that threatened to split Belgium in two has
ended with a coalition deal under Christian Democrat Yves Leterme.
After a night of negotiations, five Dutch- and French-speaking parties agreed to form a government.
Mr Leterme's Flemish party won elections in June 2007 but was unable to reach agreement on a coalition.
Six months later, an interim government stepped in, led by caretaker Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.
Mr Leterme will present his government to King Albert II at the royal palace on Thursday.
Although no party straddles the divide between Dutch-speaking Flanders
and French-speaking Wallonia, the new coalition will include socialists
and liberals as well as Christian Democrats.
"It's a good deal for a government with balanced measures," the Christian Democrat leader told Belgian radio.
Yves Leterme's initial efforts to form a coalition had foundered
because he failed to persuade the French-speaking parties to accept a
devolution of power to the regions.
The new government agenda which is still to be approved leaves
out references to constitutional reform, concentrating instead on
immigration, tax-cuts and pension benefits. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7302154.stm>
Peers dismiss EU Treaty concerns
