During a debate on Wednesday on the forthcoming European Council (which will discuss the Lisbon Strategy), the Leader of the Delegation attacked the approach of some Member States for pursuing economic nationalism. He argued that this approach threatens to further undermine Europe's economic position at a time when both China and India are embracing the opportunities of globalisation.
Mr Kirkhope said:
"The issue of protectionism goes to the very heart of the debate on the future economic development of Europe. There is no place for the actions recently engaged in by some states in the EU. We are supposed to be working towards the reality of a single market in Europe and making Europe a world leader in competitiveness in order to face the challenges of the new emerging economic giants.
"The Council should issue the strongest statement possible on the fundamental importance of liberalisation and the crucial role it plays in completing the single market.
"The new member states have made enormous strides in liberalising and restructuring their economies over the past decade. They are subject to the constraints which membership of the EU requires, and they are entitled to expect to share fully in the economic benefits that a single market can bring.
"I urge the EU Council to avoid the usual fudge at its meeting later this month - and give some real leadership. Then, we can judge their resolution and give our verdict."
Mercury ban threat
The much-loved traditional barometer faced a stormy week as MEPs voted on proposals, contained in the Matsakis report, to outlaw mercury usage and production across Europe. .
Martin Callanan MEP, Shadow Rapporteur, successfully tabled an amendment to the report ensuring that the 400-year-old tradition of barometer making and repair was exempted from the proposals.
Mr Callanan said:
"Barometers have been made in Britain for over 400 years and banning them outright would be disproportionate to the level of risk from their mercury.
"Elected Euro-MPs have told the European Commission that banning the repair and manufacture of barometers is disproportionate to the risks posed by mercury"
Complementary Medicines
The European Parliament held its first vote on the EU's 2007-13 programme for public health that is intended to complement - rather than compete with - the policies of national governments. Amendments to the draft legislation put forward by John Bowis MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Health, will mean that the 100 million users of complementary medicine across the EU will also enjoy added benefits from the scheme.
Mr Bowis said:
"Alternative medicines and treatments can be useful in healthcare so long as they are complementary to the advice and work of health professionals. Over 100 million EU citizens are using complementary medicines on a regular basis and the EU should recognise their benefits and promote their use.
"Science is now confirming the effectiveness of treatments such as acupuncture.
"Ultimately, the decisions people make about their health are their own but they should have all the necessary information at their fingertips when choosing their lifestyle. The European health action programme enables people to be fully informed about the health consequences of certain habits or lifestyles.
"By promoting the best possible level of public health, we will keep citizens happy, keep potential patients out of hospital and keep our NHS tax bills down."
Local foods will get better protection
The Cumberland sausage, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cornish pasties will become much easier to protect against foreign or domestic impostors that pass themselves off as the real thing following a vote in the European Parliament.
The so-called 'Protected Designation of Origin' (PDO) or 'Protected Geographical Indication' (PGI) measures can be enacted when a product finds itself in competition with goods that pass themselves off as the genuine article and take the same name. Statistics show that for seven EU countries including the UK, the added value achieved by product registration is around £3 billion annually.
Neil Parish MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Agriculture, said;
"Many consumers like to know where their food has come from and we should be encouraging people to buy locally prepared produce.
"Local specialities should not be compromised by an impostor that steals a renowned products' name. Many of those products have taken many years to become renowned for their quality. Allowing other products to use and abuse their reputation misleads consumers.
"As the PDO labels start to become more common, people will start to look out for them and confidence in local speciality products will soar.
"I know of many MEPs who will begin to use the new rules to get local pies, puddings and drinks protected under EU law. I shall personally use the rules to give the Cornish pasty special protection to prevent the French making pasties and making it look like they've come from Cornwall."
