EU Election 2014 - Van Rompuy And Barroso Clash On Top Job Election Tactics

(EurActiv) — The heads of the European Commission and the European Council indirectly clashed Tuesday (22 April), over the procedure to appoint the next Commission President following the EU elections.

In an interview with the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Council President Herman van Rompuy expressed his opposition to the election of the next Commission President via a battle of “leading candidates” of the main political families at the European elections.

Parliament vs. ‘those who really decide’

Van Rompuy acknowledged that the European Parliament had an “important role” since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, but then added: “The difference between the parliament and those who really decide is very clear to citizens.” The low voter turnout in European elections is a sign of that, he added.

The statement infuriated MEPs engaged in the campaign to elect the successor to José Manuel Barroso. The European Parliament insists that the leader of the political group that wins the most seats in the May 22-25 direct elections in the 28 member states should be chosen to lead the executive Commission. However, the EU treaty says it is up to the European Council of national leaders to nominate a candidate, “taking account” of the elections after holding consultations.

Austrian MEP Hannes Swoboda, leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, lashed out on Twitter. “Scandalous”, he called Van Rompuy’s interview. “Clearly he doesn’t understand democratic process of #EP2014 nominations!”

http://www.eurasiareview.com/22042014-van-rompuy-and-barroso-clash-on-top-job-election-tactics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eurasiareview%2FVsnE+%28Eurasia+Review%29

In bid for top EU job, Juncker promises fair deal for Britain

BRUSSELS, April 23 (Reuters) - Britain should get a fair hearing for its concerns about the European Union but must not block extra powers for the euro zone, Jean-Claude Juncker, a leading candidate to take one of the bloc's top posts, said on Wednesday.

The remarks, twinned with his pledge to halt expansion of the 28-member union for five years, offers the prospect of a face-saving compromise for British Prime Minister David Cameron should Juncker become president of the European Commission.

If Cameron is re-elected next year, he has pledged to allow Britons to vote in 2017 on whether to leave the EU.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/23/eu-election-juncker-idUSL6N0NF2TI20140423

The Lib Dems are braced for a "difficult night", while very early results suggest UKIP could be on course for another good set of results.

The results of the UK-wide European elections will not be known until late Sunday when counting takes place across the European Union.

Labour is neck-and-neck with UKIP to win the Euro election, polls suggest.

A poll by YouGov for Thursday's Sun newspaper predicted Nigel Farage's party would win with 27% of the vote, with the Lib Dems back in fifth place.

In addition to the UK-wide polls, there are elections to 161 councils in England and 11 in Northern Ireland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27531094

Nigel Farage’s party has taken dozens of council seats from the Tories and Labour, dominating the south and making serious inroads in Labour’s northern heartlands

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/local-elections/10851024/Ukip-earthquake-rocks-Labour-and-Tories-in-Elections-2014.html

Labour election campaign chief: politics as usual cannot continue
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/23/labour-election-chief-politics-as-usual-douglas-alexander

Nigel Farage: 'The Ukip fox is in the Westminster hen-house'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-the-ukip-fox-is-in-the-westminster-henhouse-9422507.html

Local election results: 5 things we have learnt

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/local-election-results-5-things-3592687#ixzz32XjQFA8V
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

Commentary: Ukip results show 'tale of two elections'
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/commentary-ukip-results-show-tale-of-two-elections-9424397.html

Has Farage had 'the last laugh'? Ukip gains over 130 seats as support surges across the country
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-the-ukip-fox-is-in-the-westminster-henhouse-9422507.html

EU-Wahl: ÖVP verteidigt Platz eins, FPÖ und Grüne legen zu

EU-Wahl: ÖVP verteidigt Platz eins, FPÖ und Grüne legen zu
Karas; Spindelegger / Bild: (c) APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH (GEORG HOCHMUTH)Die ÖVP liegt bei der EU-Wahl deutlicher als erwartet vor der SPÖ, die FPÖ gewinnt am stärksten dazu. Die Grünen gewinnen das Duell um Platz vier gegen die Neos.
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/euwahl/3811685/EUWahl_OVP-verteidigt-Platz-eins-FPO-und-Grune-legen-zu?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do



EU-Wahl live: Rechter Front National triumphiert in Frankreich
Europaweit liegen die Christdemokraten deutlich vor den Sozialdemokraten. "Mister Euro" Jean-Claude Juncker dürfte damit nächster http://diepresse.com/home/politik/euwahl/3811200/EUWahl-live_Rechter-Front-National-triumphiert-in-Frankreich?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do werden. Doch Martin Schulz will seinen Traum nicht kampflos aufgeben.

