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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

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 »

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

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.

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Brexit: UK will be 'weaker' after leaving 'beautiful' EU , claims European Commission President - The Independent

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

Jens Spahn, the deputy finance minister, according to commentators is believed to be Germany chancellor-in-waiting after a wave of dissatisfaction for Mrs Merkel, who has held the role for 11 years.

She was forced to backtrack on her open-door policy, which allowed migrants to settle in Germany, after critics took aim at her handling of the migrant crisis.

Mr Spahn, speaking on BBC HARDtalk, claimed EUs beloved Schengen free travel zone, which is one of the blocs four freedoms, was a catastrophic mistake, urging leaders to secure their borders.

The whole Schengen treaty and the situation you have with freedom of movement throughout continental Europe can only work if we are able and willing to secure our borders, he said.

BBCGETTY

Free movement throughout continental Europe can only work if we are able to secure our borders

Jens Spahn

Obviously we were not able to secure the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. There we are getting better.

We have to regain control and have regained a lot of control already, but not yet everything that needs to be done.

The German declared it was a debate that needs to be done, he added: If something like that is happening in the past two years with the migrants coming into Europe, then it is quite normal that you have a controversial debate in society and in a party.

I just see a controversial debate in a party. If you do it the right way and with good argument that is what we did in the Christian Democratic Union.

Mr Spahn added his European colleagues should work together to find a continent-wide solution to the problem, with many citizens concerned after a rise in terrorist activity during the migrant crisis.

He cited the failings of Schengen for the Berlin terror attack after suspect Anis Amri was allowed to travel freely across Europe to carry out the attack after serving several prison sentences.

We have not had a situation like this before in Germany or the European Union. Now, it is about regaining control and discussing security issues, he said.

Of course, fighting terrorism, and we have had terror attacks before this refugee influx but its about screening people that are coming into the European Union. By the way, the terrorist of Berlin was actually let out of a Greek prison too early.

EPA

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Moroccan Police look at immigrants trying to jump the six-meter-high fence in Ceuta, Spanish enclave on the north of Africa, 09 December 2016.

We have to find a European solution and I find it quite normal that you have controversial debates in a society and in an upcoming campaign because it is not an average issue. It is a fundamental question of society and Europe.

Under fire has signalled a readiness to discuss the parameters of free movement of people in the EU, suggesting Brexit negotiations may introduce some room for manoeuvre.

While not openly calling for a German vote to leave the EU, Mr Spahn has claimed: The debate we should be having in Germany, too: does Germany want to be part of a European Union that a majority of Brits feel belongs to them?

He called on all of the European partners in the Brexit negotiations to aim for a smooth transition when Britain leaves the bloc, wanting them to do everything we can for a soft Brexit.

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Merkel betrayal: Party rival takes aim at EU's failed Schengen policy amid migrant crisis - Express.co.uk