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A package of controversial proposals on the blocs future was passed by a wafer thin majority in the European Parliament earlier today amid an acrimonious debate about the future direction of the project.

Eurosceptics reacted with fury and disbelief as MEPs approved three separate reports on planned reforms to how Brussels operates, the most contentious of which was drafted by Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt and squeaked through by just 14 votes.

Critics tonight said the fact that such a set of plans could be passed by MEPs demonstrated why the British people voted to leave the EU and that Theresa May needs to press ahead with Brexit.

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Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge told express.co.uk: When you see that this kind of thing can be voted through, it shows we must accelerate Brexit. Weve got to get out now.

Guy Verhofstadt is the arch federalist, hes the absolute symbol of the EUs desperation to become a nation state. The lunatics are running the asylum and hes the Mad Hatter.

And a spokesman for Tory MEPs in Brussels added: "The closeness of this vote, and the failure of Mr Verhofstadt to secure the backing of the majority of MEPs for his report, is further proof that More Europe is not the answer to the EU's problems."

Mr Etheridge, a former leadership candidate, said the report should be vigorously opposed and added: The efforts to create a European superstate are a bad thing for everyone not least those still trapped inside it.

He described the plans to create an EU army and finance minister as exceptionally dangerous saying they would undermine NATO and wreck the European economy.

Speaking from Stoke, where he has been campaigning with leader Paul Nuttall, he said: Hes a dangerous man with exceptionally dangerous ideas. The idea of a defence union is quite the most absurd notion Ive ever heard.

People like him want the EU to become a superpower to rival America. Its absolutely cloud cuckoo land.

Itll destroy whats left of the European economy. Itll be a catastrophe on an enormous scale for the whole of Europe.

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Tory MEP Ashley Fox added: Mr Verhofstadt is very consistent. Whatever the question the answer is always the same more Europe.

Britain did not vote to leave the EU because there was not enough Europe. We voted to leave because the EU does too much.

It has already taken too much power from the Member States and has lost touch with its citizens.

This report seeks to create a United States of Europe. Instead of listening to the people it is telling them that Brussels knows best.

Instead of extending democracy it is centralising power. And so, rather than strengthening the EU, it undermines it further.

When you see that this kind of thing can be voted through, it shows we must accelerate Brexit

Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge

Mr Verhofstadts report, which has met with widespread opposition, would curtail the influence of the member states and instead hand sweeping powers to Brussels.

It advocates setting up an EU finance ministry to take control of the continents economic policy, the creation of a eurozone budget funded by taxpayers and a move towards a fully fledged defence union.

The dossier was approved by a minuscule majority of 14 during a knife-edge vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, demonstrating the huge division among EU politicians over where Europe should go next.

It was passed alongside two other reports, one by German MEP Elmar Brok and the other by Frances Pervenche Bers, which also contain a number of significant reforms.

Together they propose ditching individual countries right to a veto on EU laws, standardising tax laws across Europe and boosting the power of the EU parliament compared to the Commission and Council.

One of the reports also suggests taking control of military matters away from member states and putting it in the hands of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers instead.

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Countries that are in the European Union

After the vote Mr Verhofstadt said: These reports give the blueprint of what a more perfect Union should look like. They do not propose European integration for the sake of it.

I know we can have a strong, powerful, respected European Union and at the same time have flourishing local and national democracies. In fact, I believe the one is not possible without the other.

Mr Brok added: Citizens expect solutions from Europe, and they are angry because they do not see answers being delivered.

This is evident in a time with many challenges, but there are many problems that can only be solved together.

The proposals in all three reports would have to be agreed by all of the heads of government across Europe to come into force and would be fiercely resisted by some including Britain.

But the votes today do hold political clout and will put pressure on eurocrats to accelerate their commitment to ever-closer union even in the face of a surge in support for populist candidates.

Read more from the original source:
'We need to get out NOW' Euro MEPs approve superstate plan to hand vast power to Brussels - Express.co.uk

February 17th, 2017 by Joshua S Hill

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of reforming the European Unions carbon market post-2021 in an effort to help the EU reach its climate change goals.

Specifically, the Parliament voted in favor of a proposal to reduce the number of carbon credits, or emission allowances, by 2.2% each year, as well as doubling the capacity of the 2019 market stability reserve (MSR) to absorb any excess allowances.

According to European Parliament News, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved the [European Commissions] proposal to increase the so-called linear reduction factor the yearly reduction of credits in order to deliver on the carbon curbs by 2.2% from 2021, as against 1.74% in the existing legislation. The MEPs also voted to ensure that this would be kept under review with the possibility of increasing it to 2.4% by 2024.

As for the 2019 MSR, the plan would see up to 24% of the excess of credits in each auctioning year absorbed by the MSR, and that 800 million allowances should be removed from the MSR starting the beginning of 2021.

I am very grateful to my colleagues for supporting this report. Todays vote marks a major step forward towards meeting our ambitious climate change targets said Ian Duncan, MEP with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. Parliament has voted through ambitious measures to fulfil our Paris Agreement obligations, and we have sent a strong signal to the European Council that we are serious about the fight to stop global warming.

Todays landmark vote provides a clear outcome after more than a year of discussions in Parliament, and it demonstrates the European Unions commitment to turning the Paris Agreement into reality through concrete action on the ground, said Miguel Arias Caete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy. Now the EU ETS revision is on the Councils table and we hope they can swiftly reach an agreement to kick-start negotiations.