Score historique pour l'Ukip europhobe en Grande-Bretagne, percée du parti anti-euro AFD en Allemagne, victoire de la gauche radicale en Grèce. Le scrutin européen a été marqué par la poussée des extrêmes.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/25/01053-20140525ARTFIG00219-la-droite-europeenne-donnee-en-tete.php

Le FN réclame une dissolution et la démission de Manuel Valls
http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/le-scan/citations/2014/05/25/25002-20140525ARTFIG00202-le-fn-reclame-une-dissolution-et-la-demission-de-manuel-valls.php

Européennes 2014 : hausse surprise du taux de participation
http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/25/01053-20140525ARTFIG00162-europeennes-2014-hausse-surprise-du-taux-de-participation.php


France National Front 'set for victory', says PM Valls
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27559714


Europe is greater than their individual political agendas
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/editorials/europe-is-greater-than-their-individual-political-agendas-1.1338311

Turnout for European Parliament Election Slumps in Several Countries
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/26/world/europe/turnout-in-european-parliament-election-hits-record-low.html?_r=0


European elections 2014: Labour MPs call on Ed Miliband to promise a European referendum
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/european-elections-2014-labour-mps-call-on-ed-miliband-to-promise-a-european-referendum-9433724.html


European elections 2014: EU citizens vote against immigrants, austerity and establishment
France's Front National and Greece's Golden Dawn are among the parties to triumph in European elections
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10855876/European-elections-2014-EU-citizens-vote-against-immigrants-austerity-and-establishment.html

European election results: Ukip confident of triggering a 'political earthquake'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638960/Will-earth-Ukip-confident-triggering-political-earthquake-winning-European-elections-tonight.html

France’s far-right Front National stormed to victory in European elections on Sunday night, leading an unprecedented surge in support for anti-EU parties across Europe that was set to reverberate far beyond Brussels politics.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fd3975ce-e424-11e3-8565-00144feabdc0.html#axzz32lf0J4VF

Count Begins As European Election Polls Close
http://news.sky.com/story/1268910/count-begins-as-european-election-polls-close

EN DIRECT : Européennes 2014 - La victoire du FN, un séisme aux multiples conséquences -{ We know that officials from the EU, its policing authority and others monitor our forum and blogs - that incident 1996/7 the whole Commission had to step down, what nobody said  it was over that SIROP program issues then very active/alive - we have been writing across many blogs and forums that the EU benchmark is very wrong - the importance and relevancy of that SIROP program reloaded and the impact on EU economic , Financial workings yet, with in that Program their are mechanism build in - when overly abused it will react and counter react and when it does the mess in usually messy.  The utter arrogance of very many the past two years those who know that Program was very unique and yet their spin and arguments - the manner they co-work our issues with Seychelles government Official, Mauritius government and the French government  and institutions including LUNGOS. }Édouard Martin : "une déculottée sans nom" Bartolone : "En finir avec une Europe de le déception et de la rigueur"

http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/25/01053-20140525LIVWWW00006-elections-europeennes-2014-le-scrutin-en-direct.php#000820

VOTE 2014 Europe: Great Britain
Party Votes % MEPs
UKIP 27.50 +10.99 23 +10
LAB 25.40 +9.67 18 +7
CON 23.94 -3.80 18 -7
GRN 7.87 -0.75 3 +1
LD 6.87 -6.88 1 -9
PC 0.71 -0.13 1 0
SNP 2.44 0.34 0 0
BNP 1.14 -5.10 0 -2
Results in full: UK EU wide

Nigel Farage has said his "dream has become a reality" and UKIP is now the "third force" in British politics after it topped the European polls.

With only Scotland left to declare, UKIP has 27.5% of the vote and 23 MEPs.

Labour, on 25%, is narrowly beating the Tories into second place while the Lib Dems lost all but one of their seats and came behind the Greens.

David Cameron said the public was "disillusioned" with the EU and their message was "received and understood".

The full Scottish result will be known at noon on Monday, as the Western Isles does not count votes on a Sunday.

The BBC is predicting that the result in Scotland will be SNP on two seats, Labour on two seats and the Conservatives and UKIP with one seat each - meaning Mr Farage's anti-EU party is expected to win at least one seat in every part of Great Britain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27567744

10 key lessons from the European election results The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/26/10-key-lessons-european-election-results

European elections results 2014: Farage and Ukip top poll as Europe takes swing to the right
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/european-elections-results-2014-sweeping-gains-for-nigel-farages-ukip-deal-further-body-blow-to-main-parties-9434042.html

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: A terrifying vision to sharpen Tory minds

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2639201/DAILY-MAIL-COMMENT-A-terrifying-vision-sharpen-Tory-minds.html



European election results 2014: Far-right parties flourish across Europe
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/european-election-results-2014-farright-parties-flourish-across-europe-in-snub-to-austerity-9434069.html

Von Hollande bis Wilders: Europas größte Wahlverlierer

Frankreichs regierende Sozialisten landeten hinter dem rechtsextremen Front National und den Konservativen weit abgeschlagen auf dem dritten Platz. Präsident Francois Hollande hatte sich vorsorglich gleich ganz aus dem Wahlkampf hinausgehalten.
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/euwahl/3811764/Von-Hollande-bis-Wilders_Europas-grosste-Wahlverlierer?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do

