under eu law, the work week is limited to a maximum of 48 hours. >> workers' rights need to be protected, but it seems we have gone a little bit too far in some cases, and what we've done is restricted our competitiveness in the market. at the end of the day, if you look towards asia and china, they have not got such strict laws. >> it is a complaint voiced by many employers in britain. but the logistics company does acknowledge that the advantages of eu membership far outweigh the disadvantages. it used to treat hard to find warehouse workers, for instance. now, polish immigrants happily fill those vacancies. they say they want politicians to make the you an easier place to do business. >> it is very important that europe sees itself as competing against the rest of the world rather than competing against each other. we should not be in a battle between what the uk is doing against what ireland is doing or against what italy is doing. all we are doing -- all we're interested in is how you're up competes against the rest of the world. >> when it comes to the bottom line, the eu is a main

paying workers the minimum wage of nearly 1900 euros a month is just too much for many, but an eu law is forcing the country to crack down on illegal work. the government is offering a grace period until the end of february. illegal workers can come forward together with their employers without fear of prosecution. >> we are actually offering companies a chance to normalize themselves, to make themselves legal, by giving the people currently working there illegally normal employment contracts. under the same conditions the others received. >> to be eligible, applicants must have been working illegally in luxembourg for at least nine months, receive the minimum wage, and work 40 hours a week. the barrier is so high that many do not want to out themselves. >> during these two months, employers are immune to prosecution. i hope we can depend on that. the ministry also put it in writing, and i really hope i can depend on it. >> alexandra and her cleaning lady get advice at the independent immigrants aid organization. the 40-hour week requirement is an obstacle. legally, alexandra can only

millions of british women would be hit by the proposal in today's conservative report to opt out of the eu law. will be prime minister rule out this opt out today? >> what this government has done, explain to him at the beginning of prime minister's question is massively help the women through the single tear pension. i look very carefully at the proposal he mentioned and i will write to him. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i know my right honorable friend is aware of the extreme study suffered in the west country in november and december of last year, impacting many homes and businesses but also sweeping away the rail link between the west country and london leaving us cut off for several days. which he ushered our government will take every step necessary to improve the resilience of this vital rail link so we never get cut off a give? >> i think my honorable friend is right to raise this issue. i'm well aware of how bad the flooding was but i want to see myself how badly that town had been flooded. i know that my right honorable friend has been discussing the recent flooding with rail chair and

millions of british women would be hit by the proposal in today's conservative report to opt out of the eu law. will be prime minister rule out this opt out today? >> what this government has done, explain to him at the beginning of prime minister's question is massively help the women through the single tear pension. i look very carefully at the proposal he mentioned and i will write to him. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i know my right honorable friend is aware of the extreme study suffered in the west country in november and december of last year, impacting many homes and businesses but also sweeping away the rail link between the west country and london leaving us cut off for several days. which he ushered our government will take every step necessary to improve the resilience of this vital rail link so we never get cut off a give? >> i think my honorable friend is right to raise this issue. i'm well aware of how bad the

the eu does, they have very little understanding of the regular tatory structure of the eu and of eu laws on our economic activities. and i think most people, if we have an electoral campaign in the city, i think it might become a bit clearer to people with the costs and benefits of leaving. >> what about joining america, the 51st state? we've learned the united states has no interesting in leaving the -- we've had several warnings making it clear that the special relationship as such exists depends on britain and part of the eu. >> and i wonder why to them it's so important that the status quo is maintained. >> for the united states? >> yes. >> because britain clearly, thelithe li linguistic say close corporation on military issues means that there is a level of trust, perhaps, as the u.s. bank is more difficult to establish with other major european nations. so it's very important. >> interesting with more on that in a bit. we also want to follow what is happening with italy. shares are trading higher after monte paschi gave the go ahead for a bailout. the group is seeking a new investo

energy policies are partly made on the eu level, but the construction of power lines is subject to national law. this is why the czech energy ministry is unhappy. >> it is very hard to make progress here, to get it except that the approval of new power lines has to be subordinated to pan-european interests. at least when it is a matter of grids, that would affect all of europe. politically, that is hardly conceivable right now, and we will never achieve a new european infrastructure this way. >> it is european regionalism -- when the wind blows in germany, the lines will keep running hot in the czech republic, so the czech republic is investing some 100 million euros to install phase shifters on the german border. they regulate the current. then, when too much current surges over from germany, the chip grid can simply turn it off, even if that blows some fuses in germany. >> 2013 is a so-called super election-year in austria, meaning that voters will go to the polls several times. regional parliaments are due to be elected in four of the country's states this spring, followed by the national el

