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The Parliament Magazine
Issue 279 | Monday 8th December 2008
Letter from America
America's EU ambassador Kristen Silverberg advocates a spirit of transatlantic community
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Meglena Kuneva, Consumer Protection Commissioner
Editor's Comment
Toy story
Catherine Stihler asks people to think before they buy this Christmas
Monday 8th December 2008News Analysis
Poll position
In September, Dods EU Polling took the pulse of the EU on various topical issues. The results have inspired comment from MEPs and commissioners alike
Monday 8th December 2008
Master of invention
Ján Figel’ extols the benefits of dedicating a year to Europe’s inventiveness
Monday 8th December 2008
I fought the law
Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg investigates how well EU countries are applying community rules – and finds out that infringements are generally not on the rise
Monday 8th December 2008
When fate is sealed
MEPs debating the trade in seal products should investigate if animal welfare can ever be guaranteed in large commercial seal hunts, write Barbara Slee and Abigail Caudron
Monday 8th December 2008
Unleashing the dragon
A group of MEPs has just witnessed the astonishing progress being made by the country most expect to be the next global superpower: China. Martin Banks reports
Monday 8th December 2008
Consensus-building
Martin Banks reports on an unprecedented opportunity for closer relations between China and its political and diplomatic rival, Taiwan
Monday 8th December 2008
Chinese whispers
Stephen Hughes and Neil Parish, both on Parliament's delegation to China, comment on their recent visit to Beijing
Monday 8th December 2008
From anchorman to action man
He’s the former television anchorman who has become one of the best-known faces in parliament. Martin Banks profiles Belgian ALDE deputy Dirk Sterckx
Monday 8th December 2008Special Report
Making friends
Ona Jukneviciene says the EU’s task in Central Asia is to promote and share its values, without appearing to preach
Monday 8th December 2008
A new level of partnership
The ‘way to Europe’ programme will help Kazakhstan upgrade its relationship with the EU, writes Ambassador Konstantin Zhigalov
Monday 8th December 2008
In the know
Miloslav Ransdorf tells Martin Banks that EU leaders are disadvantaged by a lack of knowledge about Kazakhstan
Monday 8th December 2008
Water under the bridge
Hydropower is a politically charged issue across Central Asia, writes Ednan Karabaev, and an area where EU cooperation is welcome
Monday 8th December 2008
Our friends in the east
As MEPs Martin Callanan, Daniel Caspary and Janusz Wojciechowski report, the EU’s relationship with Central Asia is becoming increasingly important
Monday 8th December 2008
To be or not to be
Tajikistan’s future lies in its potential to become a hydroelectric powerhouse, the country’s EU ambassador tells Brian Johnson
Monday 8th December 2008
A question of ethics
Health policy is not just a matter of minimising costs – it’s about quality of life as well, insists Günther Leiner
Monday 29th September 2008
Playing its part
As it has done since its foundation 10 years ago, this year’s annual European health forum will address the key health issues affecting Europe, writes Andrea Kdolsky
Monday 29th September 2008
Not on the hoof but in the mountains
John Bowis describes how the Gastein health forum has been the scene of some important health policy initiatives
Monday 29th September 2008
An iron curtain in health?
Despite enjoying longer and healthier lives, many Europeans are still victims of health inequality, says Alojz Peterle
Monday 29th September 2008
Up, up and away
Ian Banks will spare no expense to promote attention to men’s health in Gastein this year – he’s taking to the skies in a hot-air balloon
Monday 29th September 2008
Knowledge is power
John Haughney and David Price describe an Irish pilot project that has made the informed patient the cornerstone for improving asthma management
Monday 29th September 2008
Running out of time
Time is short for rare disease patients, who need to gain access to new treatments being developed, writes Erik Tambuyzer
Monday 29th September 2008
Equal treatment
Every patient in Europe, whether suffering from a rare or a common disease, must be able to access treatment, argues Katia Finck
Monday 29th September 2008
Market value
We need to coordinate health policies to avoid arbitrary approaches by individual member states, says Jorgo Chatzimarkakis
Monday 29th September 2008
The breakfast club
Eating breakfast can bring about noticeable improvements in health, according to a new campaign launched earlier this month. Matt Williams reports
Monday 29th September 2008
Health warning
The effects of climate change could overwhelm European health services, says Genon K. Jensen, and the Gastein forum should sit up and take notice
Monday 29th September 2008
Precautionary principle
A strict authorisation process for chemicals will encourage certainty about where REACH is heading, argues Anders Wijkman
Monday 29th September 2008Inside EU
The ostrich effect
EU countries are sticking their heads in the sand when it comes to gambling, argues Malcolm Harbour, and it’s harming consumers
Monday 8th December 2008
Don’t hold your breath
EU governments are profiting from their illegal gambling monopolies while the European commission dithers on taking action, argues Karin Riis-Jørgensen
Monday 8th December 2008
Who’s in charge?
