EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

Defra: The government has announced the steps it is taking to enhance the protection of Scotch whisky. It will consult later this year on legislation that delivers tighter definitions of Scotch whisky in UK law, to help to support action against counterfeiting and ‘passing off’, as called for by the Scotch Whisky Association, with the expectation that secondary UK legislation will be possible by Spring 2008.
 
The proposed UK legislation will put enforcement provisions in place to underpin the new EU Spirit Drinks Regulations and will cover the Scotch Whisky Geographical Indication.
Press release ~ Scotch Whisky Association ~ EU Spirit Drinks Regulations ~ New whisky law welcomed ~ Geographical Indication ~ ScotGov
 
FCO: Responding to the publication of a report on the European Union Inter-Governmental Conference by the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, Minister for Europe Jim Murphy MP said: "I welcome the publication of this report, just as I have welcomed opportunities to provide evidence to this Committee, to its House of Lords equivalent, and to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
 
I am pleased to note the Committee's recognition that by defending its 'red lines' the UK has secured a specific deal different to that on offer to the other 26 EU member states. I look forward to responding in greater detail to the Committee's questions regarding how the 'red lines' will work in practice”.
 
The Committee questions the Government over the effectiveness of the UK's Protocol on the Treaty's Charter and whether the 'opt-in' arrangements will also allow the UK to opt-out.  The Committee also considers that it would raise a serious difficulty of a constitutional order if the Reform Treaty were to impose legal duties on the UK Parliament 'to contribute actively to the good functioning of the Union'.
 
The Committee points out that national parliaments, unlike the European Parliament, are not creations of Treaties and their rights are not dependent on them.  In the Committee's view, the imposition of such a legal duty on the Parliament of the UK country is objectionable as a matter of principle and must be resisted.
Press release ~  Committee’s press release ~ Committee Report ~ BBC News - Hague outlines EU referendum plan ~ BBC News - Lib Dems call for EU referendum ~ Unions back EU referendum calls - Independent Online
Facing the Future...find out more