EU-Wahl: Juncker und Le Pen als ungleiche Sieger
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/euwahl/3811756/EUWahl_Juncker-und-Le-Pen-als-ungleiche-Sieger?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do

EN DIRECT : Européennes 2014 - Réunion de crise ce matin à l'Élysée
http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/25/01053-20140525LIVWWW00006-elections-europeennes-2014-le-scrutin-en-direct.php

«Un risque de stigmatisation de la France à l'international»
http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/26/01053-20140526ARTFIG00098-un-risque-de-stigmatisation-de-la-france-a-l-international.php

La communauté internationale choquée par «le triomphe de Marine Le Pen» en France
http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/26/01053-20140526ARTFIG00041-pour-les-americains-la-victoire-du-fn-aux-europeennes-en-france-est-une-grosse-affaire.php

Européennes 2014 : ce qu'il faut retenir de l'élection
http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections/europeennes-2014/2014/05/25/01053-20140525ARTFIG00249-europeennes-2014-ce-qu-il-faut-retenir-de-l-election.php

They call themselves the People's Army. They see themselves as leading a coup against the British establishment and they're not short of self belief.

"This is probably the most exciting moment in politics since the birth of the Labour Party," declared UKIP's deputy leader Paul Nuttall as he and Nigel Farage stood in front of UKIP's infantry - 22 newly elected MEPs

Having moved on Strasbourg and Brussels they've now set their sights on Westminster.

The obstacles in their way are as great as any they've yet faced. The first-past-the-post voting system will force UKIP to build a bigger coalition than they have assembled so far.

They will face questions about policies as yet undeveloped and on which their members disagree. Just one example - Mr Nuttall has praised the privatisation of NHS services. Mr Farage says he disagrees.

Will this election mark the start of a long march towards power, as UKIP hopes, or, as their enemies believe, will it be their greatest ever, but their last, significant victory? No-one can know.

What is clear is that this result has already triggered a bout of soul searching in the other parties.

Lib Dems are asking themselves - if we don't change leader what can we do to recover?

Labour are arguing behind the scenes about how seriously to take the incursion into their own heartlands.

The Tories are debating how much further they need to go in spelling out plans for EU reform and the control of immigration.

Even if this is not UKIP's breakthrough moment, this election has already changed a great deal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27581648

Local Liberal Democrat party activists begin calling emergency meetings to force leadership contest as triumphant Nigel Farage predicts Ukip will hold balance of power at next year’s general election

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/european-elections-2014-nick-clegg-faces-fight-for-survival-after-lib-dems-euro-disaster-9436478.html

Damning verdict: Nick Clegg and Lib Dems face wipeout
Internal ICM polling shows Clegg would lose his Sheffield Hallam seat in 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/26/nick-clegg-and-lib-dems-face-battle-for-survival


European Elections: Nick Clegg Close To Tears As He Tells Sky News 'Lib Dem Strategy Didn't Work' By + Paul Vale Nick Clegg finally emerged on Monday afternoon after a torrid weekend at the polls, appearing close to tears as he told Sky News it was "gutting" and "heartbreaking" to see his party firmly routed in the European elections
https://plus.google.com/+HuffPostUK/posts/5iVRmdrLPt3

Oakeshott quits Lib Dems with Clegg 'disaster' warning

Lord Oakeshott has said he quitting the Lib Dems and taking a "leave of absence" from the House of Lords after a row over the party's leadership.

He said the Lib Dems were "heading for disaster" under Nick Clegg and had lost their "roots, principles and values".

The peer, once close to Vince Cable, commissioned a poll suggesting the party would do better without Mr Clegg.

Nick Clegg has accused him of seeking to "undermine" the Lib Dems and taking "pot shots" at his own side.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, who is currently in China on government business, has distanced himself from the poll.

The row comes after the Lib Dems' dire performance in European elections.

Mr Clegg has faced calls to step down from 300 activists while a number of constituency associations, including Liverpool and Cambridge, are to hold meetings to discuss their leader's future.

'Unacceptable'
In a statement, Lord Oakeshott said he was leaving the party "with a heavy heart" and issued a warning to the the Lib Dems about their future prospects.

"I am sure the party is heading for disaster if it keeps Nick Clegg; and I must not get in the way of the many brave Liberal Democrats fighting for change," he said.

He suggested, under Mr Clegg's leadership, the Lib Dems had become a "split the difference centre party, with no roots, no principles and no values" rather than a "radical, progressive party".

He said the message behind Mr Clegg's "dire approval ratings year after year in all national polls, and Thursday's appalling council and European election results is crystal clear".

"We must change the leader to give Liberal Democrat MPs their best chance to win in 2015."

He added: "I am sorry I have so upset and embarrassed my old friend Vince Cable and that we were not able to talk before he issued yesterday's statement from China."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27604131

VIDÉO - Alors que trois camps de migrants sont démantelés ce mercredi, dix associations, dont Médecins du Monde et le Secours catholique, s'inquiètent des conséquences sanitaires.


