![]() |
![]() |
| 2nd September 2010 | Graham Watson MEP | <info@grahamwatsonmep.org> |
Graham's blog Friday 27 June 2008Published on Fri 27th Jun 2008 Speaking at a UK-Italian twinning dinner on the night Italy played Spain in the European Cup was not a great idea, so I made one of my shortest speeches ever. That was the start to my week last Sunday evening. Since then I've been in Brussels at the EP, in Paris with the incoming Presidency of the EU and in Lome (capital of Togo, from where I write) hosting an EU-African Liberal Conference. On Monday I met Yves Leterme, new Belgian Prime Minister (Christian Democrat) to urge him and other Benelux countries to help the EU find a way out of its current difficulties. He is young and dynamic and although many say that Belgian politics will soon cause his downfall I am less sure: he has the mettle of a survivor. With France and Germany saying (to all intents and purposes, at least) that Ireland will have simply to vote again, a Benelux initiative would almost certainly be more subtle. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg enjoy a certain small-country sensitivity which would go down well in Ireland and which is lacking in Paris and Berlin. On Tuesday morning Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa came to Parliament to report on last week's Council Meeting (summit). It was his last appearance as President of the Council of Ministers. We gave him a reasonably easy time, praising him for the achievements of his 6 months in the chair. It's not his fault that the Irish No vote cast a dark shadow over his final summit. (For my speech in the debate, see www.grahamwatsonmep.org). Transparency in government took a step forward this week with the Commission's launch on Monday of a register for EU lobbyists. There are more commercial lobbyists in Brussels than in Washington DC and it is high time that such a register - giving names, organisations, objectives and financial resources - be established. I now have to persuade my colleagues not to speak to anyone who fails to register. On Wednesday and Thursday the so-called "Conference of Presidents" - the leaders of each political party in the EP - was in Paris to meet the main players in the French government, which takes over the EU Presidency on 1 July. We had lunch at the Elysee with President Sarkozy, who engaged us in a remarkably frank and no-holds-barred discussion of the EU's current difficulties over an excellent Puligny-Montrachet and a rather disappointing St Julien. From there to the Assemblee Nationale, where we sat in the gallery to listen to Question Time (it is even more of a bear pit than the House of Commons and makes the European Parliament appear genteel). Then to the Senate for a discussion with the Speakers of both Houses. The EU affairs minister had laid on a wide screen TV for us to watch Germany defeat Turkey over supper, which pleased the President of the EP and the Leader of the Socialists, both Germans. The latter at least had the good grace to admit that the Turks played better. On Thursday morning we had two hours with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and seven of his ministers at the Hotel Matignon, his official residence. I had met many of them just a fortnight ago, when I brought the committee coordinators (spokespersons) from my Group to Paris. But by now they are much more on top of their EU briefs and ready to chair the monthly meetings of their 26 counterparts which form the EU's lower chamber (the European Parliament being more the upper chamber, a kind of House of Lords with teeth). I left at lunchtime, leaving one of my deputies to represent the Liberal Democrat family in the televised debate of Group leaders which normally follows these meetings. I had to lead a delegation of 6 colleagues to Togo to a conference with African Liberal MPs from 27 countries (in an African Liberal network which I have helped to create) entitled A Roadmap for the Liberal and Democratic State. African countries are making important steps towards democracy, encouraged by us. I'll be back on Saturday and will address the Madison Trust conference at Bath University on Sunday. On Monday I have engagements in Stroud and in London.