energy policies are partly made on the eu level, but the construction of power lines is subject to national law. this is why the czech energy ministry is unhappy. >> it is very hard to make progress here, to get it except that the approval of new power lines has to be subordinated to pan-european interests. at least when it is a matter of grids, that would affect all of europe. politically, that is hardly conceivable right now, and we will never achieve a new european infrastructure this way. >> it is european regionalism -- when the wind blows in germany, the lines will keep running hot in the czech republic, so the czech republic is investing some 100 million euros to install phase shifters on the german border. they regulate the current. then, when too much current surges over from germany, the chip grid can simply turn it off, even if that blows some fuses in germany. >> 2013 is a so-called super election-year in austria, meaning that voters will go to the polls several times. regional parliaments are due to be elected in four of the country's states this spring, followed by the national el

laws differ in europe and the u.s. the european process is defined by the eu level, and we have been under investigation for almost two years by the commissioner there and his staff. we have given over literally millions of documents. we do not think we violated any european laws, but you know, we are happy to be part of the conversation. we are waiting on what they decide to do. we are negotiating. they announced that publicly. and the united states, the law is similar, but different. in our case, the government decided to have the anti-trade commission to look at this. again, i do not see the consumer harm under section ii, and we'll ask the government to come back and give us examples of violations of the law. we have not seen that. we are also in negotiations with them. and that is probably all we should say. we are hopeful -- the ideal scenario would be that we come to a mutual agreement with both. >> thinking about that, and you mentioned these other initiatives york involved in. is there -- how do you decide where to focus, what to focus on when you look at planning for 2013? you have such a huge range of things

law. particularly within the judicial sector, and to add that the finances to be provided by the eu, what do we have -- what we have to assure is that we can continue to comply, particularly with respect to your country. we have to keep our promises, and we have to continue to rally around the citizens of haiti and show solidarity towards them. a very ambitious reform program, and you have a reliable partner in this fight to ensure that the financial resources -- the financial commitments towards countries like haiti, we have to guarantee these financial resources, so fighting for the budget, guaranteeing that we can keep our promises of solidarity. [applause] i am not delighted, president, to give you the floor, and i want to welcome you once again to the european parliament. [applause] >> [speaking foreign language] it -- monsieur, -- >> [speaking foreign language] i am deeply honored in my invitation to this separatist parliament, and i would like to thank you for that. -- to this prestigious parliament, and i would like to thank you for this. i come here bearing our credo, the same as

laws differ in europe and in the u.s. the european process is a finding sort of at the eu level, and we've been under investigation for almost two years by the commissioner they are and his staff. and during this period, they get comments from everybody and we give them literally millions of documents. we have not come and we're busy negotiating with them. we don't think we violated any european laws, but we're happy to have a conversation and we're sort of now waiting on what they decide to do. we have been negotiating back and forth, and they announced that publicly. in the united states, the law is similar but different in the way it is applied to in our case the government decided to have the federal trade commission look at this and similar investigations are underway. there's a similar hearing. i testified at the hearings but again, i don't see the consumer arm under section two, and we've asked the government to come back and give us examples of things which are violation of law. we haven't seen that yet. we are also in negotiations with them. so i'll would say we talk to people a lot, sort of waiting on them at some

law. so response has to take place particularly within the judicial sector. and i'd like to add with a view of debate on the finances to be provided by the eu, what we have to ensure is that are international commitment will continue to be lived up so we can continue -- with respect to your country, we have to keep our promises. and we have to continue to rally around specific haiti and show solidarity towards them. and you have a very ambitious reform program, and you have a reliable partner in the european parliament. but this partner will fight to ensure that the financial resources the eu needs in order to live up to its financial commitments to countries such as haiti that we need to guarantee the financial resources, which is why fighting for an ambitious european budget is a way of guaranteeing that we can keep our promises of solidarity. [applause] [speakin [speaking in native tongue] >> translator: i like to welcome you once again to the european parliament. [applause] [speaking in native tongue] >> translator: mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, honorable members of the european power, i am deeply honored by the gesture being done to my country in my in