PUBLICITÉ

Plage et farniente
Avec mon bikini imprimé!
Je craque1/5
«La situation à Calais se détériore dans un silence assourdissant.» C'est par ces mots que s'ouvre la lettre ouverte que dix associations humanitaires, dont Médecins du Monde et le Secours catholique, ont adressée mardi au premier ministre Manuel Valls ainsi qu'à Bernard Cazeneuve, le ministre de l'Intérieur, et Marisol Touraine, la ministre des Affaires sociales et de la Santé. Ce que dénoncent ces associations? Le démantèlement prévu mercredi des trois camps de migrants - qui regroupent quelque 600 personnes - alors même qu'une épidémie de gale s'y est développée.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2014/05/28/01016-20140528ARTFIG00006-des-associations-s-alarment-de-la-situation-catastrophique-des-migrants-a-calais.php

"Diskussion über Blockade": Juncker muss bangen

Die Kandidatur des Luxemburgers als EU-Kommissionspräsident ist unsicher. Parteifreunde wenden sich ab, die deutsche Kanzlerin spielt auf Zeit.
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/eu/3813100/Diskussion-uber-Blockade_Juncker-muss-bangen?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do

EU: Grüne orten "Putsch von oben"
Europamandatarin Lunacek kritisiert die Art, wie Postenbesetzungen in der EU und Österreich durchgeführt werden.
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/innenpolitik/3813275/EU_Grune-orten-Putsch-von-oben?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do


"Who the hell is Cameron?" Rupprechter löscht Tweet
Landwirtschaftsminister Rupprechter empörte sich via Twitter über das Verhalten des britischen Premiers in der Debatte um den Kommissionspräsidenten
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/innenpolitik/3813441/Who-the-hell-is-Cameron-Rupprechter-loscht-Tweet?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do

Newly elected Ukip councillor sacked for racism and homophobia

Dave Small of Redditch Borough Council expelled from party less than a week after local election victory

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/28/ukip-councillor-sacked-newly-elected

We are compel to write - the vast leadership of EU elite with all their illuminati and Masonic workings are thick - had we been working in France or Bruxelles events would have been different - we want one of you to challenge us. PM Cameron is taking the miki out of you lot. Go on put your dainty little ladies ask the Ukraine former President the hiding she got, we had warned her and others - we know the mechanism, science these Female are using to supposedly outshine their male counterpart.

Who will be the next leader of Europe?

Two female European leaders are emerging as possible candidates for the next head of the European Commission after the frontrunner, Jean-Claude Juncker, was reported to be considering withdrawing his name.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/who-will-be-the-next-leader-of-europe-9507179.html

Jean-Claude Juncker: everyone loses as Europe struggles to fix a fiasco

Britain, its politicians and people have no rights to dictate and demand that EU gets demolish - if this issues goes to a Constitution Court, then just wait and see - beside Britain and its conservative politicians have been involved in undermining the very existence and functioning of EU and its institutions.

Chancellor Merkel have you no shame must we break the High Interdisciplinary Management Rules and start writing what we ought not to in Public about your Office. We know you have high officials and many in Germany reading our posts. We stress those who are keeping us/my person in Britain to influence the outcome of this process. In Austria and Italy those who ought to be very aware. This is why those who four years ago had advocated an EU President that the People/Citizens would vote for.

David Cameron and Angela Merkel will meet in crisis summit in a fresh bid to escape the trap that has left the EU facing division

Ian Traynor
The Observer, Saturday 7 June 2014 20.28 BST

BELGIUM-EU-SUMMIT-FINANCE-PUBLIC-DEBT
Jean-Claude Juncker talks to Angela Merkel prior to the start of an EU summit in Brussels on 18 October 2012. Photograph: AFP.
Around the corner from Belgium's royal palace, Number 17 Rue Ducale is a splendid 19th-century Brussels mansion, if a bit bombastic. Recently refurbished, the roomy palais is the official residence of Ivan Rogers, David Cameron's former summit sherpa and, since November, Britain's ambassador to the EU.

Rogers keeps a modest apartment within the larger property. And it is here where Cameron sleeps after the EU summits during his premiership and which drag on into the wee hours.

On Wednesday night at midnight, after dining with Barack Obama and five other western leaders, Cameron repaired to the palais to receive an unusual visitor, the most powerful person in Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany needed to talk to Cameron about Jean-Claude Juncker, the embodiment of a new crisis which has suddenly seized Europe in the wake of a tumultuous European parliament election.

For Cameron, the chain-smoking Luxembourger who enjoys a G&T, personifies all that is wrong with Europe. For Merkel, Juncker is also a liability, a fellow Christian Democrat she has been outwitted into reluctantly supporting for the top job in Brussels later this year.

Merkel left Rue Ducale after 1am, her powers of persuasion failing for once. There was no deal. Both leaders look like losers, at least for now, having blundered into a dispute which may well escalate into a constitutional crisis in the EU.

