You would think that after a summer break, free from the chaos of the European Parliament, one would feel rested and relaxed and ready to address the challenges a new year brings. But like a new school term, the excitement soon wears off, as I discovered when we taook up residence for the week in the Strasbourg parliament; it turned out to be a rather hectic week.
I didn't waste a minute on my return by repeatedly calling on my fellow MEPs to recognise the plight of the British people who are unwillingly being dragged into the constitutional debate by our own government. With EU leaders getting ready for the upcoming talks on the treaty, it is important that our European counterparts appreciate that although we recognise the benefits EU membership can bring, we must protect our own rights and interests. It has become ridiculous, almost to be the point of entertaining, how a document, which in principle aims to "simplify, unite and strengthen the principles of democracy", is actually doing quite the opposite; complicating, dividing and ignoring our democratic rights. I would have to admit I probably did not start the New Year with the positive attitude many would have preferred. But now I am full of renewed energy and enthusiasm, I believe you should start as you mean to go on! A saying the Labour government should try out and stick to the next time they think about breaking a promise to the British people!
No more monkeying about says the European Parliament! Over recent months I have received dozens of letter from constituents calling for an end to experiments on primates being carried out within the European community. I am pleased to report that this week in Strasbourg, 418 members of parliament from all over Europe signed the Conservative's Written Declaration calling for the cessation. The Written Declaration calls for the immediate ban on experiments on great apes and on primates captured in the wild and a timetables phasing out of trials on all monkeys as soon as alternative test methods are validated to be made Parliament policy. This is great news for animal welfare and conservation, as well as for public health. Alternative practices are increasingly being developed and applied, with an eventual aim of a complete phase out of testing on primates and by the Parliament taking an active lead we can hopefully set new standards the world over.
MEPs also this week called for an urgent review and possible repeal of the restrictions on the taking of liquids onto planes. Obviously, this would have been more useful before the end of the summer holiday season, but this is the EU and we have all come to expect a tardy response in dealing with over regulation. The sheer cost and disproportionate nature of the measures, which seem to vary across the community and beyond, were cited by an overwhelming number of members who backed a resolution sent to the Commission as the key problems. As someone who travels extensively, I have seen the problems first hand and welcome the prospect of a review. It is not just travellers that are forced to endure these inconveniences, but it is proving incredible costly to the airports. It is also shocking how many products, for example duty free products from airports with more relaxed rules, are being confiscated on a daily basis. Safety is our utmost concern, but measures need to be practical, justified and implemented equally throughout the member states. Review is valuable part of the process. Let's just hope the Commission doesn't get confused and start listing super sized Toblerone bars as lethal weapons! Well I wouldn't put it past them, would you?
