28th Feb 2008
The EU is still coming up with ways to ensure Microsoft complies with the ruling by the European Court of First Instance (Europe's second highest court) made last September. Microsoft has just been fined a record €899 million (£680m) for charging unreasonable prices to rivals for access to its dominant Windows software. The fine is the largest ever imposed by the EU on a single company and brings and brings the total fines levies on Microsoft to €1.7 billion during the ten-year legal wrangle.
Nellie Kroes, The EU Competition Commissioner, said: "Microsoft is the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the Commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an anti-trust decision". Kroes is also investigating two further complaints against the company regarding interoperability and bundling of products such as Internet Explorer and Windows.
Although the fines seem enormous, the sums involved are a drop in the ocean to Microsoft. It is, however, vitally important that the EU pursues its action against the giant monopoly provider. Microsoft has ruthlessly suppressed competition. The environment created by such behaviour is not conducive to innovation and does not encourage new businesses in the computer field dominated by this one huge corporation. All power to Nellie Kroes.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
SUPERCASINO
27th Feb 2008
When the winning bid for the original supercasino was announced, I was very pleased that it was not the Millennium Dome. London, and Greenwich in particular, had been spared the magnet for crime that such a supercasino would inevitably become. Neither did I buy the argument that the supercasino would provide employment. This was always a tenuous argument not backed up by sensible assumptions.Now we hear that there will be no supercasino anywhere in the country as the Manchester project is to be shelved. This is even better news. Gambling causes harm. Those who can least afford it often suffer most. It is not something government should encourage. Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham have made the right decision - undoing a decision which should never have been taken.
When the winning bid for the original supercasino was announced, I was very pleased that it was not the Millennium Dome. London, and Greenwich in particular, had been spared the magnet for crime that such a supercasino would inevitably become. Neither did I buy the argument that the supercasino would provide employment. This was always a tenuous argument not backed up by sensible assumptions.Now we hear that there will be no supercasino anywhere in the country as the Manchester project is to be shelved. This is even better news. Gambling causes harm. Those who can least afford it often suffer most. It is not something government should encourage. Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham have made the right decision - undoing a decision which should never have been taken.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
CYPRUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
26th Feb 2008
Congratulations to Mr Christofias on his convincing victory in the second round of the Cyprus presidential election on Sunday. His winning margin of 53.4% to Mr Kassoulides' 46.6% was a convincing win. Having maintained good links with AKEL in Britain since my election to the European Parliament, I am especially pleased about MR Christofias's victory.
However, this is about more than party politics. The election of Dimitris Christofias will bring a solution to the Cyprus problem closer. According to the "Guardian", Mr Christofias is in record as saying, "My priority will be the salvation of the island, to reunify it with Turkish Cypriots under the umbrella of a bizonal, bicommunal federation".
Unusually for Greek Cypriot leaders, Mr Christofias enjoys good relations with Turkish Cypriots, including Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots in the north of Cyprus, the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", who telephoned to congratulate him soon after the results were known. An official in Talat's office that the two leaders want to meet soon, though no date has yet been fixed.
If Talat and Christofias begin communicating, the international community will, I hope, sit up and take notice. The election of Demitris Christofias has undoubtedly ushered in a new era or rapprochement and reconciliation. This is the first time the leaders both of the communities in Cyprus have wanted to negotiate. Hopefully this time it will lead somewhere.
Congratulations to Mr Christofias on his convincing victory in the second round of the Cyprus presidential election on Sunday. His winning margin of 53.4% to Mr Kassoulides' 46.6% was a convincing win. Having maintained good links with AKEL in Britain since my election to the European Parliament, I am especially pleased about MR Christofias's victory.
However, this is about more than party politics. The election of Dimitris Christofias will bring a solution to the Cyprus problem closer. According to the "Guardian", Mr Christofias is in record as saying, "My priority will be the salvation of the island, to reunify it with Turkish Cypriots under the umbrella of a bizonal, bicommunal federation".
Unusually for Greek Cypriot leaders, Mr Christofias enjoys good relations with Turkish Cypriots, including Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish Cypriots in the north of Cyprus, the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", who telephoned to congratulate him soon after the results were known. An official in Talat's office that the two leaders want to meet soon, though no date has yet been fixed.
If Talat and Christofias begin communicating, the international community will, I hope, sit up and take notice. The election of Demitris Christofias has undoubtedly ushered in a new era or rapprochement and reconciliation. This is the first time the leaders both of the communities in Cyprus have wanted to negotiate. Hopefully this time it will lead somewhere.
Monday, 25 February 2008
The Nasty Party
25th Feb 2008
In case any of you were ever in any doubt, the Tories really haven't changed. David Cameron's efforts to seem greener, more women and race friendly and generally nicer, cannot disguise the real Conservative Party.