Shifting from the heart of Brussels to the estate of a Swedish government summer retreat, Cameron and Merkel will have another go at solving the Juncker puzzle tomorrow. They will spend the night outside Stockholm at the summer residence of Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, joined by Mark Rutte, the Dutch premier.

It might be a quartet of north European conservatives, but in Brussels the Swedish sojourn has already been dubbed an Anglo-German summit focused on a central question – what to do about Jean-Claude Juncker.

They are in a quandary. How did we get here, to a situation where an out-of-work former prime minister of Luxembourg and archetypal Brussels insider has become the touchstone for failing European politics?

In Britain, Juncker has become a toxic brand, leaving Cameron little climbdown scope. Among the national leaders of the EU, Juncker is also unpopular, but for many influential players in the European parliament and beyond, Juncker has become an improbable champion.

The origins of the problem go back to last year when Martin Schulz, a German Social Democrat and speaker of the outgoing parliament, pulled a fast one. He campaigned for the support of Europe's centre-left in the election, proclaiming that whoever won the election should be entitled to put their leading candidate at the top of the EU executive, the European commission, in the autumn. Schulz succeeded (albeit without the Labour party). The Greens and Liberals jumped on his bandwagon, also naming frontrunners. That forced Europe's Christian Democrats to follow suit for fear of appearing "undemocratic".

As head of the EU's biggest Christian Democratic party, Merkel did not like the idea, but at a congress in Dublin in March she caved in. Juncker won the nomination for the centre-right grouping, the European People's party.

The commission chief has been decided by a conclave of national EU leaders. But Schulz and the parliamentary leaders exploited new powers in the Lisbon treaty which changed the rules. There would be no national vetoes in nominating the commission chief who would be proposed by qualified majority if there was no consensus, and the parliament would need to "elect" the nominee by an absolute majority – 376 votes – a figure that no grouping in the parliament comes close to. The national leaders, many of whom see this as a power grab, could have nipped this scheme in the bud months ago, before the elections. Instead, they sleepwalked into a trap and are scrambling to reverse a momentum that until now has been with Juncker.

The happiest outcome for the leaders would be for Juncker to fall on his sword. Perhaps he will. Herman Van Rompuy, Europe's Mr Fixit who chairs summits and mediates between national leaders, is charged with finding a solution. He opposes Juncker and his people are spinning privately that he will do the honourable thing and bow out.

That would be a relief to both Cameron and Merkel. Within two days of the election, Cameron painted himself into a corner by warning fellow leaders that Britain might quit the EU if Juncker prevails. That seemed unwise so early in the game, a repeat of a series of tactical errors the prime minister has made in European negotiations. If I don't get my way, I'm not playing any more, Cameron told 27 other government chiefs. They are inclined to call his bluff.

But if Juncker does not volunteer for retirement, Merkel is also in a bind. She has commited to Juncker publicly and she will face charges of deception and betrayal if she drops him. Besides, key players in the parliament are stating that an alternative commission candidate will be blocked and will not get the absolute majority he or she needs.

Juncker may have become the embodiment of the shambles. But it is not about Juncker but about power, about how you interpret democratic legitimacy and accountability, about who calls the shots in Brussels – the elected national leaders or the elected parliament.

It is a classic turf war. If the parliament wins, gaining primacy in deciding who leads the commission, the outcome will change the way business is done in Brussels. If the national leaders win – and to do so they have to resolve the Juncker problem – they will face charges of emasculating the election two weeks ago, of campaigning on a tissue of lies.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/07/jean-claude-juncker-merkel-cameron

Großbritannien auf dem Weg zur „Weltklasse-Bürokratie“
http://diepresse.com/home/wirtschaft/international/3818123/Grossbritannien-auf-dem-Weg-zur-WeltklasseBurokratie?from=gl.home_wirtschaft

Junking Juncker’s pointless. It doesn’t matter who gets the job

Whoever ends up as Commission president will have one aim: ever closer union in Europe

It would be the like of him to write this article - people around should ask him why did he come to Islington and buy his Home next to my/our place. Very many on the streets know why and where he is getting some of his positive buzz from

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/10885373/Junking-Junckers-pointless.-It-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the-job.html

Der spanische Wirtschaftsminister Luis de Guindos wird einem Medienbericht zufolge der Nachfolger des Holländers Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

25.06.2014 | 09:16 | (DiePresse.com)

Chef der Euro-Gruppe soll einem Medienbericht zufolge der spanische Wirtschaftsminister Luis de Guindos werden. Er solle beim Gipfel der EU-Staats- und Regierungschefs am Donnerstag und Freitag zum Nachfolger des Niederländers Jeroen Dijsselbloem als Vorsitzender der Euro-Finanzminister-Runde gekürt werden, berichtete die Zeitung "Die Welt" am Mittwoch unter Berufung auf ranghohe EU-Diplomaten.

http://diepresse.com/home/wirtschaft/international/3827004/Spanier-soll-neuer-Mr-Euro-werden?_vl_backlink=/home/index.do

Former Luxembourg prime minister wins 422 votes from 751-seat parliament as focus moves to filling other top EU roles



The Guardian, Tuesday 15 July 2014 13.51 BST

European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in the European parliament

Jean-Claude Juncker, the controversial choice to head the EU executive for the next five years, has been confirmed as next president of the European commission by a comfortable majority of MEPs in the new European parliament.