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Tags: EU, Europe, European Parliament, European Union

Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

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European Union Parliament Passes Move To Reform Carbon Market - CleanTechnica

Britain will be weaker after Brexit, the European Commission President has said,insistingthe European Unionis beautiful to many people across the world.

Jean-Claude Juncker also criticised Theresa Mays bid to be a bridge to Donald Trump, saying: To put it brutally, we dont need the United Kingdom Government to organise our relations with the US.

However, Mr Juncker backed the Prime Minister by agreeing the controversy over the rights of EU citizens and Britons in other EU countries will be resolved quickly.

The former Prime Minister of Luxembourg gave a combative interview to Time magazine, within days of announcing he will step down when his current term ends in 2019.

At this months EU summit in Malta, Ms May attempted to convince other EU leaders that her coup in becoming the first world leader to meet the US President made her a link between the two continents.

But Mr Juncker rejected that offer, adding: In fact, according to President Obama, Britain is weaker being outside the European Union than being a member of the European Union. That is the case.

The Commission President also rejected Mr Trumps prediction that other countries will leavethe EU after Britain, saying: I dont think anyone else is tempted to take the same route. That was highly unfriendly and not helpful at all.

And he turned his fire on Ted Malloch, the US Presidents reputed pick to be his ambassador to the EU, who has likened the bloc to the Soviet Union and suggested it needed taming.

Mr Juncker said: If he wants to be an ambassador for the USin the European Union, he has to improve his knowledge and watch his words from time to time.

He added: The unity of Europe is a precondition for a better organised world and, if the European Union would fail or decompose or other members left, the US would have a more difficult role to play in the world.

Mr Juncker also mounted a fierce defence of the EUs record, in the face of a rise in anti-EU populists, saying: We are not proud enough of what we have achieved.

This was a continent of divisions, of wars, of conflicts, of divergences, differences. When I am in Asia, in Africa, people admire what we have managed to do. Europe is beautiful seen from other continents.

The fate of EU citizens and British expats will be at the forefront of attempts to amend the Article 50 bill when it is debated in the House of Lords next week.

Opposition peers will attempt to force the Government to give an immediate, unilateral guarantee that the rights of threemillionEU citizens in the UK will be protected after Brexit.

A threatened Tory rebellion in the Commons melted away when Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, insisted nothing would change without MPs consent.

Meanwhile, a leaked EU document warned of a backlash against the 1.2 millionBritons living in the EU because of Ms Mays failure to offer a secure future for EU nationals in the UK.

But Mr Juncker said: I cant imagine that we would punish European citizens living in Britain, or that we would punish British citizens living in Europe.

They are friends. Im not in a punishing mood. I am quite confident that we will easily resolve this problem.

Here is the original post:
Brexit: UK will be 'weaker' after leaving 'beautiful' EU , claims European Commission President - The Independent

New York Times

Trudeau, Praising the EU, Doesn't Mention 'Brexit' or Trump New York Times STRASBOURG, France Declaring that the whole world benefits from a strong E.U., Justin Trudeau on Thursday became the first sitting prime minister of Canada to address the European Parliament, underscoring their close ties even as Britain prepares ... EU, Canada must lead world economy says Trudeau after CETA approvalDeutsche Welle Ceta: EU parliament backs free trade deal with CanadaBBC News Canada-EU Trade Deal Ratified By European Union; Now Needs Approval By All Member States' National ParliamentsTechdirt Belfast Telegraph -The Indian Express all 495 news articles »

Link:
Trudeau, Praising the EU, Doesn't Mention 'Brexit' or Trump - New York Times

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed the European Union as a bastion of international partnershipon Thursday. In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Trudeau made it clear that Canada sought to distance itself from the protectionism promotedby US President Donald Trump and post-Brexit vote Britain.

"You are a vital player in addressing the challenges that we collectively face as an international community," he told lawmakers. "Indeed, the whole world benefits from a strong EU."

The prime minister then called on the EU and Canada to take center stage in the global economy: "We know that, in these times, we must choose to lead the international economy, not simply be subject to its whims."

"Canada knows that an effective European voice on the global stage isn't just preferable, it's essential," he added, calling the bloc a "truly remarkable achievement and unprecedented model for peaceful cooperation."

Trudeau: CETA 'blueprint' for future

Trudeau's talk came just one day after the European Union backed a controversial free-trade deal with Canada, commonly known as CETA. Not only does the move show a stark contrast to the policies of President Trump, who withdrew from the proposed trans-Pacific free trade deal TTP, it illustrates Canada's drive to pivot away from complete reliance on trade with its neighbor to the south.

CETA was not without its detractors, however, who have argued for years that it promotes business interests to the detriment of farmers and workers. In the fall, the government of the Belgian region of Wallonia also held up ratification proceedings claiming it was hardly given any time to read the agreement and work out the ramifications for its inhabitants.

Trudeau, however, praised the agreement as a "blueprint for all ambitious, future trade deals," once it proves to be sucessful. He added that it will "make the lives of our citizens more affordable."

The Canadian leader gave his speech fresh froma trip to Washington, where he and President Trump attempted to bridge their many differences, even as Trump threatens to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

es/rt (AFP, Reuters)

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EU, Canada must lead world economy says Trudeau after CETA approval - Deutsche Welle