RESULTS OF THE VOTES:
Costa - (131) Agreement between the EC and Ukraine on certain aspects of air services
Spokesman: Philip Bradbourn MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Seppänen - (131) Guarantee Fund for external actions
Spokesman: Richard Ashworth MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Kauppi - Formation and capital of public limited liability companies
Spokesman: Malcolm Harbour MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Gröner, Sartori - European Institute for Gender Equality
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Papadimoulis - Rapid response and preparedness instrument for major emergencies
Spokesman: Caroline Jackson MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Hamon - Strategic review of the International Monetary Fund
Spokesman: Jonathan Evans MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Hutchinson - Relocation in the context of regional development
Spokesman: Den Dover MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Matsakis - Community strategy concerning mercury
Spokesman: Martin Callanan MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Paasilinna - A European information society for growth and employment
Spokesman: Giles Chichester MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Ramos - Partnership Agreement between the Community and the Federated States of Micronesia on fishing
Spokesman: Struan Stevenson MEP
Adopted- Conservatives in favour
Braghetto - Minimum information to be contained in fishing licences
Spokesman: Struan Stevenson MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Hazan - Evaluation of the European arrest warrant
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Motion for a resolution - Human rights situation in Chad
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Grässle - Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities
Spokesman: Richard Ashworth MEP
Final vote on resolution postponed and referred back to committee
Motion for a resolution - Forced prostitution in the context of world sports events
Spokesman: Timothy KirkhopeMEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
Motion for a resolution - 4th World Water Forum
Spokesman: Nirj Deva MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Cottigny - Restructuring and employment
Spokesman: Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Bauer - Social protection and inclusion
Spokesman: Phillip Bushill-Matthews MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Grech - Budget guidelines 2007
Spokesman: Richard Ashworth MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Ó Neachtain - More environmentally -friendly fishing methods
Spokesman: Struan Stevenson MEP
Adopted-Conservatives in favour
Motion for a resolution - Preparation for the European Council/Lisbon Strategy
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
Trakatellis - Establishing a programme of Community action in the field of health and consumer protection - (health aspects)
Spokesman: John Bowis MEP
Approved - Conservatives in favour
Thyssen - Establishing a programme of Community action in the field of health and consumer protection - (consumer Protection)
Spokesman: Malcolm Harbour MEP
Vote postponed until March II
zu Baringdorf -Agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
Spokesman: Neil Parish MEP
Approved - Conservatives in favour
zu Baringdorf - Protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Spokesman: Neil Parish MEP
Approved - Conservatives in favour
Brok - Enlargement Strategy Paper 2005
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - 62nd session Human Rights Council
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - COP-MOP (biodiversity)
Spokesman: Caroline Jackson MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - Human Rights in Moldova
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - Kazakhstan
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - Impunity in Africa
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
PARTY WATCH - where different from Conservatives in recorded final votes:
LABOUR
(+) Gröner, Sartori - European Institute for Gender Equality - (A6-0043/2006)
(+) Hamon - Strategic review of the IMF (A6-0022/2006)
(+) Hazan - Evaluation of the European Arrest Warrant (A6-0049/2006)
(+) Cottigny - Restructuring and Employment (A6-0031/2006)
(+) European Council/Lisbon Strategy
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
(+) Hamon - Strategic review of the IMF (A6-0022/2006)
(0) Ramos - Partnership agreement between the EC and Micronesia (A6-0035/2006)
(+) Hazan - Evaluation of the European Arrest Warrant (A6-0049/2006)
(+) Cottigny - Restructuring and Employment (A6-0031/2006)
(+) European Council/Lisbon Strategy
UKIP
(-) Papadimoulis - Rapid response and preparedness instrument for major emergencies (A6-0027/2006)
(-) Ramos - Partnership agreement between the EC and Micronesia (A6-0035/2006)
(-) Grech - Guidelines for the budgetary procedure (A6-0058/2006)
(-) European Council/Lisbon Strategy
(-) zu Baringdorf - Agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed (A6-0033/2006)
(-) Brok - Enlargement Strategy Paper 2005 (A6-0025/2006)
