Barroso to argue for revision of treaties

‘State of the Union’ address to focus on euro crisis.

The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will outline to the European Parliament next week his views on changing the European Union’s treaties to help combat the euro crisis.

In a ‘state of the Union’ address to be delivered in Strasbourg on Wednesday (12 September), Barroso is also expected to argue for expanding the powers of the European Central Bank and creating a full banking union.

Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, has indicated that a solution to the eurozone crisis cannot be reached without a change to the EU treaties that would transfer national financial competences to the EU. Barroso appeared to back the idea in a speech to EU diplomats earlier this week. Yesterday, he was discussing the political outlook with the rest of  the college of European commissioners, at a special meeting convened in Overijse, outside Brussels.

Victims of crime

During the course of next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs will also vote on a law giving all EU citizens who are the victims of crime the same minimum rights, even when they are travelling or living in another member state. Member states will have to provide free services such as interpretation and psychological support. MEPs are expected to add an amendment requiring that all victims undergo an assessment of their specific needs at the earliest opportunity.

The Parliament is expected to endorse an agreement for an energy-efficiency directive that was reached with member states in June. The new law will require member states to renovate 3% of central government buildings annually. Energy companies will have to ensure their customers save 1.5% on energy use each year from 2014.

The Parliament will also back an agreement reached with member states in May on limiting the sulphur content of marine fuels. Ships in the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea will have to cut sulphur content to 0.1% in 2015, in line with rules agreed internationally by the International Maritime Organization.

MEPs will also vote on a resolution calling on member states to investigate whether the CIA operated secret prisons on their territory as part of its rendition programme in the early 2000s. Lithuania, Poland and Romania are highlighted.

A lengthy debate on various aspects of EU fisheries policy will be held on Tuesday evening (11 September).

On Tuesday, Cyprus, which holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers, will present to MEPs the Council’s position, adopted on 24 July, on the draft budget for 2013. Janusz Lewandowski, the Europesan commissioner for budgets, will give his reaction. MEPs are expected to challenge the Council’s attempt to limit the increase in payments to 2.79%. The Commission had proposed a 6.85% increase in payments. The Parliament is to adopt its budget position on 23 October.

MEPs will also hold a debate on a proposal from the Commission to require more transparency from EU drugmakers in citing why they are withdrawing a drug from the market.

The proposed law is a response to the ‘mediator’ diet-drug scandal in France, which killed at least 500 people in 2011. The Parliament’s environment committee has called for an amendment that would make warning labels more readable and include a ‘drug fact-box’.

Click Here: Putters