Graham's blog Friday 27 November 2009

Published on Fri 27th Nov 2009

Parliament met in Strasbourg this week. Our main debate was about the position to be adopted by the EU at the Copenhagen climate change summit. Obama's commitment to making some emissions cuts has helped; and in a resolution we called on the EU to go even further than previously envisaged. An agreement is still possible at Copenhagen; even though it now looks unlikely we will get a legally binding text at this stage, our environment ministers, led by Swedish Liberal Andreas Carlgren, resolved nonetheless to try.

I hosted a meeting for MEPs (many of whom are new) interested in renewable energy technologies and the construction of super smart grids for the distribution of the electricity they generate. Fifteen came, which is not bad in view of the number of competing attractions. (Among them was Nick Griffin MEP of the National Front, who then blogged about having been invited to supper by me. Well, yes, along with 749 others!)

Meanwhile I was pleased to learn that Bristol has been shortlisted for an EU award for the best use of ICT to reduce carbon emissions. It is the only UK city to have been shortlisted with a local project for the award. To vote for Bristol, click here

http://tinyurl.com/yf5l2sk , and register.

Probably the most important votes in Parliament were on the labelling of motor vehicle tyres, to show safety, fuel efficiency and noise levels. This follows a recent agreement on the energy labelling of electronic goods. We voted to approve the Commission's strategy towards further enlargement of the EU, whose watchwords are "slowly, slowly". We also approved a multi-annual programme of work to develop common policies in justice and home affairs.

All member states have now nominated their European Commissioners. There are nine women, against eight last time. If all are approved by Parliament in January there will be thirteen from the European People's Party, eight Liberals and five Socialists. There is now heavy jostling for which Commissioner gets which job; Britain's is already settled, since Commissioner Ashton will leave her trade portfolio to take up foreign affairs.

The European Commission decided last Friday to launch legal proceedings against the UK and Denmark; in the UK's case it is for failure to implement properly Directives governing discrimination at work, both on gender and on wider grounds.

I was due to be in Rome today and at a conference in Manila over the weekend but have had to cancel due to a sports injury. I've still not learned to take it easy.

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