The Record: Europe

14 June edition
Lucy Thomas
Producer

Ireland rejects Lisbon Treaty

As the only referendum to be held on the Lisbon Treaty results in a 'No', the Record: Europe asks what this means for the future of the EU.

The Record Europe presenter Dominic Hughes is joined by the Europe Editor of the Press Association, Geoff Meade, to analyse the fallout of the Irish referendum result rejecting the Lisbon Treaty.

Immigration plans under spotlight

Plans are under way to curb illegal immigration into the European Union, with the first package reaching the Parliament this coming week.

The measures would create common rules on deportation measures, with maximum periods of detention and 'voluntary return'.

With equal voting rights for the Parliament and Member States, there are fears that the slightest change to what is already a compromise could scupper the whole deal.

And concern remains that the rights of refugees are being overlooked in the determination to reach agreement.

Joining Dominic Hughes in the studio to discuss the plans are:

• Timothy Kirkhope MEP, British Conservative and former Home Office minister
• Bjarte Vandvik Secretary General, European Council on Refugees and Exiles
• Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert MEP, Dutch Liberal
• Jorg Leichtfried MEP, Austrian Socialist

Employment deal finally agreed

After years of wrangling, employment ministers reached agreement this week on common rules on working time and conditions for temporary and agency workers.

But some are warning that the resulting compromise is far from ideal.

The Federation of Small Businesses tell the programme how they may no longer be able to rely on using 'temps' and agency workers under the new rules.

Liz Lynne MEP Liberal Democrats Employment spokesperson, Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, the new leader of the British Conservatives in the Parliament and Claude Moraes, British Labour MEP also join the programme to give their verdicts.

The Record: Europe examines the key moments in the political week in Brussels and Strasbourg and focuses on the work of the European Parliament and European Commission.

It is broadcast on BBC Parliament on Saturdays at 2300 GMT, Sundays at 1700 GMT and Mondays at 1000 GMT, on BBC World on Saturdays at 1330 GMT and Sundays at 0630 GMT and on the BBC News channel on Sundays at 0530 GMT and Mondays at 0330 GMT.

Presenter profile

Shirin Wheeler

Shirin Wheeler presents the weekly EU politics programme The Record: Europe from Brussels and Strasbourg.

She is based in the BBC's Brussels bureau. She was born in Berlin and educated in Washington DC, Brussels and Britain.

Shirin has been in Brussels since 1996, working mainly with BBC TV and radio.

During her time in Belgium she has also reported for BBC business programmes, local radio and regional TV. She has two daughters.