The Prime Minister of Belgium took part in a debate this week on the Future of Europe and the European Constitution which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in a referendum exactly a year ago. Speaking in the debate, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Leader of the Conservative MEPs, stated again that the Constitution was dead. He emphasised the need for Europe to start concentrating on fundamental economic reform and a reforming agenda that tackles the alienation people in Europe feel towards the EU.
Timothy Kirkhope said:
"I want to see the EU move on to a new agenda: a reforming agenda that tackles effectively the sense of alienation between the institutions of Brussels; a reforming agenda that works for fundamental economic reform through liberalisation and more open markets, and puts growth at the forefront of its priorities.
"I also want to see greater and more effective intergovernmental cooperation in tackling environmental challenges and fighting the scourge of terrorism.
"The great error of Europe’s leaders is to assume that none of the great challenges facing the EU can be met without a Constitution. I believe that they can."
Parliament vote to buy Strasbourg Parliament buildings
The European Parliament has reaffirmed that it intends to purchase a number of buildings it currently rents in Strasbourg, despite the fact many MEPs lament the monthly jaunt there and the campaigning website oneseat.eu has already collected half a million signatures calling on the European Parliament to be located only in Brussels.
MEPs reaffirmed the commitment in an annual report on the Parliament's estimates for the 2007 financial year which sets out how the Parliament's €1.3 billion budget - an increase of 4.2% on the previous year - will be spent. Around €50 million euros has been set aside for the purchase of the Winston Churchill and Salvador de Madariaga buildings.
Conservative Budgets Spokesman in the European Parliament, Richard Ashworth MEP, has said the purchase of the buildings not only sends the wrong signals but such a level of expenditure of public money would be hard to justify for facilities that are barely used.
Mr Ashworth said:
"There is a strong resolve in the European Parliament to end our two-seat operation yet MEPs today voted to continue support for the policy of purchasing our buildings in Strasbourg. This sends all the wrong signals to both the voters and national governments who we want to change the EU's treaties.
"The oneseat.eu website is gathering thousands of signatures every day yet some MEPs are still adamant about continuing our monthly jaunt. They should now succumb to public opinion and join us in seeking an end to the Strasbourg sitting.
"As democratically elected representatives of the people of Europe, it is completely unacceptable that we are shunted around at the behest of the Council of Ministers.
"As a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation - after two World Wars in 31 years - Strasbourg was an understandable location for the European Parliament.
"But now, in the 21st century, it has become an emblem of the past. Surely we can find better things to spend taxpayers' money on than buying a building that is only occupied for 50 days each year and most of us wanted out of years ago."
Flights to America controversy
Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, urged the European Commission to begin immediate negotiations with the US government to avoid travel chaos for UK airline passengers. This follows the European Court of Justice ruling that the US government could not demand the personal data of EU citizens in order to fly to the USA, putting the EU and USA into conflict.
Timothy Kirkhope said:
"The Court decision, arising from an ego trip legal challenge instigated by the European Parliament, will cause four serious problems leading to a data curtain descending on the Atlantic:
"Individual airlines could be hit by bans and fines from the US side for not handing over electronic Passenger Name Records (PNRs).
"UK airlines could also face sanctions from the Information Commissioner (UK data protection authority) for transferring the data.
"An end to the current EU-US agreement could bring air travel chaos to passengers and leave tens of thousands of UK travellers in long queues while their details are checked.
"The EU-wide approach could then disintegrate into 25 bilateral agreements between member states and Washington.
"I strongly urge the Labour government to put pressure on the Commission to negotiate early with the US authorities."
RESULTS OF THE VOTES:
Martin - Business registers for statistical purposes
Spokesman: Jonathan Evans MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Chatzimarkakis - Competitiveness and innovation
Spokesman: Giles Chichester MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Schröder - SMEs in developing countries
Spokesman: Nirj Deva MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Grossetête - Medical products for paediatric use
Spokesman: John Bowis MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Niebler - Equal opportunities and equal treatment in employment and occupation
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Approval without a vote
Hennicot-Schoepges - European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue (2008)
Spokesman: Christopher Beazley MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Pahor, Grässle - Implementing rules for the Financial Regulation
Spokesman: James Elles MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Sonik - Prohibitions on certain sex offenders
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Hughes - Protecting healthcare workers from blood-borne infections
Spokesman: Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP
Final vote postponed to June plenary
Resolution - Humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territory
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Resolution - Guantanamo
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Vote postponed to June plenary
Brok - EU-USA Transatlantic Partnership Agreement
Spokesman: Charles Tannock MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Mann - EU-US economic relations
Spokesman: Robert Sturdy MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Langen - Enlargement of the eurozone
Spokesman: Jonathan Evans MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
Grech - Parliament's estimates for 2007
Spokesman: Richard Ashworth MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Markov - Trade and poverty
Spokesman: Robert Sturdy MEP
Adopted - Conservatives against
Vidal-Quadras Roca - Energy efficiency (Green Paper)
Spokesman: Giles Chichester MEP
Adopted - Conservatives in favour
Járóka - Roma women in the EU
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
De Keyser - Women in armed conflicts and their role in post-conflict reconstruction
Spokesman: Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Adopted - Conservatives abstained
PARTY WATCH - where different from Conservatives in recorded final votes:
LABOUR
(+) Langen - Enlargement of the eurozone (A6-0191/2006)
(+) Grech - Parliament's estimates for 2007 (A6-0188/2006)
(+) Járóka - Roma women in the EU (A6-0148/2006)
(+) De Keyser - Women in armed conflicts and their role in post-conflict reconstruction (A6-0159/2006)
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
(+) Langen - Enlargement of the eurozone (A6-0191/2006)
(+) Grech - Parliament's estimates for 2007 (A6-0188/2006)
(+) Járóka - Roma women in the EU (A6-0148/2006)
(+) De Keyser - Women in armed conflicts and their role in post-conflict reconstruction (A6-0159/200
UKIP
(-) Schröder - SMEs in developing countries (A6-0151/2006)
(-) Hennicot-Schoepges - European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue (2008) (A6-0168/2006)
(-) Mann - EU-US economic relations (A6-0131/2006)
(-) Langen - Enlargement of the eurozone (A6-0191/2006)
(-) Grech - Parliament's estimates for 2007 (A6-0188/2006)
(-) Járóka - Roma women in the EU (A6-0148/2006)
(-) De Keyser - Women in armed conflicts and their role in post-conflict reconstruction (A6-0159/2006)