Vehemently opposed by David Cameron – who was joined only by Hungary in opposing Juncker's appointment 10 days ago – the former Luxembourg prime minister was supported by the EU's 26 other national leaders. His endorsement is followed by a special EU summit in Brussels on Wednesday at which government chiefs will seek to fill a clutch of top jobs becoming vacant later this year.

In a 47-minute speech before a secret ballot – which he won with 422 votes in the 751-seat chamber, 46 more than the absolute majority needed – Juncker made overtures to Christian and social democrats, the two biggest blocs in the Strasbourg chamber, as well as to liberals and greens.

Heckled by the strong Eurosceptic contingent in the parliament, Juncker strongly defended the euro, arguing that through years of crisis that nearly tore the union apart, the single currency had prevented the big member states from going to "monetary war" with one another.

Pledging to promote economic growth and kick Europe out of an unemployment crisis, Juncker called for "the reindustrialisation" of Europe and vowed to find €300bn for investment in infrastructure and jobs over his five-year term.

He made no mention of his previously stated intentions to pursue a new deal with Britain and Cameron, aimed at keeping the UK in the EU.

Mainstream parliamentary leaders lauded the former Luxembourg prime minister, dubbing Tuesday a "historic day" in Europe because for the first time the parliament rather than the EU's national leaders had called the shots in deciding who should lead the commission.

The focus will now turn to Wednesday's summit of national leaders which will wrestle over who will fill the top jobs in running the EU.

The summit is certain to name a successor to Britain's Lady Ashton as Europe's foreign policy chief. The Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, is energetically pushing his foreign minister, Federica Mogherini, for the job. The Italian is the frontrunner and ticks two boxes by being a woman and a social democrat, but has little foreign policy experience.

On one of the biggest issues facing Europe – policy towards Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia – she and Italy are seen as being overly pro-Russian, raising hackles, especially in eastern Europe where Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, would also like the job. The two may cancel each other out, leaving the way clear for Kristalina Georgiyeva of Bulgaria, the well-regarded development commissioner, to take the job. The choice will say much about Europe's foreign policy ambitions.

"Signs are that EU member states are again focusing more on a potential nominee's gender, political orientation and geographical origin, than on qualifications for the job," said Michael Leigh, a former senior commission official.

"EU leaders must set aside their habitual politicking and summon the courage to appoint an experienced senior foreign policy practitioner," he told the EurActiv website on Monday. "The appointment of a convincing European figure as foreign policy chief will help to confound the image of a continent turned in on itself with declining influence in the world."

That imperative, however, may fall victim to the primacy of national horse-trading and attempts to square several concentric circles.

The summit may struggle to agree quickly on the other far-reaching changes; Juncker's new team at the commission and who should succeed Belgium's Herman Van Rompuy as European council president, chairing the summits and mediating between EU capitals.

The Juncker confirmation marked two firsts in the EU: the first time the national leader of a big member state, such as Britain, had been ignored in the choice of commission president; and the first time the parliament, following elections in May, effectively dictated the nomination to Berlin, Paris, London and other EU capitals.

The bigger issues turn on the nature of the new commission, the changes Juncker might engineer, how many women he is able to install in top jobs, and on the other posts being vacated in October by Van Rompuy and Ashton, as well as establishing a new permanent president of the eurogroup, the committee of the 18 finance ministers of the single currency countries. The latter post is expected to go to Spain's finance minister, Luis de Guindos.

The key criteria for the jobs are not meritocratic, but revolve around a fragile political balance between right and left, male and female candidates, east and west Europeans, big and small countries.

Juncker is struggling to get enough women in his commission team. If he does not manage to appoint at least 10 women in a commission of 28 the parliament could reject his team in September. He was not helped on Tuesday when Cameron named Lord Hill as the UK's commissioner designate.

The German and French nominees for the new commission are the incumbent energy commissioner, Günther Oettinger, and Pierre Moscovici, France's former finance minister.

The British want to secure an important economics portfolio in the commission, such as the single market. Given the uncertainty over Britain's future in the EU and the tough negotiations likely to consume much of the next three years, Cameron's choice of Hill is potentially fateful. He is seen as a conciliatory figure rather than a Conservative party Eurosceptic, keen to work with Juncker and build alliances on Cameron's EU reform agenda, according to British diplomats.

