Graham Watson MEP

A-level students from King's School Gloucester visit European Parliament

Published on Friday 17th February 2012

South West Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson hosted a visit to the European Parliament of a group of Politics and Economics A-level students from the King's School in Gloucester in Brussels on Friday 17 February 2012.

The students were on a school trip to Brussels, which included a visit to the European Parliament there.

Sir Graham commented,

'These students were among the brightest who have visited Parliament.

They asked intelligent questions about subjects from the Eurozone crisis, the European Parliament's powers, the work of an MEP, how they get elected and saw for themselves how I and other democratically elected representatives go about getting the best out of Europe for Gloucestershire.

Read more: A-level students from King's School Gloucester visit European Parliament

Watson Meets Chess Giant Kasparov

Published on Thursday 16th February 2012

South West Member of the European Parliament Sir Graham Watson has met with former Grandmaster and World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov to discuss a new initiative to get chess into school curriculums across Europe.

Garry was in Strasbourg this week lobbying Euro-MPs to get behind his campaign to bring more chess programs into schools. The program is designed around a series of short exercises that can be given to children with the aim of practicing concentration skills that will have a positive impact on a child's education.

Sir Graham, who hosted an event in Strasbourg this week to promote the initiative, commented,

"Chess is a game that stimulates the mind, helps build problem solving skills, develops concentration and gives a child the opportunity to take responsibility for their own thinking.

Read more: Watson Meets Chess Giant Kasparov

Watson Promotes ‘the one number that could save your life’

Published on Friday 10th February 2012

This Saturday sees the launch of 112 day, promoting the one number that anyone can use both here and abroad to contact the emergency services free of charge.

Promotion of the event is in light of a recent survey taken showing that only one in every four is aware that the number exists.

Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Sir Graham Watson has joined the campaign to raise the awareness of the 112 emergency number and commented,

''Whilst most holidays and trips abroad go without issue, when an emergency does arise, is everyone aware of what number to dial? 112 is the only free of charge number that can be used across Europe to call any emergency service, be it Ambulance, Fire, Police, Mountain Rescue or Coastguard.

''Currently too few citizens are aware of the 112 emergency number.

Read more: Watson Promotes ‘the one number that could save your life’

New ‘family friendly’ allotments for South Bristol

Published on Thursday 9th February 2012

Hartcliffe Community Farm is launching their new family friendly allotments in South Bristol with South West Euro MP Sir Graham Watson cutting the first turf of this exciting new project this Friday.

Hartcliffe Farm has won funding to set up 60 new allotments for residents of the Whitchurch and Hartcliffe communities in South Bristol. The scheme will include a community orchard, tool and seed bank and family orientated allotments.

Euro MP Sir Graham Watson says:

"This is a great project which meets the demands of local people to be able to live healthier life styles and have more control over where their food comes from.

Read more: New ‘family friendly’ allotments for South Bristol

European renewable energy is answer to Gazprom gas crisis - Watson

Published on Tuesday 7th February 2012

Liberal Democrat MEP and ELDR President Sir Graham Watson, who is Chairman of a global network of MPs and MEPs from all mainstream political parties working to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy called the Climate Parliament has today said that the switch to green energy has now become just as much an energy security issue as an environmental imperative.

Commenting on the ongoing crisis where Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Germany have experienced reductions of up to 30% in Russian gas supplies from Gazprom over the last few days, Sir Graham said:

"The freezing conditions across Europe highlight yet again the dangers of being so overly-reliant on Russia for a quarter of our gas. Gazprom has - understandably - diverted its supplies to keep Russian homes warm, leaving many European countries short and prices on the rise."

"And we just don't know what Gazprom will do next.

Read more: European renewable energy is answer to Gazprom gas crisis - Watson