The following blog posted on the Conservative Home website is proof, if ever it were needed.
"Posted by: James Burdett 20 February 2008 at 15:16 Peter Franks @1351. ---
Dan Hannan is a true Tory and he now joins that other true Conservative MEP, Roger Helmer.
The trouble is that the majority of our MEPs are NOT true Tories at all and many of them should be expelled from the Conservative Party, not given 'safe-passages' back to their lush posts where they do untold damage to Britain.And heaven help us if Caroline Jackson - married to a Tory MEP who defected to Labour - were used as a template for more women MEPs. CJ: is a classic example of why quotas and preferential selection are a disaster. We just need the best people".
You may be interested to know that Caroline Jackson is the Tories' only women MEP and she is standing down at the European elections next year. She is, in addition, a very conscientious MEP who has contributed a great deal to the European Parliament. If the Tories had more representatives like Caroline, they may become a bit nicer and a lot more influential.
In case any of you were ever in any doubt, the Tories really haven't changed. David Cameron's efforts to seem greener, more women and race friendly and generally nicer, cannot disguise the real Conservative Party.
The following blog posted on the Conservative Home website is proof, if ever it were needed.
"Posted by: James Burdett 20 February 2008 at 15:16 Peter Franks @1351. ---
Dan Hannan is a true Tory and he now joins that other true Conservative MEP, Roger Helmer.
The trouble is that the majority of our MEPs are NOT true Tories at all and many of them should be expelled from the Conservative Party, not given 'safe-passages' back to their lush posts where they do untold damage to Britain.And heaven help us if Caroline Jackson - married to a Tory MEP who defected to Labour - were used as a template for more women MEPs. CJ: is a classic example of why quotas and preferential selection are a disaster. We just need the best people".
You may be interested to know that Caroline Jackson is the Tories' only women MEP and she is standing down at the European elections next year. She is, in addition, a very conscientious MEP who has contributed a great deal to the European Parliament. If the Tories had more representatives like Caroline, they may become a bit nicer and a lot more influential.
Friday, 22 February 2008
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS
22nd Feb 2008
Now that the Pakistan elections are over, you may like to know that my colleague Robert Evans was one of the team of election monitors throughout the difficult process. Election monitoring is an absolutely vital thing to do, and without it many elections, particularly in the developing world, would be neither free nor fair. Providing MEPs to go do this work, sometimes in dangerous situations, is one of the least known but important jobs done by the European Parliament.Having been an election monitor in Azerbaijan, I know how tough it can be. I doubt if Robert found the Pakistani elections any easier. In addition, Robert has a long commitment to the Sub-Continent and is Chair of the European Parliament delegation to South Asia.
Now that the Pakistan elections are over, you may like to know that my colleague Robert Evans was one of the team of election monitors throughout the difficult process. Election monitoring is an absolutely vital thing to do, and without it many elections, particularly in the developing world, would be neither free nor fair. Providing MEPs to go do this work, sometimes in dangerous situations, is one of the least known but important jobs done by the European Parliament.Having been an election monitor in Azerbaijan, I know how tough it can be. I doubt if Robert found the Pakistani elections any easier. In addition, Robert has a long commitment to the Sub-Continent and is Chair of the European Parliament delegation to South Asia.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
BOILED WATER
20th Feb 2008
Phil Woolas, our Environment Minister, is right when he says "it is morally unacceptable to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on bottled water when we have pure drinking water, and at the same time one of the crises that is facing the world is the supply of water". What's wrong with tap water, at least in the UK? Despite being a committed European I am not so sure about "eau de robinet" in both Brussels and Strasbourg. However, I happily drink tap water in London without, as far as I know, any serious consequences.
Bottled water costs 1000 times more than that from the tap. It is also environmentally very profligate. The plastic bottles have to be manufactured, usually from an oil based project. The product then has to be distributed. To make matters even worse, in many cases it is not possible to recycle the offending plastic.
Of course bottled water is necessary where local supplies are not drinkable. However, across most of Europe boiling or filtering are more than adequate where the water from the tap is not quite up to standard. I filter and boil water in Brussels. It really presents no difficulty - not much different from making a cup of tea.
Phil Woolas, our Environment Minister, is right when he says "it is morally unacceptable to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on bottled water when we have pure drinking water, and at the same time one of the crises that is facing the world is the supply of water". What's wrong with tap water, at least in the UK? Despite being a committed European I am not so sure about "eau de robinet" in both Brussels and Strasbourg. However, I happily drink tap water in London without, as far as I know, any serious consequences.