MEPs recently called on Brussels to clarify the position of EU online gambling, writes Brian Johnson
Monday 8th December 2008
A fair flutter
The Schaldemose report on internet gambling is undermined by a failure to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed gambling, argues Mark Davies
Monday 8th December 2008
A safe bet
Sigrid Ligné’s evidence shows that smaller EU-regulated gaming operators are as responsible as the larger monopolies
Monday 8th December 2008
Crackdown on corruption
Early warning systems are becoming an increasingly useful way of ensuring fairness in sports and gambling, says Khalid Ali
Monday 8th December 2008Policy Focus
Leading from the front
The EU must continue its leadership on climate change at the UN conference in Poznan, urges Yvo de Boer
Monday 24th November 2008
Collective efforts
The developed world cannot deny the rest of the planet the right to prosperity, but we will have to learn to work together to fight climate change, writes Karl-Heinz Florenz
Monday 24th November 2008
Setting a European example
The EU must stick to its climate change targets if is to set an example to other nations and help secure international agreement, says Satu Hassi
Monday 24th November 2008
Questionable quotas
The EU’s strict emissions trading scheme is causing Europe to become increasingly isolated from other countries and hindering negotiations towards a climate change agreement, warns Eija-Riitta Korhola
Monday 24th November 2008Fears about global warming are grossly exaggerated, when what we should be more concerned about is the approaching ice age, argues Roger Helmer
Monday 24th November 2008English edition
A country holding the EU presidency will probably have to sacrifice some national interests to achieve results, writes Martyn Bond
Thursday 3rd July 2008France must move on from institutional navel-gazing and make the EU relevant to its citizens once again, says Alain Lamassoure
Thursday 3rd July 2008Research shows that the effects of globalisation have benefited France, says Mark Spelman
Thursday 3rd July 2008Less analysis, more action should be ethos of the French presidency, says Joseph Daul
Thursday 3rd July 2008France should focus on improving people’s lives during its six months in the hot-seat, says Martin Schulz
Thursday 3rd July 2008France should not let its presidency priorities be sidetracked by the Irish ‘no’ vote, says Graham Watson
Thursday 3rd July 2008Daniel Cohn-Bendit wants Nicolas Sarkozy to show a little humility in trying to steer Europe out of its current crisis
Thursday 3rd July 2008With France now at the EU’s helm, Eamonn Bates asks if Paris is still a champion of Europe’s cultural diversity
Thursday 3rd July 2008French president Nicolas Sarkozy has built his political career on anti-immigration policies but he is expected to find it harder to turn tough talk into action at EU level. Martin Banks reports
Thursday 3rd July 2008After a decidedly bumpy few years, Franco-American relations are witnessing a remarkable resurgence due in no small part to French president Nicolas Sarkozy, writes Brian Beary
Thursday 3rd July 2008Edition française
Le Parlement européen devrait être le partenaire privilégié de la Présidence française de l’UE afin de trouver une réponse aux préoccupations des citoyens européens, selon Jean-Pierre Jouyet
Thursday 3rd July 2008La France devrait faire en sorte que l’UE s’adapte aux besoins des citoyens après des longues années de negotiations institutionnelles, écrit Alain Lamassoure
Thursday 3rd July 2008La mondialisation profite aux français, dit Mark Spelman
Thursday 3rd July 2008Arracher un compromis à 27 nécessite que la présidence en fonction dépasse ses intérêts nationaux et adopte une perspective européenne, Martyn Bond écrit
Thursday 3rd July 2008La Présidence française doit montrer aux Européens que l’UE peut faire la différence dans leurs vies, d’après Joseph Daul
Thursday 3rd July 2008Pour Martin Schulz, la priorité de la Présidence française devrait être la protection sociale
Thursday 3rd July 2008La France devrait rester fixée sur ses priorités pour la présidence, malgré le ‘non’ Irlandais, écrit Graham Watson
Thursday 3rd July 2008Daniel Cohn-Bendit voudrait voir un peu plus d’humilité de la part de Nicolas Sarkozy pour sortir l’Europe de la crise actuelle
Thursday 3rd July 2008Le programme GMES va unir toutes les parties prenantes pour construire un service d’intérêt général, dit Valérie Pécresse
Thursday 3rd July 2008La présidence française suscite de grands espoirs au sein du mouvement écologique, et ce dans toute l’Union européenne, indique John Hontelez
Thursday 3rd July 2008