Bookmark this story at:
Related Press Articles:Fri 16th Jul 2010: Graham's Blog, Friday 16 July 2010. Fri 9th Jul 2010: Graham's blog Friday 9 July 2010. Fri 2nd Jul 2010: Graham's blog Friday 2 July 2010 . Fri 25th Jun 2010: Graham's blog Friday 25 June 2010. Fri 18th Jun 2010: Graham's blog Friday 18 June 2010 . Fri 11th Jun 2010: Graham's blog Friday 11 June 2010 . Fri 21st May 2010: Graham's blog Friday 21 May 2009. Fri 14th May 2010: Graham's blog Friday 14 May 2010 . Fri 7th May 2010: Graham's blog Friday 7 May 2010 . Thu 22nd Apr 2010: Graham's blog Thursday 22 April 2010 . Fri 16th Apr 2010: Graham's blog Friday 16 April 2010 . Fri 9th Apr 2010: Graham's blog Friday 9 April2010. Fri 19th Mar 2010: Graham's blog Friday 19 March 2010 . Fri 12th Mar 2010: Graham's blog Friday 12 March 2010. Fri 5th Mar 2010: Graham's blog Friday 5 March 2010 . Fri 26th Feb 2010: Graham's blog Friday 26 February 2010. Fri 12th Feb 2010: Graham's blog Friday 12 February 2010 . Fri 5th Feb 2010: Graham's blog Friday 5 February 2010. Fri 29th Jan 2010: Graham's blog Friday 29 January 2010. Fri 22nd Jan 2010: Graham's blog Friday 22 January 2010. Fri 15th Jan 2010: Graham's blog Friday 15 January 2010. Fri 18th Dec 2009: Graham's blog Friday 18 December 2009. Fri 11th Dec 2009: Graham's blog Friday 11 December 2009. Fri 4th Dec 2009: Graham's blog Friday 4 December 2009. Fri 27th Nov 2009: Graham's blog Friday 27 November 2009. Fri 20th Nov 2009: Graham's blog Friday 20 November 2009. Fri 6th Nov 2009: Graham's blog Friday 6 November 2009. Fri 23rd Oct 2009: Graham's blog Friday 23 October 2009. Fri 9th Oct 2009: Graham's blog Friday 9 October 2009. Fri 2nd Oct 2009: Graham's blog Friday 2 October 2009. Fri 18th Sep 2009: Graham's blog Friday 18 September 2009. Fri 11th Sep 2009: Graham's blog Friday 11 September 2009. Fri 4th Sep 2009: Graham's blog Friday 4 September 2009. Fri 24th Jul 2009: Graham's blog Friday 24 July 2009. Fri 17th Jul 2009: Graham's Blog entry, Friday 17 July 2009. Fri 10th Jul 2009: Graham's blog Friday 10 July 2009. Fri 3rd Jul 2009: Graham's blog Friday 3 July 2009. Mon 22nd Jun 2009: Graham's blog Monday 22 June 2009. Graham's blog Monday 22 June 2009. Fri 12th Jun 2009: Graham's blog Friday 12 June 2009. Fri 8th May 2009: Graham's blog Friday 8 May 2009. Fri 1st May 2009: Graham's blog Friday 1 May 2009. Fri 24th Apr 2009: Graham's blog Friday 24 April 2009. Fri 17th Apr 2009: Graham's Blog from the European Parliament, Friday 17 April, 2009. Fri 27th Mar 2009: Graham's blog Friday 27 March 2008 . Fri 20th Mar 2009: Graham's blog Friday 20 March 2009. Fri 13th Mar 2009: Graham's blog Friday 13 March 2009. Fri 6th Mar 2009: Graham's blog Friday 6 March 2009. Fri 27th Feb 2009: Graham's Blog from the European Parliament, Friday 27 February, 2009. Fri 20th Feb 2009: Graham's blog Friday 20 February 2009 . Fri 13th Feb 2009: Graham's blog Friday 13 February 2009. Fri 6th Feb 2009: Graham's blog Friday 6 February 2009. Fri 30th Jan 2009: Graham's blog Friday 30January 2009. Fri 23rd Jan 2009: Graham's blog Friday 23 January 2009. Fri 16th Jan 2009: Graham's blog Friday 16 January 2009. Fri 9th Jan 2009: Graham's blog Friday 9 January 2009. Fri 19th Dec 2008: Graham's blog Friday 19 December 2008. Fri 5th Dec 2008: Graham's blog Friday 5 December 2008 . Fri 28th Nov 2008: Graham's blog Friday 28 November 2008 . Fri 21st Nov 2008: Graham's blog Friday 21 November 2008 . Mon 17th Nov 2008: Graham's Blog, Friday 17 November 2008. Fri 7th Nov 2008: Graham's Blog entry, Friday 7 November 2008. Fri 24th Oct 2008: Graham's blog entry, Friday 24 October 2008. Fri 17th Oct 2008: Graham's blog Friday 17 October 2008 . Fri 10th Oct 2008: Graham's blog Friday 10 October 2008 . Fri 3rd Oct 2008: Graham's blog Friday 3 October 2008 . Fri 26th Sep 2008: Graham's blog Friday 26 September 2008 . Fri 19th Sep 2008: Graham's blog Friday 19 September 2008 . Fri 12th Sep 2008: Graham's Blog 12 September 2008. Fri 5th Sep 2008: Graham's blog Friday 5 September 2008 . Sat 30th Aug 2008: Graham's blog Saturday 30 August 2008 . Fri 18th Jul 2008: Graham's blog Friday 18 July 2008. Fri 11th Jul 2008: Graham's blog Friday 11 July 2008. Fri 4th Jul 2008: Graham's blog Friday 4 July 2008. Sat 21st Jun 2008: Graham's blog Friday 20 