Commissioner Borg debates horsemeat scandal with MEPs, capping bankers' bonuses, and leaders of EU institutions discuss 2014-2020 budget in Dublin.

Horsemeat / Banking regulation / Budget

Health Commissioner Tonio Borg and the  Environment Committee agreed Thursday

that more systematic controls,  inspections and labelling are needed

to gain back consumer confidence  following the horsemeat scandal.

We can not only recommend certain  inspections when things of this kind arise

With the results of the inspections  in March we can come to a conclusion

on whether these are just ordinary  criminal activities or much more than that.

Despite concerns, MEPs seemed confident  that states would comply with new rules.

I'm confident that they will be tightening up  their supply chain traceability,

making sure that what it says on the label  is what's in the package

and increasing the frequency  of spot checks.

The biggest shake-up of the banking  system could be on the way.

EU officials have struck  a provisional deal on financial rules,

including capping bank bonuses  under the Capital Requirements Directive.

European banks will have to  set aside more money for stability

and concentrate on  financing the real economy,

small and medium-sized  enterprises and jobs.

and cannot be higher than the basic salary.

Doubling them requires  a decision by the Annual General Meeting.

as José Manuel Barroso, Martin Schulz  and the Irish Presidency met in Dublin.

But two weeks before an expected plenary  vote on the EU’s reduced 7-year budget,

the EP President put a spanner in the works

saying it's likely that the majority of MEPs  will say no to the budget proposal,

adding that it changes nothing  in agriculture, cohesion or investment.

So it would seem a lot more compromise  and discussion may be needed

before a decision  on the budget will be reached.