The European Elections 2009

EU subsidies on agricultural production should be focused on small scale, non-intensive methods

It is estimated that 80% of the CAP goes to the largest and richest farmers. After the Agenda 2000 Reform, direct payments to farmers were made based on what they had received in previous years. This means that the CAP is in a vicious cycle of paying out to large farmers and giving a pittance to smaller farmers. Does this need to change? more...

Medical Experiments on Animals Should be Banned Across the EU

Animal tests are considered a vital stage in the drug testing process and must be carried out to ascertain safety prior to tests on humans. At present they are highly regulated. Each individual project must be licensed and demonstrate that they are minimising suffering wherever possible. But is this enough? Can medical tests on animals ever be justified? more...

The UK should hold a referendum on whether to remain a member of the EU

When the UK joined the EEC is was a trading block, but its power has increased hugely since then. It now has a major impact on how the UK is governed. Should the British people be given a say on whether to stay in the EU? more...

The EU should stop internet service providers from limiting their customer's access to websites and applications for commercial reasons

Last week the European Parliament ruled against allowing Internet Service Providers and National governments to restrict individual people's access to the internet including for commercial reasons such as developing services that are unique to internet service providers. Should internet freedom and internet neutrality be regarded as near sacrosanct or should there be controlled highways increasing the opportunities for business in cyberspace more...

The EU poses a threat to individual national cultures

A common accusation levelled at the EU is that its bureaucracy and regulations threaten the cultures of its member states. Is this true? Or would these cultures be under threat even without the EU? more...

All EU citizens should be free to work anywhere in the EU

In a time of recession all workers should have the right to travel to where the work is, and that if a country is a member of the EU, nationals of that country should automatically be entitled the same rights as all other EU nationals regardless of their countries date of accession. more...

The EU will have to make much greater use of nuclear power if we are to significantly reduce carbon emissions

Around 30.5% of the entire net electricity produced in the EU comes from nuclear power [European Nuclear Society]. While some EU countries have no nuclear power stations, France produces 78% of its energy from nuclear power. The EU has not yet found a comprehensive solution to the challenge of satisfying the thirst for energy, let alone for satisfying this thirst while reducing carbon emissions. This may mean that an increase in nuclear power generation is needed to meet EU commitments. more...

The EU should introduce strict environmental building regulations on all new housing

With some scientists predicting environmental armageddon within out lifetimes, anything that can be done to limit energy waste and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is a necessity. By ensuring that all buildings are as environmentally efficient as possible, the EU can potentially cut green house gas emissions and realise an energy saving efficiency of over 20% by 2020. more...

Half of the members of the European Commission sould be women.

The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU, and operates as the cabinet of the EU. Each member state appoints one commissioner, so there are 27 in total. As with many other branches of government, the commission is male dominated. Is this a problem? And is forcing gender balancing the way to deal with it? more...

The EU should return power to national governments

The European Union has taken over a large amount of control over numerous areas of policy, and this is not just the areas that the EU was initially created to consolidate. In many areas integration of policy and regulation is effective, but the EU tends not to give back powers in areas where it is less effective. Does some of this need to be returned to national governments? more...

The credit crunch was caused by over-regulation of the financial sector

The credit crunch, a sudden reduction in the availability of loans and other types of credit from banks and capital markets, has caused the recession we are currently facing because banks are unwilling to lend so depressing consumption and investment, two engines of economic growth. Was this crisis caused by the financial sector being over regulated. more...

The EU Should Return Control of Fisheries to National Governments

The EU sets quotas on the amount of fish that can be caught in its waters, in order to keep the stocks of fish sustainable. But in fishing communities the feeling is that the EU limits fishing too much, and doesn't understand the needs of the people for whom fishing is a livelihood. Should these limits still be set centrally? Or would national governments do a better job? more...

Extending the period of copyright protection on sound recordings from 50 years will predominantly benefit music companies and work against the interests of consumers

The European Parliament has recently voted on a proposal that would extend the period of copyright protection for performers and record producers from 50 years to 70 years. This goes someway to address the imbalance between performers and authors, who have copyright protection up to 70 years after their death. However this is more likely to benefit music companies more that consumers due to the fact they will be able to charge higher prices, and stifle creativity, therefore reducing the quality of new music available to the consumer. more...

EU countries must agree standard rules on the recognition of qualifications.

Across the EU different education systems are in place, which result in the awarding of different qualifications. Should the EU step in to standardise this? Or should control over these systems rest with national governments? more...

The EU has too many restrictions on Imports

The common market is supposed to make imports and exports to and from Europe as well as within Europe easier and simpler, yet the EU places many restrictions on what can be imported. A common tariff is imposed on goods 835ing anywhere in the EU, and similarly regulations are the same throughout the European Union, this means that Britain has the same regulations as very different markets such as Estonia. more...