MEPs send a strong message to Member States that a budget increase is essential and raise concerns over the misuse of the European Arrest Warrant.

The News: Budget increase - Warrant abuse

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15633720/N001-110608-EN.srt

Yes to EU Arrest Warrants  that aid the extradition of criminals,

Increasing the EU budget by 5%:  Several States disagree

but the EP says it's the price to pay  to take on the countless EU challenges.

And, the rest of today's news  in brief and in images.

In the aftermath of the attacks  on 11th September 2001,

the EU developed  the European Arrest Warrant.

This legal tool for fighting  terrorism and cross-border crime

speeds up the procedures  for extraditing criminals.

The problem is that some States  have used it for minor offenses.

MEPs have questioned the Commission  and the Council, denouncing this misuse.

Close to some borders it can happen that  youths take a bicycle in their home town,

cross the border  and sell it in another country.

This is transnational  but isn't serious transnational crime.

It’s an example of when we shouldn't use  European Arrest Warrants.

Misuse of the EU Arrest Warrant  hampers the work of legal authorities

and each procedure costs the taxpayer  dearly: almost €25,000 on average.

Since its creation in 2004, the Warrant  has been used nearly 70,000 times.

Bear in mind that the EU Arrest Warrant  is replacing an old extradition system

which was much longer and probably  much more expensive than that.

Even if the Arrest Warrant's existence  isn't in question,

some MEPs are asking the Commission  for a veritable impact study

with the aim of better defining the  priorities of this tool for combating crime.

MEPs sent a strong message  to Member States:

The EP is asking for an EU budget  increase of 5% from 2014.

Last year’s EU budget came to  126.5 billion euros.

This rise would barely be enough  to finance the EU 2020 strategy

which aims to stimulate  European growth.

We need to link EU 2020  to a European budget with clear priorities.

This is why we consider  the 5% increase fully justified.

The EU budget is a continual source  of conflict between the EP and the States.

In times of economic crisis,  France, Germany and the UK

have already said they won’t pay  an extra cent into the EU’s coffers.

If the European Union decided  to increase its competences

it was without the agreement  of the citizens in the Member States

so now they cannot justify  an increase in the budget

because they have more competences.  This is their problem.

If we cut the budget it would benefit  some richer States,

but it would be a problem for those  who do receive net amounts

That's particularly States like Greece,  Spain, Italy, Portugal...

those who really have problems.  In this situation we must show solidarity.

To avoid begging for money  from the States, MEPs are also asking

for the creation of a system  of own resources for the EU budget.

It could be based on taxes on financial  transactions, air transport or energy.

Safer online shopping:  After months of negotiations,

Consumers will ultimately have 14 days  to change their mind

MEPs will give their opinions  in the plenary in June or July.

Martin Schulz, the German leader of  the Socialists & Democrats has confirmed

that he will run for the post  of EP President in 2012

to succeed Jerzy Buzek  of the European People's Party.

In view of an accord between  the two biggest parties,

a social democrat should be the EP  President between 2012 and 2014.

MEPs say Romania and Bulgaria are  ready to join the EU's Schengen area,

but Member States  are far from being convinced.

For two months the Schengen area  has been in crisis,

due to the migratory pressure  linked to the Arab spring.