Graham's blog Friday 11 July 2008

Published on Fri 11th Jul 2008

My major initiative this week was the launch of a new pamphlet called 'The Lisbon strategy - mode d'emploi' in which I argue, together with two MEPs from the European People's party, two from the Socialists, one other Liberal Democrat and one Green, that economic reform in the EU is urgently needed. Though from different political parties and different countries, there is a broad measure of agreement between us: we all argue that we need to be investing more in innovative processes and people and that we can ignore neither environmental sustainability nor social cohesion. You will shortly be able to order a copy from my website www.grahamwatsonmep.org.

As MEPs gathered in Strasbourg on Monday for the final plenary session of the political year, many of our heads of state and government were in Japan at the G8 meeting. They agreed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to at least 50% of 1990 levels by 2050 - and the EP has subsequently voted to include civil aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme, which will help - but they set no interim targets, so there is less time pressure on them. They also agreed to deny Robert Mugabe's regime any legitimacy and said they would press for new UN sanctions against Zimbabwe.

The EU's justice and home affairs ministers met in Cannes this week and agreed the outlines of what they call an immigration policy. In reality they are talking mainly about border controls and sending illegal migrants back home; a more comprehensive policy, such as that which MEPs from across the spectrum argue for in another recent pamphlet of mine, would include development aid and trade instruments. But without the Lisbon treaty reforms, Ministers can continue to set policy on their own without needing the European Parliament's approval.

Parliament voted this week to approve legislation in two areas where Ministers are required to reach agreement with us. Under the single market rules we voted to open up to competition the market in gas (gas producers or suppliers will no longer be allowed to own the pipelines through which it is supplied): and under consumer protection powers we voted to tighten the rules on the use of food additives and the use of enzymes in food.

I hosted on Tuesday a supper for the Commissioners from my political family: we discussed in particular food prices, a subject introduced by farm commissioner Mariann Fischer-Boel, and noted the strong correlation between the rise in oil prices and that in food prices (and their impact on inflation in general, up 4% year-on-year in May). The Commission plans a big development aid package to help developing countries produce more food.

On Wednesday I hosted for my colleagues and staff the Liberal Democrat Group's summer barbecue which, for the first time in three years, was blessed with such good weather that the music and the dancing went on into the wee small hours. I did not, however. I had to be on good form early on Thursday morning to respond to Nicholas Sarkozy in the debate to launch France's six month Presidency of the EU. Sarkozy had just arrived back from the G8 is Japan, so heaven knows how he felt: but he made an excellent speech and we found him informed, engaged and engaging. I could not resist quoting one of his wife's songs during my reply and he told me in his closing remarks that he would send me a copy of her latest CD, which comes out next week. (I am told that in one track she speaks of having had thirty lovers. Must be an interesting marriage!)

I travelled north from Strasbourg yesterday afternoon for an engagement in Germany and should have been back this morning for a series of constituency engagements; but one of the challenges of travelling so much is that sometimes travel connections don't work. I spent most of today at Frankfurt airport, though I will still manage to speak to Friends of the Earth activists in Taunton this evening. At least I got a lot of reading done.

I'll write again from Brussels next week.