The summit may shelve naming a Van Rompuy successor until after the summer break as that person does not need to go before parliamentary confirmation hearings in September. The frontrunner is the Danish prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a social democrat. Paradoxically, she enjoys greater support on the right – from Cameron and Angela Merkel of Germany – than on the left, where the French president, François Hollande, only gave up blocking her last week as part of a deal that assumes Moscovici gets the plum commission post in charge of economic and monetary affairs.

Senior diplomats say Cameron and Merkel have also been trying to coax Mark Rutte, the liberal Dutch prime minister, into replacing Van Rompuy. But he is said not to want to switch to Brussels. He is seen as a Eurosceptic and lacking in diplomatic subtlety.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/15/jean-claude-juncker-european-commission-president1

Toujours fragile !

Economie

Par Jean Paul Arouff
30 Juillet 2014
Nous ne sommes pas sortis du bois. C’est ce qu’indique le dernier rapport du Fonds monétaire international (FMI) sur l’économie mondiale. Selon l’institution de Bretton Woods, la croissance globale sera de l’ordre de 3,4 % cette année, reflétant une baisse de 0,3 % par rapport aux prévisions initiales.

Cet abaissement des prévisions intervient à peine trois mois après que le FMI eut estimé que l’économie mondiale connaîtrait une croissance de 3,7 %. Même si la reprise est toujours en cours, elle demeure toutefois plus modérée que prévu. Une situation que l’institut des statistiques local semble avoir flairée. Il a d’ailleurs pris les devants en ramenant sa projection de croissance pour Maurice à 3,5 % contre une estimation de 3,7 % au départ en raison d’un ralentissement dans les secteurs manufacturier et de l’hébergement.

Dans une telle conjoncture, il est difficile de croire qu’il y aura un redressement sensible durant la deuxième partie de l’année. D’autant plus que les freins à la croissance sont toujours là. D’une part, le niveau d’endettement, que ce soit public ou privé, demeure élevé dans les pays avancés et, de l’autre, les pays émergents font face à un ralentissement de la croissance.

Ajouté à cela, les tensions géopolitiques autour du globe ne font qu’assombrir davantage les perspectives à court - moyen terme. Nous pensons bien évidemment aux conflits entre Israël et la Palestine, entre la Russie et l’Ukraine, mais aussi à l’escalade de la violence en Iraq et en Syrie, entre autres.

Ces foyers de tension, en particulier au Moyen-Orient, peuvent à la longue avoir des conséquences très lourdes sur les cours du pétrole du fait que dans la plupart des cas, aucune sortie de crise ne semble se profiler à l’horizon. Si cela devait perdurer, nous pourrions alors dire adieu à la reprise que nous attendons depuis l’éclatement de la crise.

Même à Maurice, nous devons nous préparer à une morosité prolongée car à en croire Olivier Blanchard, le directeur du département de recherche au FMI, l’Europe, notre principal marché pour le tourisme et l’exportation, n’affiche pas très bonne mine. D’ailleurs, le FMI n’a pas voulu prendre de risque en gardant ses projections de croissance pour cette région inchangées à 1,4 % en 2014 et 1,5 % en 2015.

Des chiffres, qui selon Olivier Blanchard, cachent des réalités diverses. Par exemple, si la prévision de croissance a été revue à la hausse pour l’Allemagne, en revanche, les attentes pour la France ont été abaissées. Idem pour l’Espagne et l’Italie. Le pire dans tout cela, c’est le chômage au sein de la zone qui dépasse largement le taux d’équilibre.

Une situation qui ne manque pas de nous impacter. La preuve avec les arrivées touristiques en provenance de France, notre plus gros marché émetteur. En effet, le nombre de Français ayant visité notre île au premier semestre a pris une tendance baissière depuis le début de 2014. Ce qui fait que les six premiers mois de l’année ont été marqués par un recul de 4,3 % pour atteindre 118 852 arrivées. Rien que pour le mois de juin, le plongeon a été de 7,2 % par rapport à la période correspondante en 2013.

La seule bonne nouvelle du point de vue mauricien se trouve de l’autre côté de la Manche où l’économie britannique semble rebondir mieux que prévu. Les dernières estimations parlent d’une croissance de 3,2 % pour le Royaume-Uni contre une projection initiale de 2,9 %.

Face à l’inégalité de la reprise mondiale, Maurice devrait sérieusement envisager des mesures conjoncturelles pouvant stimuler la productivité, ainsi que la croissance potentielle. Le cas échéant, nous serons certainement obligés de revoir une nouvelle fois nos ambitions de croissance pour cette année.

http://www.lexpress.mu/idee/250143/toujours-fragile

In the United States, most of us fall for the movie version of Britain — horsy, obsessed with propriety and full of hard stares of unfulfilled longing between the genders. And then there is the Britain of Nick Davies’s “Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch.”

