Calls for EU lobbying rules to be reformed grow as corruption scandal rocks Brussels | Euronews

“It is the only institution that basically has virtually no rules imposed on their representatives and very weak enforcement of those ethical rules,” said one expert, referring to the European Parliament.

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Yes, reform of European Parliament lobbying rules is very much required, but no matter how much reform is done or not, if the EU and the European Parliament is not prepared to not only abide by them, but use them against those who flout them, then no improvement will ever occur.

 

Source: Calls for EU lobbying rules to be reformed grow as corruption scandal rocks Brussels | Euronews

European Parliament ‘will sue’ Ursula von der Leyen if she won’t punish Poland

MEPs could launch legal action if the European Commission refuses to withhold tens of billions of euros from Poland

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So MEPs are wanting Poland to be punished for doing what Poland feels is in their own best interests, is this anyway to maintain good relationships. Then again is Poland acting in good faith to her EU partners. This is always going to be the case when you are in partnership. The EU went out of their way to punish Greece some years ago, so this is not the first time the power of the EU is being used against one of her member states.

It is one of the reasons why the UK decided to withdraw from the EU, although by doing so, it appears the EU were and are determined to punish the UK. Unfortunately in these days of globalisation, it is virtually impossible for one country to go alone, unless they have the resources to do so and these days that is not so for many countries, except perhaps America, China and maybe a few others.

So who is right and who is wrong, well perhaps all are wrong and right on how you view the situations.

No one person yet alone one country wishes to suffer, so why can’t we all give a little without some wanting all their own way, surely this is how good relationships are made. But what is good for one may not be for another, for these days life is so complicated and in some instances leads to major problems, even leads to violent conflicts and may result in wars.

This is not in the best interests of anyone, but, deep down the human race is very selfish and extremely violent, not good traits to have and will lead to World resources to be depleted. That in turn is very bad for everyone.

Currently being seen in climate change, which will make life unliveable on earth for us all in time. Time which is forever decreasing and soon there will be the point of no return, but world leaders are not listening, as many, if not all are being selfish.

When the time comes EU MEPs will have no power at all, for none of us will, for the earths resources will be extremely depleted and life on earth will be no more so the eventual extinction of the human race is at stake.

So EU MEPS reign in your actions and continue to talk with Poland and both EU MEPs and Poland be prepared to all give a little until full agreements are reached and continue until it is.

Source: European Parliament ‘will sue’ Ursula von der Leyen if she won’t punish Poland

The EU Parliament’s Procedure to Decide on the Immunity of Catalan MEPs Carles Puigdemont, Clara Ponsatí and Toni Comín to Begin Tomorrow Monday

I do hope that the EU Parliament come down on the side of Catalan leaders Puigdemont, Ponsatí and Comín, rather than the Spanish authorities.

For the leaders Puigdemont, Ponsatí and Comín were following their convictions and the wishes of the Catalonian population in the 2017 independence referendum.

For, if, the results of any referendum are not abided by, then what is the point of having a referendum.

However, the EU and some countries within the EU are not good in progressing the views of referendums, has can be seen with the UK Brexit referendum of 2016 and previously referendums in Ireland in 2001 and 2008, Greece in 2019 and France and The Netherlands in 2005, .

Lets hope on this occasion the views of the Catalonian population will be upheld.

Josep Goded

Tomorrow Monday, November 16th, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs will start discussing whether to lift the immunity of Catalan leaders Puigdemont, Ponsatí and Comín. This comes at the request of Spanish authorities, who have openly expressed their desire to have them extradited in order to jail them for their roles in the 2017 independence referendum, even though Belgian justice recently rejected the extradition of exiled Catalan leader Lluís Puig arguing that the Supreme Court did not have the authority to issue a European arrest warrant against him.

The ultra-conservative Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki will be the head of the committee and will present the case, which will then be discussed by the rest of MEPs on the committee.

Monday’s session will be held virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions. Puigdemont, Comín and Ponsatí will be summoned for a hearing at a later date. The debate on their immunity is…

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Conflicting emotions as MEPs from the UK prepare to leave the European Parliament | Euronews

They’re heading into their final plenary session before they come out of the EP at the end of the month.

Source: Conflicting emotions as MEPs from the UK prepare to leave the European Parliament | Euronews

One simple graphic cuts through spin: why Labour must not go ‘full referendum’ | The SKWAWKBOX

Inevitably, the media – and a coterie of remain-supporting MPs in and out of the Labour Party – have spun last night’s European Parliament election results to support a claim that results for pro-referendum parties, primarily the LibDems, mean Labour must abandon its manifesto commitment to enacting the 2016 Brexit result and commit to a ‘new referendum with remain on the ballot paper’.

