What a week! Strikes, a stroppy commissioner and streams of nail biting lobbyists were what Strasbourg was all about this week.
Stranded at a quiet little airport in Karlsruhe- Baden, is not how most people hope to start their working week, myself included. Such incompetence is second nature in Belgian where the simple task of ordering a taxi triggers a shaky disposition and a somewhat pessimistic attitude- but in Germany, one would expect nothing short of punctuality and style in a place that prides itself so highly on efficiency. 6, yes I said 6 long hours after my plane landed I finally found my way on the road to Strasbourg. Now, as most you are already aware I usually find it difficult to be enthused about visiting the second seat in Strasbourg, but this week, my displeasure towards this travelling circus was clouded by a focus on the bigger issues at hand. For the agenda this week in Strasbourg was sure to keep everyone on their toes- well everyone except the taxi service at the airport it would seem.
Our dear trade commissioner Mr Peter Mandelson was in Strasbourg this week to 'update' the parliament on the status of trade negotiations between the EU and the ACP (Africa, Pacific and Caribbean) Countries. Mr Mandelson has certainly established a reputation for himself in Brussels and this week he didn't do himself any favours. Despite month's calls to abolish the Economic Partnership Agreements and for the consideration of alternative options, the Commissioner has insisted all is well and that there are no other legal alternatives available under WTO rules. As parliament Rapporteur on this Agreement I had hoped that these reforms would help to facilitate trade relations between the ACP and the EU, thus strengthening markets, promoting stronger regional integration and combating poverty. Large NGOs have criticised the secrecy of negotiations and accused the Commission of bullying these regions to sign a deal they weren't ready or happy to sign. The parliament has strived to see the bigger picture and remain as patient as can be within these highly complex and crucial times. But this week, in true labour-esque-u-turn fashion, Mr Mandelson accepted the obvious; that the completion of these 6 agreements will not happen ahead of the 2008 deadline. Such a policy shift has angered parliamentarians who feel that as democratically elected representatives they have been keep purposely out of the loop. Let us just say that the discussions that followed were somewhat heated and certainly set the pace for the remainder of the week.
Quite possibly the largest dossier to come out of the parliament since the REACH chemical directive, The Pesticides Directives finally went to the vote this week. I am sure many of you have heard how these unrealistic proposals threatened to severely reduce not only our rights to place products on garden roses but could have substantially threatened our ability to produce food and fuel in the quality and quantity we need. I was personally against the proposal that came out of the Environment Committee which included unworkable volume targets, bans on the use of pesticides in public places, which would have included public greens, golf courses, parks and private gardens, as well as an introduction of taxes and levies on plant protection products. The Envi lobby has been working on overdrive over recent months but we battled against the scaremongering and thankfully the majority of MEPs saw sense. Obviously there are some areas which will need to be looked at again when the reports return to the parliament after the Council have looked at our recommendations, but until then our rose beds are safe and more importantly UK farmers can exhale a sigh of relief that the worst was avoided.
So that's goodbye from me as I now battle the Strikes of Air France! Wish me luck- I'm going to need it.