This version is less Jolly Olde England than a country gone mad, drunk on prerogative, a tiny treehouse of a place where people lie just for practice and trash the law for sport and gain. There is so much excess and human pathology on display here, it makes “Bonfire of the Vanities” seem restrained.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/books/review/hack-attack-about-a-rupert-murdoch-papers-trials-by-nick-davies.html?WT.mc_id=D-NYT-MKTG-MOD-38299-08-23-HD&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_c=${CAMPAIGN_ID}

MILAN - The European Union sought ways on Saturday to marshal billions of euros into its sluggish economy without getting deeper into debt, considering options from a pan-European capital market to a huge investment fund.

With Europe's economy struggling to recover from the worst financial crisis in a generation, EU finance ministers tasked the European Commission, the EU executive, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to draw up a list of projects that would create growth and decide how to finance them.

"We have given a mandate to the Commission and the EIB to swiftly present an initial report on practical measures that can be taken, on profitable investment projects that are justifiable," Italy's economy minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, told a news conference.

Ministers are expected to discuss the projects and investment tools at their next meeting in Luxembourg in October.

There were no details of what those projects might be.

To finance them, the ministers discussed four ideas: an Italian paper on new financing tools for companies, a Franco-German proposal on how to boost private investments, a Polish proposal on creating a joint EU fund worth 700 billion euros and a call from incoming European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a 300-billion euro investment programme to revive the European economy.

The European Central Bank's plan to resurrect a market for asset-backed securities would be another financing tool.

"We don't have a magic wand but we need growth, we need to stimulate demand without taking on debt," France's finance minister, Michel Sapin, told reporters after the gathering in Milan. "We need the right mix of public and private money."

http://ewn.co.za/2014/09/14/EU-seeks-billions-of-euros-to-revive-economy

Comment - In the past from 1985 onward, we would not have written anything safe get together with a few capable individuals and get things done.  Those in Bruxlles and Strassbourg who refuse to learn from the last election - the very big political miss management and benchmarks - they alone can find economic solution and sort out problems.  They are completely wrong - this will leed to the destruction of Europe.

Mr Soro, others and the many who have been involved in very big money have been telling you lies. I/my person have been workings with some of the most famous and richest of them - the formula they use and the formula that then the media say we ought to use to save the economy. Call them what you will and want today, money and Power corrupts when we started out they did not have much and had to do things seriously afterwards the madness came along/about - for several years they we reasonably serious. We forgot the Media monsters.

To underline the situation - ask everybody to go back to the early stage of Solidarity/Solidarnos Poland - many of them were inexperienced in real economy issues - the miss written events and development how those found their person dragged/pushed in position and with the help of other taking/making economic decision.  Poland was blessed in the person of Pope John Paul ll, the important goodwill of the world and those Poles from USA and Europe in exile who decided to lend their knowledge and expertise to rebuild their country .

Then suddenly everybody choose to forget and began inventing/cooking as they say in German how it all started and was done. They all choose  to forget they were not dealing with Communist discipline but with highly sophisticated Central and Old Europe discipline and workings - we had that horrible accident and 80/90 % of Solidarity former Activist lost their lives and perished.  Beside the tenacity of the Polish people - this should have been serious wake up call. As such the need for them to come forward and manned/ lecture all those in Europe inventing and cooking things up.

Today in Poland we have two very giant Cross.  At the Head  - Council of Europe in the mega mess we are in Mr Donald Tusk  a former Solidarity leading Activist.  It is as if Europe is being given a last chance to sort itself out after the last European election and the outcome.

In addressing this comment wish to share our views with those how leads and Heads Europe - how Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion was put together by the French expats, migrants and exiles - they knew the Story of Europe very well and we have made great efforts to learn more and acquire more understanding and knowledge of this Europe before we make the comment we do.

{"In Sechelles Seychelles all those complaining and criticizing the government Economic Plan and workings, the methodology is almost like Europe, the why's. This can be change, the political thinking must change too otherwise"}

Just look at the mega mess Santandar Bank have landed themselves in and the why - Mr Soro and the others your views and knowledge is required. By the way we had been expected to visit/be in Santandar Town in Spain those who played the fool and then.  The numerous Seychelles government and Spain issues, the month of July and August and what they were all about - now Mr Minister in Seychelles grab our comment run around like mad cow and tell the people you are working hard - it will just get worse.  Because you do not know what  the real issues are about. Can you begin to solve the mega mess Santandar has walked into. We contributed importantly to that Bank workings the past 10 years and the different version of things and events being told.

This also apply to our Sir James Mancham and his very many books

Poland's Donald Tusk takes over as EU Council president


Poland's Donald Tusk has taken over as European Council president, charged with convening summits of the bloc's 28 leaders. The former Polish premier has promised "ruthless determination" to fix Europe's economy.

Tusk, a centrist, was handed a summit bell by Belgium's Herman Van Rompuy on Monday, becoming the first person from the former East bloc to head the European Council.

As council president, Tusk completes the EU's new trio - alongside Luxembourg's Jean Claude Juncker, who is chief of the European Commission, and the foreign affairs coordinator, Federica Mogherini of Italy.

http://www.dw.de/polands-donald-tusk-takes-over-as-eu-council-president/a-18104198