THE WEEK IN STRASBOURG:THE FIRST sitting of the European Parliament under the French presidency did not confine itself to only EU business, with politicians in Strasbourg this week addressing matters regarding Russia and China, as well as a busy domestic agenda.
Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, and its implications for the French presidential term, still loomed over Strasbourg, with European Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering continuing to push for its ratification in all EU member states.
Mr Pöttering described the Netherlands ratification of the treaty on Tuesday as an “important signal following the negative vote in the Irish referendum”. He said 21 nations had now ratified the document and the parliament would like to see the Lisbon Treaty enter into force in time for next year’s European elections.
“For this to happen, those member states which have not yet ratified need to go forward with their own procedures while at the same time allowing the Irish Government time and space to come up with its own proposals on how we could all move forward together,” he said.
Mr Pöttering also indicated some concessions may arise to make Lisbon more palatable for Irish voters. A spokesman for his office suggested these might include clarifications on issues such as commissioners, tax and neutrality.
Elsewhere, the lack of progress in negotiations between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama over Tibet was also discussed.
Mr Pöttering said, with support from many MEPs, that because of inconclusive talks between China and the Dalai Lama, he would boycott the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing next month, despite clarification that French president Nicolas Sarkozy will travel to the event.
Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke said China was “not showing sufficient progress” in improving its human rights record.
Another issue creating waves this week was a proposed Baltic Sea pipeline that would bring Russian gas into Germany, bypassing Poland and the other Baltic states.
Parliamentarians voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to adopt a report drafted by a Polish MEP criticising the project.
Poland opposes the construction, seeing it as an environmental threat, as well as a possible future instrument of political pressure, with the Polish ministry of economics insisting the project is three times more expensive than a land-based alternative, which has received Polish support.
Dublin Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa called on the European Commission to make it absolutely clear to both Germany and Russia that environmental impact assessments for such projects were obligatory under EU law.
Meanwhile, parliament voted to update and simplify regulations for authorising food additives, flavourings and enzymes, in an attempt to promote better health and protect consumers. Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle, the author of the report, said the new rulings would lead to “improved food safety and enhanced consumer choice”.