But if a picture paints a thousand words, the one below speaks volumes. Taken from the BBC’s EU vote results page, it combines two colour-coded results maps, one showing the density of LibDem votes across the country – and the other the density of Brexit party support in the same election:

 

Source: One simple graphic cuts through spin: why Labour must not go ‘full referendum’ | The SKWAWKBOX

New EU election poll underlines: Labour must drop referendum talk | The SKWAWKBOX

The latest YouGov polling gives a clear indication to Labour of the impact of the continued attempts by centrist MPs, MEPs and candidates to push a new referendum in spite of the NEC’s decision this week to reject any commitment to a public vote in the party’s European election manifesto.

YouGov polling usually understates Labour support, but the headline figures show the new Brexit party leading strongly:

• Brexit Party 30%
• Labour 21%
• Tory 13%
• Fib Dems 10%
• Greens 9%
• Change UK 9%
• UKIP 4%

Anti-Brexit and pro-referendum campaigners are already attempting to spin away the significance of the results, claiming that the Brexit party’s strong showing is a result of a cannibalised Tory vote. However, the detailed results do not bear that out.

According to YouGov’s data, the Brexit party:

 

Source: New EU election poll underlines: Labour must drop referendum talk | The SKWAWKBOX

European Parliament approves visa-free travel for Brits after Brexit | Euronews

The European Parliament approved on Thursday a law granting Britons the right to travel to the European Union without a visa after Brexit.

Britons will be able to stay in the EU visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The text specifically states that the post-Brexit visa waiver will only be granted if the UK implements a similar measure for EU citizens.

Controversially, the law describes Gibraltar as a British “colony,” which the UK branded as “completely inappropriate” in a statement to Euronews on Wednesday.

Read more: EU draft law says Gibraltar is a British ‘colony’

The measure was approved with 502 votes for, 81 against and 29 abstentions. It now has to be adopted by the Council of Ministries and must be published in the Official Journal of the EU before April 12 in order to be effective should the UK leave the bloc without a deal on that date.

It reached parliament after being approved on Wednesday with 38 votes for and 8 against by the committee for Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) after weeks of stalled negotiations and after the removal on Monday of British MEP Claude Moraes as the rapporteur.

Moraes had opposed the addition of a footnote describing Gibraltar as a British “colony”. The motion was backed after he was replaced as rapporteur by Bulgarian MEP Sergei Stanislav in what Moraes blasted as “a misuse of our legislative duties.”

Prior to the vote, MEPs had rejected attempts to postpone the vote, hold a full debate on the text or add amendments.

 

Source: European Parliament approves visa-free travel for Brits after Brexit | Euronews

The Who’s Roger Daltrey Calls Out the EU As a “F**king Mafia”

Remainers need to understand that being in the EU is not a democratic process as the European Commission is the power base, not the European Parliament.

The remainers are arguing for a democratic process to remain in the EU, which itself is undemocratic.

A referendum is a pure process of a democratic process, but not only are the Remainers failing to stand by the result, they are actively going against it. Is that not the opposite of a democratic process, but a dictatorship.

Say we did have ANOTHER Peoples Vote and it was still in favour of Leave, would Remainers demand another and another until they got a result they wish for.

But then what is to stop Leavers enacting the same process, this could go on to infinity.

Is this similar to the SNP in Scotland?

We need to leave the EU, which means the ‘Single Market and the Customs Union’ and see how it goes. For only then will it be possible to ascertain who lied the most, be it Remain or Leave. For both did lie or bend the truth.

ukgovernmentwatch

19 March 2019

Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of legendary British rock band, The Who, has compared the European Union to the “f**cking mafia,” after being asked whether Brexit would be “bad for British rock music.”

In an interview with Sky News at Wembley Stadium, Daltrey, who has publicly backed Brexit, became visibly riled at questions on the thorny issue of Brexit.He rejected any notion that leaving the EU would have a negative impact on music bands touring Europe.

“As if we didn’t tour Europe before the f**king EU. Oh give it up! If you want to be signed up to be ruled by a f**king mafia, you do it. Like being governed by FIFA.”

In an interview with the Telegraph in May last year, the 75-year-old singer lashed out at what he sees as the democratic deficit demonstrated by the EU as an institution – insisting that he…

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Opinion: How the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum could teach us a lesson on the Cyprus issue

European lawmakers call for end to Turkey EU membership talks | Reuters

The leaders of the European Parliament’s two largest groups called on Tuesday for the European Union to halt membership talks with Turkey because of its post-coup purges.

“Our message to Turkey is very clear: accession negotiations should be frozen immediately,” said Manfred Weber, the head of the largest faction in the European Parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party.

He was echoed by Gianni Pitella, the leader of the socialist group, the parliament’s second biggest: “We want to freeze the accession talks.”

 More than 110,000 people in Turkey – including soldiers, academics, judges, journalists and Kurdish leaders – have been suspended from their positions or dismissed over their alleged backing for the plotters of a failed military coup in July.Some 36,000 have been arrested and media outlets have been shut.

“Turkey under Mr Erdogan is more and more drifting towards an authoritarian regime,” Pitella said, referring to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

“Our political message towards Turkey is that human rights, civil rights, democracy are non negotiable if you want to be part of the EU.

 

Source: European lawmakers call for end to Turkey EU membership talks | Reuters