June 2008. Fri 13th Jun 2008: Graham's blog Friday 13 June . Fri 6th Jun 2008: Graham's blog Friday 6 June 2008. Fri 23rd May 2008: Graham's blog Friday 23 May 2008. Fri 16th May 2008: Fri 9th May 2008: Graham's blog Friday 9 May 2008. Fri 25th Apr 2008: Graham's blog Friday 25 April 2008. Fri 18th Apr 2008: Graham's blog Friday 18.04.08. Fri 11th Apr 2008: Graham's blog Friday 11 April 2008. Fri 4th Apr 2008: Graham's blog Friday 4 April 2008. Fri 28th Mar 2008: Graham's blog entry 28 March 2008. Thu 20th Mar 2008: Graham's blog entry 20 March 2008. Fri 14th Mar 2008: Graham's blog entry 14 March 2008. Fri 7th Mar 2008: Graham's blog entry Friday 7 March 2008. Fri 29th Feb 2008: Graham's Blog Entry Friday 29 February 2008. Fri 22nd Feb 2008: Graham's blog entry Friday 22 February. Fri 15th Feb 2008: Graham's blog entry Friday 15 February 2008. Fri 1st Feb 2008: Graham's blog entry Friday 1 February 2008. Fri 25th Jan 2008: Graham's Blog entry Friday 25 January 2008. Fri 18th Jan 2008: Graham's Blog Entry 18 January 2008. Fri 11th Jan 2008: Graham's Blog Entry Friday 11 January 2008 . Fri 21st Dec 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 21 December 2007. Sat 15th Dec 2007: Graham's blog entry 15 December 2007. Sun 9th Dec 2007: Graham's blog entry Sunday 9 December 2007. Thu 29th Nov 2007: Graham's blog entry Thursday 29th November. Fri 23rd Nov 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 23 November. Fri 16th Nov 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 16 November 2007. Fri 9th Nov 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 9 November 2007. Fri 19th Oct 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 19 October 2007. Mon 15th Oct 2007: Graham's blog entry Sunday 14th October. Fri 5th Oct 2007: Graham's blog entry Friday 5 October 2007. Fri 28th Sep 2007: Graham's Blog Entry Friday 28 September. Fri 21st Sep 2007: Graham's blog entry 21 September 2007. Fri 14th Sep 2007: Graham's blog entry 14th September 2007 . Fri 7th Sep 2007: Graham's blog entry 7th September 2007. Fri 31st Aug 2007: Graham's blog entry 31 August 2007. Fri 13th Jul 2007: Graham's blog entry 13th July 2007. Fri 6th Jul 2007: Graham's blog entry 6th July 2007. Fri 29th Jun 2007: Graham's blog entry 29th June 2007. Fri 22nd Jun 2007: Graham's blog entry 22nd June 2007. Fri 15th Jun 2007: Graham's blog entry 15th June 2007. Fri 25th May 2007: Graham's blog entry 25th May 2007. Fri 18th May 2007: Graham's blog entry 18th May 2007. Fri 11th May 2007: Graham's blog entry 11th May 2007. Fri 4th May 2007: Graham's blog entry 4th May 2007. Fri 27th Apr 2007: Graham's blog entry 27th April 2007. Fri 20th Apr 2007: Graham's blog entry 20th April 2007 . Sat 14th Apr 2007: Graham's blog entry 14th April 2007. Fri 30th Mar 2007: Graham's blog entry 30th March. Fri 23rd Mar 2007: Graham's blog entry 23rd March 2007. Fri 16th Mar 2007: Graham's blog entry 16th March 2007. Fri 9th Mar 2007: Graham's blog entry 9th March 2007. Fri 2nd Mar 2007: Graham's blog entry for 2nd March 2007. Fri 16th Feb 2007: Graham's blog entry for 16th February 2007. Fri 9th Feb 2007: Graham's blog entry for 9th February 2007. Fri 2nd Feb 2007: Graham's blog entry 2nd February 2007. Fri 26th Jan 2007: Graham's blog entry 26th January 2007. Fri 19th Jan 2007: Graham's blog entry 19th January 2007. Fri 12th Jan 2007: Graham's blog entry for 12th January 2007 . Fri 15th Dec 2006: Graham's blog entry 15th December 2006. Fri 8th Dec 2006: Graham's blog entry 8th December 2006. Fri 1st Dec 2006: Graham's blog entry 1st December 2006. Fri 24th Nov 2006: Graham's blog entry 24th November 2006. Fri 17th Nov 2006: Graham's blog entry 17th November 2006. Thu 9th Nov 2006: Graham's blog entry 9th November 2006. Thu 2nd Nov 2006: Graham's blog entry 2nd November 2006. Fri 20th Oct 2006: Graham's blog entry 20th October 2006. Fri 13th Oct 2006: Graham's blog entry 13th October 2006. Fri 6th Oct 2006: Graham's blog entry 6th October 2006. Fri 29th Sep 2006: Graham's blog entry 29th September 2006. Fri 22nd Sep 2006: Graham's blog entry 22nd September 2006. Fri 7th Jul 2006: Published and promoted by Graham Watson MEP, Bagehot's Foundry, Beards Yard, Langport, Somerset TA10 9PS. The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider. |