Graham's blog entry Friday 19 October 2007

Published on Fri 19th Oct 2007

Brussels was buzzing this week in advance of Thursday and Friday's Council (summit) meeting. Would the Polish government do something outrageous as a ploy to boost their vote in their general election on Sunday? Would Gordon Brown be satisfied that Blair's "red lines" are written into the Treaty in blood? Would the Italians cause problems over losing one seat in the European Parliament? In the event, the summit passed off well: at least in the sense that they agreed the treaty changes necessary to allow the EU to function better. However their decisions to allow Austrian universities to continue to deny places to students from Germany and to give the Italians an extra parliamentary seat by depriving Parliament's President (the equivalent of Westminster's 'speaker') of his right to vote border on the farcical; and, in the latter case, is probably ultra vires.

The main change to the EU's workings is the agreement to increase the number of policy areas in which decisions are taken by qualified majority voting in Council and majority in Parliament. This has worked well for economic policy and the environment and consumer protection. It will now be the norm in most matters of justice and home affairs and some aspects of foreign policy, abolishing the national veto in non-sensitive areas of policy making. Any decision will still require the support of 55% of member states (15 out of the 27) representing at least 65% of the EU's population and an absolute majority of MEPs. Of course these new provisions still have to be ratified in each member state, either by the national parliament or by referendum.

I was not in Lisbon to follow the summit because - while the Christian Democrats and Socialists were there in force - the ELDR (European Liberal Democrat and Reform) Party decided to hold its Congress in Berlin instead, thereby making the Liberal voice in Europe's affairs almost inaudible.

On Wednesday I had the benefit of supper with Andris Piebalgs, the Energy Commissioner.He is a Liberal from Latvia. He briefed me and four others on his meeting that day with the Russian energy minister and the preparations for the forthcoming EU summit. And we were able to quiz him about plans for generating 20% of the EU's energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020. Though the target was agreed by the heads of state and government in March, none of them is too keen on committing their country to increase substantially its share. The Commission is due to propose in December how much of the increase in generation each member state should bear, taking account of current production levels and each country's potential. He accepted my invitation to come to Bristol, where I want him to see plans for the Severn barrage.

I spent yesterday and today in Berlin at the ELDR conference. My message to delegates was that the countdown to the 2009 euro election has begun and that we must seek alliances to achieve maximum influence over policy. (I'll put my speech on my website on Monday or Tuesday.)

By rare and fortunate chance I had Monday of this week in my constituency. I listened to the PM programme on BBC Radio 4 while driving to a speaking engagement in Bath. I guessed immediately that Ming would resign - with such criticism and such lukewarm support from our deputy leader Vince Cable it seemed to me inevitable. My hunch was confirmed in a phone call from Ming's office shortly before the statement was issued. I signed up that evening to the campaign to support the person I hope will be our next Leader. In no way do I envy that person the task.