MEPs narrowly reject postponement of carbon permit auction, Finnish Prime Minister calls for 'more Europe' and MEPs agree May 2014 for European elections.

CO2 / Finnish PM / EU Elections 2014

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16275691/n001-130416-002-enx.srt

The cost of permits to discharge  atmospheric carbon has fallen so low

that it's no longer a disincentive to pollute.

A Commission proposal to postpone  the next 900 million permits

Some say this puts the environment at risk

but others feared the proposal  would put up energy costs

and harm industry, which has lobbied  against the postponement.

They say it's a job-killer, so this is really  an outrageous, unfair, dirty lobby campaign

and if they win then European  and international climate policy is dead

and that is a very worrying message  for citizens.

But they did win. The report has been  referred back to committee.

I have concerns  that this now leaves the door open

to the renationalisation  of climate policy.

The Finnish PM joined a debate  on the EU's future.

He began by echoing President Schulz's  expression of sympathy and solidarity

following the bomb attack in Boston,  as did other speakers.

But the main thrust of his message  was to urge Europe and its leaders

We should not let depressing economic  and social challenges

poison the whole idea  of European integration.

And we should not let  the European debate be dominated

Campaigning for next year's  European elections can begin.

MEPs on the Constitutional Affairs  Committee voted in favour

of a proposal to hold them from 22nd to 25th  May next year - a month earlier than usual.

It won a large majority.  There are two reasons for the switch.

In May, more citizens are not on holiday,

more citizens will vote  as their children are still at school.

We need time as a parliament  to organise ourselves

for the election of the next President  of the Commission.

The proposal will now go  before a full plenary

and it requires unanimous agreement  by Member State governments.