Bottled water costs 1000 times more than that from the tap. It is also environmentally very profligate. The plastic bottles have to be manufactured, usually from an oil based project. The product then has to be distributed. To make matters even worse, in many cases it is not possible to recycle the offending plastic.
Of course bottled water is necessary where local supplies are not drinkable. However, across most of Europe boiling or filtering are more than adequate where the water from the tap is not quite up to standard. I filter and boil water in Brussels. It really presents no difficulty - not much different from making a cup of tea.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
CYPRUS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
19th Feb 2008
So Mr Papadopoulos has been defeated in the first round of the Cyprus Presidential elections. Mr Kasoulides of the centre right DISY and the progressive Communist Mr Chrisrofias remain. The second round of the election will take place on Sunday.
Encouragingly both candidates are talking about working to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem. Indeed the reason Tassos Papadopoulos came a cropper was probably his relentless separatism and strong opposition to any resolution to the division of Cyprus. When the Cypriots in the south and the north of the island voted on the Annan Plan in 2004 it was very clear that President Papadopoulos was against not only the Annan Plan as it stood, but any form of settlement.
Hopefully things are changing. If the new President of the Cyprus Republic genuinely wants to resolve the Cyprus problem, the international community will take notice. It is not really in anyone's interest to hang on to the status quo. The EU certainly wants a solution. One of the main reasons the reconciliation efforts which led to the Annan Plan proved so successful was the support of the United States throughout out the process.
It was not a good move on the part of the south of Cyprus to throw away that good will. Fortunately the Republic of Cyprus now has an opportunity to regain its standing. May whoever wins gain the elusive prize.
So Mr Papadopoulos has been defeated in the first round of the Cyprus Presidential elections. Mr Kasoulides of the centre right DISY and the progressive Communist Mr Chrisrofias remain. The second round of the election will take place on Sunday.
Encouragingly both candidates are talking about working to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem. Indeed the reason Tassos Papadopoulos came a cropper was probably his relentless separatism and strong opposition to any resolution to the division of Cyprus. When the Cypriots in the south and the north of the island voted on the Annan Plan in 2004 it was very clear that President Papadopoulos was against not only the Annan Plan as it stood, but any form of settlement.
Hopefully things are changing. If the new President of the Cyprus Republic genuinely wants to resolve the Cyprus problem, the international community will take notice. It is not really in anyone's interest to hang on to the status quo. The EU certainly wants a solution. One of the main reasons the reconciliation efforts which led to the Annan Plan proved so successful was the support of the United States throughout out the process.
It was not a good move on the part of the south of Cyprus to throw away that good will. Fortunately the Republic of Cyprus now has an opportunity to regain its standing. May whoever wins gain the elusive prize.
Monday, 18 February 2008
CULTURE TRADE UNIONS
18th Feb 2008
Last week I had my regular three to four monthly meeting with the trade unions representing people in the culture industries - BECTU, the NUJ, the Musicians' Union, the Writers' guild and those in the film industry. These meetings are helpful for me as I can judge things on the Culture Committee better for having had the unions' input. I also like to think they find talking to me helpful.
At this last meeting, in addition to the perennial Working Time Directive, we discussed the allocation for the spare radio spectrum released by the move to digital technology - the digital dividend. There is a real danger that this spectrum, which is in the hands of Member States and will therefore be disposed of by the UK, will be sold to the highest bidder with little regard for the best use of this resource.
The highest bidder in this case will more than likely be the mobile phone operators. Since the spectrum is being released by broadcasters, there is a strong moral argument that the broadcasters should keep a large chunk of it. If broadcasting is to remain at a reasonable standard, adequate spectrum facility is important. Plus, do we want ever more fancy and extensive mobile phone communication, the end result of which may be lack of privacy and ultimately an end to any idea of free time?
Last week I had my regular three to four monthly meeting with the trade unions representing people in the culture industries - BECTU, the NUJ, the Musicians' Union, the Writers' guild and those in the film industry. These meetings are helpful for me as I can judge things on the Culture Committee better for having had the unions' input. I also like to think they find talking to me helpful.
At this last meeting, in addition to the perennial Working Time Directive, we discussed the allocation for the spare radio spectrum released by the move to digital technology - the digital dividend. There is a real danger that this spectrum, which is in the hands of Member States and will therefore be disposed of by the UK, will be sold to the highest bidder with little regard for the best use of this resource.
The highest bidder in this case will more than likely be the mobile phone operators. Since the spectrum is being released by broadcasters, there is a strong moral argument that the broadcasters should keep a large chunk of it. If broadcasting is to remain at a reasonable standard, adequate spectrum facility is important. Plus, do we want ever more fancy and extensive mobile phone communication, the end result of which may be lack of privacy and ultimately an end to any idea of free time?
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