The Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, this week called on the incoming Finnish Presidency to reform the European Union; to make it more transparent, with further scrutiny of legislation and more impact assessments. Mr Kirkhope underlined the need for further economic reform, something Conservative MEPs have long called for. He also spoke out against any further moves to introduce QMV into justice and home affairs. He also reiterated Conservative support for the campaign to establish Brussels as the sole seat of the European Parliament.
Timothy Kirkhope MEP said:
"The new Presidency wants to develop a transparent and effective Union. The issues of transparency and openness are ones British Conservatives have been championing for many years. The decision to open up Council meetings to public scrutiny is a step in the right direction and has been taken despite the crass attempts by the new British Foreign Secretary to preserve secrecy.
"We will watch carefully to see that the letter and spirit of openness is upheld in the coming months. Equally, the Presidency's wish to scrutinise the effects of legislation and improving its clarity is something I welcome.
"On economic reform, the drive to make Europe more competitive does not begin and end with Summit conclusions. The need for reform is as urgent as ever and I hope the Presidency will champion the kind of liberalising, reformist economic agenda that I have long urged. The protectionists and those who champion the outdated concept of national champions are still with us - I hope the Prime Minister and his Presidency will resist them.
"The Presidency also wants to see more effective decision-making in judicial co-operation in criminal matters. I hope the emphasis here will be on better inter-governmental co-operation and not harmonisation. The announcement by Commissioner Frattini last week that he will urge Member States to make use of the passerelle clauses to introduce more majority voting in JHA issues is unwelcome news. People do want governments to work together more effectively to prevent terrorism, combat human trafficking and fight the scourge of drugs. I do too. But this does not require the ending of the veto in these areas. Harmonisation is a flawed approach. It denies the police and security services the flexibility and adaptability they need to stay one step ahead of the terrorists and the drug traffickers. Giving Parliament and the Court of Justice 'second guess' powers will hamper and undermine the work of law enforcement agencies across Europe.
"I also want the presidency to sort out the vexed question of the seat of the European Parliament. We have been in the forefront of the campaign to end the Strasbourg sessions. Having two seats is expensive, wasteful and a major burden on taxpayers. Over half a million people have already signed the petition to end Strasbourg, including myself and my British Conservative colleagues. We must have some action on the matter."
Equitable Life enquiry
The European Parliament voted this week to adopt the interim report on Equitable Life Committee. The committee is investigating the crisis that caused over one million UK policy holders and more than 15,000 policy holders in other EU countries, including Ireland and Germany, to incur losses to their pensions, savings and investments.
Conservative Petitions Spokesman in the European Parliament Sir Robert Atkins MEP said:
"We have been much impressed, angered and even moved by those speaking to us at the committee, and the financial and emotional losses they are experiencing. We have also heard from some of those who are responsible for regulation."
Sir Robert said that while he does not think there is any evidence of negligence or criminal activity, he would characterise the behaviour of regulators as 'benign complacency'.
During the course of its enquiry, the committee exposed a curious loophole. If a German or an Irish person buys a policy from a British company, it is the British regulator who is responsible for the financial probity of that company.
Sir Robert also said:
"The German or Irish regulators appear to play no role, but that does not help the EU citizen, for whom it is impractical, inconvenient and costly to pursue concerns with the British regulator, even supposing he were interested.
"People have been badly burnt in several EU member states. Many have seen their investments dissolve and rightly believe that the system has failed them.
"We must also ask the question: Who is regulating the regulators. If it is the Commission, is it doing its job effectively?
"So far, these questions remain unanswered."
Canal Boat Owners Can Breathe a Sigh of Relief
The European Parliament has approved a report which could have had devastating consequences for recreational boat owners in the UK had it been rejected. However, due to Conservative pressure and an amendment approved in Committee (backed by Conservative Spokesman on Transport in the European Parliament, Philip Bradbourn MEP), the proposal gained enough support for a derogation to be put in place for UK and Irish waterways.
Philip Bradbourn MEP said:
"It is my opinion that the Commission should have addressed the issue that UK's inland waterways are not used for freight transport. This is just another example of a "one size fits all approach", which would have had serious implications for Britain's narrow boat users.
"I am, however, relieved that Parliament addressed the issue and far more relieved that costs of between £12 000 - £40 000 will not be passed to our boat owners. The Council of Ministers now looks set to agree this derogation and I hope that the UK government will not back down at the last minute."
RESULTS OF THE VOTES:
Request for consultation of the Economic and Social Committee - The impact and consequences of structural policies on EU cohesion
Adopted - Conservatives against
Request for consultation of the Committee of the Regions - The impact and consequences of structural policies on EU cohesion
Adopted - Conservatives against
Cavada - Transnational organised crime (the smuggling of migrants)
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Cavada - Transnational organised crime (trafficking in persons)
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Korhola - Application of the Aarhus Convention to EC institutions and bodies
Spokesman: John Bowis MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Blokland - Batteries, accumulators and their waste
Spokesman: Caroline Jackson MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Silva Peneda - European Social Fund
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Fava - European Regional Development Fund
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Olbrycht - European grouping of territorial co-operation (EGTC)
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Hatzidakis - ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund (general provisions)
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
Andria - Establishment of a Cohesion Fund
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Wortmann-Kool - Cabotage and international tramp services
Spokesman: Jonathan Evans MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Lamassoure - Own resources
Spokesman: Richard Ashworth MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Wallis - Crisis of Equitable Life
Spokesman: Sir Robert Atkins MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Muscat - Consolidation in financial services
Spokesman: John Purvis MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Szejna - Recent developments in and prospects for company law
Spokesman: Malcolm Harbour MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
Lucas - Reducing the climate change impact of aviation
