Subject: The Brief, powered by Google: Responsible consumers, irresponsible voters
From: EurActiv <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2017 16:06:33 +0000

The Brief, powered by Google: Responsible consumers, irresponsible
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    <http://eurac.tv/7bS2?sid=33541>    Today's EU policy news,
15.03.2017, 5PM

       = Responsible consumers, irresponsible voters =

      === By Sarantis Michalopoulos ===

 The European Commission has finally presented
<http://eurac.tv/7bRG?sid=33541> its proposal on nutrition labels for
alcohol. After a two-year delay, it handed the alcohol industry an extra
year to come up with a “self-regulatory” proposal.

 The European Consumer Organisation said that a pint of beer is just as
loaded with calories as a chocolate bar. The Commission says tackling
obesity is high on its political agenda. So why the delay?

 Unlike with other foods, alcohol producers are not required to include a
list of ingredients and nutrition facts on bottles. But now the
Commission says there is a need for EU citizens to know what’s in the
booze they drink.

 Cigarette packets point out health risks. Responsible EU consumers are
expected to make responsible choices. Same with sunbeds, which, according
to the  Commission, are carcinogenic <http://eurac.tv/7bRH?sid=33541>.

 An EU official told EURACTIV the Commission is even working with national
governments to see how they can make people aware of the risks of sunbeds.

 So, when it comes to consuming products, the Commission thinks EU citizens
are responsible for the choices they make.

 Do they think the same when EU citizens go to exercise their democratic
rights? Would a warning label on populists indicating potential risks make
us more responsible voters?

 European citizens are often accused of making irresponsible political
choices. Brexit was a recent example. A victory for anti-Islam Geert
Wilders in today’s Dutch election
<http://eurac.tv/7bRI?sid=33541> would spark the same discussion.

 A few years ago, Greeks rejected austerity with an “irresponsible” NO
in a referendum, which the country’s creditors later spun into a very
“responsible” YES. And now irresponsible Italians are turning to Beppe
Grillo, while the French look to Marine Le Pen.

 Did the mainstream parties admit they got it wrong? Of course not, it’s
the irresponsible EU citizens’ fault.

 If EU leaders want to woo their one-time voters away from the intoxication
of populist politics, perhaps they should up their efforts to offer a
palatable, healthier alternative.

 Until then, voters will keep gorging on a diet of populist quick fixes,
unaware of the risks they face.

      == The Roundup… ==

 Russia’s ambassador to the EU spoke to Georgi Gotev about whether his
country has a plan for an Edinburgh embassy
<http://eurac.tv/7bRJ?sid=33541> soon, as well as the EU’s involvement
in the Western Balkans <http://eurac.tv/7bRK?sid=33541>.

 Armenia’s president said he wants stronger ties with both Brussels and
Moscow <http://eurac.tv/7bRL?sid=33541>, while Croatia and Romania
agreed more EU enlargement <http://eurac.tv/7bRM?sid=33541> is the way
forward.

 Now the European Parliament’s grand coalition is dead and buried,
Jean-Claude Juncker is turning more to the pro-European left
<http://eurac.tv/7bRN?sid=33541> for support. Socialist  MEPs are split
<http://eurac.tv/7bRO?sid=33541> on whether to back their man Benoît Hamon
or rebel candidate Emmanuel Macron for the French presidency.

 The carve-up is turning nasty already, as Ireland complained to the
Commission that it is being undercut <http://eurac.tv/7bRP?sid=33541> by
rival centres looking to host financial firms outside of London, due to
Brexit.

 As Dutch voters cast their ballot <http://eurac.tv/7bRI?sid=33541>*s*,
the dispute with Turkey continues. Its president shockingly blamed Dutch
forces for failing to prevent the Srebrenica massacre
<http://eurac.tv/7bRQ?sid=33541> of Bosnian Muslims, while pro-Erdogan
hackers delivered an “Ottoman slap”
<http://eurac.tv/7bRR?sid=33541> to a number of high-profile Twitter
accounts.

 Angela Merkel has  threatened to ban <http://eurac.tv/7bRS?sid=33541>
Turkish politicians from campaigning in Germany.

 European media groups are worried the EU will ditch plans to force search
engines to pay them when their content is used
<http://eurac.tv/7bRT?sid=33541>. So-called “neighbouring rights” do
not appear in a Parliament report on the proposal.

 The LuxLeaks whistleblowers had their sentences reduced on appeal but have
still been fined and handed a suspended jail sentence. Competition
Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Antoine Deltour and Raphaël Halet had
“done the right thing” <http://eurac.tv/7bRU?sid=33541>.

 MEPs gave their final approval to an update to the *EU’s gun law* but
it has been significantly watered down from the Commission’s initial
proposal.

 The rights of EU citizens in the UK and access to the EHIC health card
<http://eurac.tv/7bRV?sid=33541> may still be up in the air but at least
the important issues are being addressed: a parliamentary bill that would
force British embassies around the world to serve only English or Welsh
<http://eurac.tv/7bRW?sid=33541> wine will be heard soon. Cheers…?

 *Sam Morgan contributed to this Brief.*

      == Look out for… ==

 The Netherlands and the rest of the EU will know how the vote today went,
as ballots are counted and a result expected early tomorrow. A high turnout
is predicted.

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