Another busy year in the European Parliament draws to a close: from biofuels to saving the barometer, from banning cat and dog fur to passing new chemicals laws that will improve safety standards, from Turkey to bird flu, much has been achieved.
However, the point of this Christmas round robin isn't to exaggerate achievements. In the same way that no one wants to read about little Charlie's 15 A***s or Sophia's teaching of pilates to underprivileged llamas with back problems in Peru I doubt you'll be fascinated by an exaggerated description of the Parliament's achievements in 2006. Like any year there have been ups and downs. Much of our time and energy is spent fighting bad legislation and over-regulation.
David Cameron's visit to Brussels to meet MEPs and EU officials at the beginning of this month was a welcome positive step. For a long time I have argued for moderate Euro-scepticism where the EU should concentrate on areas where its efforts are beneficial to Britain and Europe and leaves other areas alone. This was exactly the message that David Cameron delivered. He lamented "the culture of hopelessness that has plagued the EU". It was no coincidence that the two Commissioners he met were those responsible for International Trade and the Environment. Britain needs to provide leadership in these areas as in recent years fine words have not been matched by achievements in overcoming these difficult challenges. The fact remains that if we want to do something about climate change or trade justice it needs action on a European level if we are to influence the US, China and other major world powers.
There is a strong chance that I am biased towards these topics as my two main committees are the Environment and International Trade.
The Environment:
This week's Strasbourg session also saw the Parliament strengthening the text of the "Protection of groundwater against pollution" particularly against hazardous substances. This is an issue I am following very closely in my capacity as the Draftsman for the Environment Committee on the phasing out of priority, dangerous substances under the Water Framework Directive. The new Directive includes a list of hazardous chemicals which must be removed from our waters by 2025. As our most precious commodity, particularly when over half the bodies of freshwater in the EU are irreparably polluted, water security is an issue that does not respect national borders.
Water cannot be dealt with on its own: the revision of the Waste Framework Directive which was passed in Parliament at the end of November, also affects water. If we are to get on top of environmental problems like waste, polluted water and climate change we must exchange best practice with the rest of Europe and ensure that we are all pushing in the same direction. These changes will also present economic opportunities and British companies need to be able to take advantage of them.
International Trade:
My main focus in Strasbourg has been on Economic Partnership Agreements currently being negotiated between the EU and Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. These regional trade agreements are intended to be tools for development. Unfortunately no one can agree on exactly how to make trade a tool for development. The negotiations have been fraught with difficulty, hampered by capacity problems on the ACP side, a lack of flexibility on the EU side and are unlikely to be completed before the deadline of the end of 2007.
These EPAs will have a huge impact on the economies of many of the world's poorest countries. This Christmas many of us will give money to charities to help alleviate the terrible suffering we see on television and feel so powerless to stop. 2005 saw Governments make great promises to Make Poverty History, 2006 saw some progress on these promises but not enough. In 2007 these efforts will need to be redoubled. If there was a simple answer to the problems of Africa it would have been found long ago. There isn't and in an increasingly globalised world, with climate change and HIV/AIDS complicating things further, Making Trade Fair is one priority of many. Britain can only do its best by doing more and getting the rest of Europe to do more too.
It seems appropriate that as Christmas approaches the thoughts of the EU turn towards Turkey. Enlargement and migration are issues of great concern to many of you. Turkey is the true test of the future of the EU. In many ways they are not European like we are, but how we deal with a progressive Muslim neighbour will have an impact on relations with the wider Middle East. It is a topic that I suspect will again be on our minds at Christmas 2007. Like everything else I discuss in these updates I welcome the opportunity to hear your views on these subjects, so do get in touch.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
