The EP is divided over the future of EU nuclear power but adopts a resolution to pressure Syria, Bahrain and Yemen into ending violence against demonstrators.

The News: Nuclear Future Divisions - Reviewing Relations

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15534146/N001-110407-EN.srt

MEPs are divided over the European  consequences of the Fukushima disaster.

The Hemicycle asks for an immediate ban  on arms exports to Syria.

This move by green MEPs is symbolic  but not shared by everyone.

The EP is divided  on the future of EU nuclear energy.

The Fukushima disaster has left its mark

and questions the safety  of the 143 nuclear reactors in Europe.

MEPs have asked for stress tests   in the EU's nuclear power plants

The founder of the first independent  research agency on radioactivity

It must be independent experts  from different countries

How can I confide in the French  authorities, as good as they may be,

they are already the ones  checking the plants.

I can't see how an additional audit by  the very same experts would be a plus.

Beyond safety, it's the future of nuclear  power that has charged the debates.

Those for and against have had their say.

In the long term, Europe has to put much  greater emphasis on energy efficiency,

so reducing demand,  and on renewable energy uses

which would decrease our dependence  on nuclear power and imported energy.

In the end, MEPs could not agree on  the lessons to be taken from Fukushima.

The resolution was rejected by 300 votes  against, 264 for, and 61 abstentions.

The results of the stress tests  will be known before the end of the year.

After the Syrian government's resignation  and President Assad's broken promises,

NGOs on the ground speak of more than  100 deaths since mid-March.

During the Strasbourg plenary, the EU  has called for an end to the violence.

The brutal repression  they have experienced is unacceptable.

To put pressure on President Assad,  MEPs have adopted a new resolution.

In particular, they want arms exports  to Syria to stop immediately.

It concerns the whole region  which we exported weapons to.

and all this when we knew  that the regimes were very authoritarian.

Member States continue to do so today  despite the situation and repression.

The resolution also covers  the violence carried out

against demonstrators  in Bahrain and Yemen.

The sanctions could be economic instead  of military, unlike those against Libya.

The three latest cases concerned  by today's resolution are different.

Although we regret the huge loss of life,  it's not like the situation in Libya

and so an EU intervention is  not being considered at the moment.

to review bilateral relations  with Bahrain and Yemen

and to use measures  such as asset freezes and travel bans.

Europe comes to Portugal's rescue after  its caretaker government calls for help.

A financial rescue plan should be  proposed by the Commission quickly

and take the pressure off  other eurozone economies.

After Greece and Ireland,  the finger's pointing at Spain.

Finance ministers will discuss the details  in Budapest this Friday and Saturday. 

The EP has agreed to start accession  negotiations with the FYROM.

However, the country's name  is still disputed by Greece.

The reference to Macedonia  still needs to be resolved.

A candidate since 2005,  the FYROM could become,

after Croatia and Iceland,  the 30th EU state.

After a decision by EP leaders, a working  group on transparency has been created

to come up with concrete proposals  and an MEP code of conduct.

Romania has requested the EU  to lift the immunity of Adrian Severin,