EU faces make or break autumn
by our secret columnist in Brussels
08 October 2012
There are many high level meetings in the European Union in the coming days – and there is a lot to do. But will it be done? Or has Eurosis, also known as an omnishambles, set in? Schadenfreude presents a checklist. Let us see how much is achieved
Agenda
Greece: more bail-out, probably yes.
Spain: bail-out, probably not yet, market borrowing quite strong.
Banking union: who is in and who is not?
Banking regulator: European Central Bank. What about the existing, powerless, one in London? Cannot have two.
Financial transaction tax: Tobin or not Tobin, that is the question. Off the boil.
Turkey: screening for accession. Nothing doing under the Cypriots. Others may complain. Over to the Irish Presidency, no sense of urgency.
Trade agreements: progress report. If nothing doing with BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – British prime minister will be noisily displeased.
Syria: deathly hush, continuing.
Iran: What new from Baroness Ashton, lead negotiator on nuclear programme? Not a lot.
Hungary and democracy: does the EU care about authoritarianism? Not so far.
Area of freedom, justice and security: United Kingdom wants out. Messy.
Budget for 2013: needs fixing soon. Majority decision, conciliation with European Parliament.
Multiannual financial framework: unanimity required. UK can block and says it will. Trouble ahead.
Peripatetic parliament: wants to stay put in Brussels. France: "Jamais. Respect the Treaty."
Commission expenditure: complaints about expensive travel.
Agenda
Greece: more bail-out, probably yes.
Spain: bail-out, probably not yet, market borrowing quite strong.
Banking union: who is in and who is not?
Banking regulator: European Central Bank. What about the existing, powerless, one in London? Cannot have two.
Financial transaction tax: Tobin or not Tobin, that is the question. Off the boil.
Turkey: screening for accession. Nothing doing under the Cypriots. Others may complain. Over to the Irish Presidency, no sense of urgency.
Trade agreements: progress report. If nothing doing with BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – British prime minister will be noisily displeased.
Syria: deathly hush, continuing.
Iran: What new from Baroness Ashton, lead negotiator on nuclear programme? Not a lot.
Hungary and democracy: does the EU care about authoritarianism? Not so far.
Area of freedom, justice and security: United Kingdom wants out. Messy.
Budget for 2013: needs fixing soon. Majority decision, conciliation with European Parliament.
Multiannual financial framework: unanimity required. UK can block and says it will. Trouble ahead.
Peripatetic parliament: wants to stay put in Brussels. France: "Jamais. Respect the Treaty."
Commission expenditure: complaints about expensive travel.
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