Graham's blog entry 29th June 2007

Written by Graham Watson MEP on Fri 29th Jun 2007

Monday was again dominated by the constituency-related dimension of my parliamentary work in Brussels. I welcomed a group of visitors from Pilton Community College in Barnstaple; and I presented in the EP's Petitions Committee a petition by Gordon Nelson of Gibraltar seeking equal rights for disabled Gibraltarians in air travel. Regular readers may recall that Gibraltar is excluded from much EU legislation because of the interminable dispute between the UK and Spain over sovereignty of the rock. The latest twist to this saga is that a directive on the rights of disabled air passengers does not apply to them: and although last year's Cordoba Agreement should bring Gibraltar Airport within EU transport law it has not happened yet. The Committee agreed to write to both governments on my constituent's behalf.

The Commission published this week proposals for European Political Party Foundations to fund political education work by pan-European political parties. I welcome this. It means that we'll be able to promote public knowledge and understanding of the EU and run proper campaigns at European Election times. The proposals have to be agreed by the national governments and the EP.

The Commission also decided to take France to the European Court of Justice for failure to stop fishing with driftnets. France claims that its 'thonaille' nets to catch tuna and swordfish are not driftnets: the Commission's inspectors say they are.

I was for some time active in the creation of an EU budget for the promotion of human rights and was very pleased to learn that EUR 44 million (around 26 million pounds)from it will be allocated to the fight against torture, with a significant amount going to torture rehabilitation centres. Of an estimated 400,000 torture survivors in the EU only 16,000 receive regular medical and psychological help. Knowing of the excellent work but financial difficulties of the UK's Medical Fund for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Torture I can only conclude it will be money much needed and well spent.

Ciaran Prendeville of Street came to work-shadow me this week. He won an essay competition which I sponsored a few years ago and has previously done a stint in my constituency office. He was able to watch me reply to the outgoing EU President Angela Merkel, who came to present the results of last weekend's summit to Parliament. To watch my speech in Parliament it can be found in the 'Related Links' section on the left hand side at the bottom of the page.

My daughter Frederica also came to Brussels for a week's work experience, though I've arranged for her to shadow others, not me. The South West of England's Brussels Office kindly agreed to be her first victim.

Two reports this week of environmental successes: EU road pricing policies have cut the number of lorries passing through the Alps by 16% in the last six years and increased the transport of those goods by rail by 66%; and a deal between the EU and Norway will see an expansion of carbon capture and storage following the successful storage of CO2 in saline aquifers at the Sleipner oil field under the North Sea.

I spent yesterday afternoon and today with the other political group leaders in Lisbon to meet Prime Minister Jose Socrates and his cabinet; and later Portugal's President Cavaco Silva. Portugal takes over the baton from Germany on 1 July as EU President. One of their priorities, which I support strongly, is to develop in all countries the Danish model of 'flexi-curity' which ensures that people are re-trained to meet the changing needs of the economy, thus cutting mid-career unemployment.

Tonight I fly from Brussels to Sweden for the weekend to attend the Tallberg Conference, a gathering of socially-concerned world leaders who seek to lead by example. I've tried it and it's not easy. As Mark Twain observed 'We can change the world or ourselves, but the latter is more difficult'.

Related Link:

Graham's speech.