http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Graham Watson MEP en-GB Graham Watson MEP http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Graham Watson MEP 2010-09-02T18:21+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000764/mep_urges_climate_action_to_mitigate_future_pakistan_floods.html Replying to EU Development Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva at an extraordinary committee meeting in the European Parliament in Brussels today, SW LD MEP Graham Watson said: 2010-08-31T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000765/plastic_bag_free_from_salisbury_to_cyprus.html Members of Salisbury City Residents Action on Packaging (SCRAP) have enlisted the support of local Lib Dem Euro-MP Graham Watson in their campaign to make Salisbury a plastic bag free (PBF) city. 2010-08-31T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000763/euroofficials_to_get_frontline_experience_with_bristolbased_smes.html Bristol businesses involved in consultancy, media and communication, or recruitment are being invited to employ a European Commission official for a week-long placement in either October or November as part of the EU's Enterprise Experience Programme. 2010-08-19T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000762/meps_frustration_erupts_over_volcano_compensation.html South West MEP Graham Watson has vowed to continue fighting for those constituents still awaiting reimbursement from airlines for costs incurred during the ash cloud disruption in April. 2010-08-18T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000761/more_must_be_done_to_help_pakistan_flood_victims_watson.html Graham Watson MEP, a Lib Dem member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, has called upon the EU, member states and countries around the world to do more to help victims of the floods in Pakistan. 2010-08-16T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000759/tailored_support_for_south_west_business_in_europe.html A local Euro-MP has called upon small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the South West to "look to Europe" for prosperity after a recently published report showed a positive link between exports and SME performance. 2010-07-14T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000760/et_phoneukip.html A member of UKIP's political grouping in the European Parliament has called on the EU to establish a "European UFO centre", and is seeking the support of his colleagues. 2010-07-12T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000758/eu_set_to_tighten_animal_testing_rules.html The use of animals in scientific experiments could soon be reduced by new EU legislation which aims to strike a balance between improving animal welfare and assisting research against diseases. 2010-07-12T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000757/wells_welcomes_euro_commissioner.html Wells welcomed European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou to the City on today when she visited the Cathedral School and attended a concert in the evening. 2010-07-09T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000755/european_parliament_backs_cap_reform.html The European Parliament has backed a report by a UK Lib Dem MEP that calls for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to make it fairer, greener and more sustainable. 2010-07-08T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000756/meps_use_lisbon_powers_to_safeguard_citizens_privacy.html The European Parliament has approved a reworked EU-US agreement on access to Europeans' banking data for tracking of terrorist finance after rejecting an interim deal in February on grounds that it insufficiently safeguarded privacy. 2010-07-08T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000753/bankers_bonuses_capped_by_meps.html MEPs today backed moves to crack-down on bankers' bonuses that encourage risky financial decisions and led to the recent financial meltdown. Banks were also told to hold reserves to guard against risky investments so they are not forced to fall back onto the taxpayer. 2010-07-07T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000754/meps_cut_down_illegal_loggers.html MEPs have taken an axe to the illegal logging trade today by banning the placing of illegal timber on the European market and setting up strict penalties for those caught doing so. 2010-07-07T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000752/euromps_give_boat_passengers_new_rights.html Boat passengers will have more rights as of 2012, after the European Parliament today approved new rules on the assistance and compensation an operator must provide in the event of delays or cancellations. Disabled passengers also secure the right to free assistance. 2010-07-06T00:00+01:00 http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000750/supergrid_would_put_south_west_on_the_europes_renewable_energy_map.html Local Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson has called for a Europe-wide energy "Supergrid" that would enable projects like the Wave Hub in Cornwall to export green energy to Europe and beyond. He will travel to London on Friday (2 July) to discuss the idea with leading engineers, consultants and policy makers. 2010-07-01T00:00+01:00