Graham Watson MEP

Graham's Newsletter Friday 3rd February

Published on Monday 6th February 2012

Greetings

Monday this week saw the heads of state and government of the EU member states meeting in Brussels at an 'informal' European Council meeting. They agreed one treaty setting up the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), a 'bailout fund' available to countries which sign the second treaty, outlawing Keynesian economics by writing into law a requirement on governments not to run budget deficits. The European Court of Justice will be able to fine countries who break the latter treaty, paying the fine into the ESM. They also agreed that when items of business exclusively to do with eurozone issues are on the agenda in future, only the countries which have adopted the euro will participate, though this merely formalises a practice which has become the norm.

Read more: Graham's Newsletter Friday 3rd February

Graham's Newsletter Friday 27th January

Published on Monday 30th January 2012

Greetings

This week brought the great news that Bristol will get a £2.5 million grant from the European Investment Bank to invest in green energy and through setting up of an energy services company. It is hoped that this may create up to 1,000 jobs. Similarly, an SME financing arrangement in Spain worth €200 million has been announced.

Read more: Graham's Newsletter Friday 27th January

Graham's Newsletter Friday 20th December

Published on Tuesday 24th January 2012

Greetings

The European Parliament met in Strasbourg this week for the traditional mid-term session in which we spend an inordinate amount of time electing a new speaker ('President' in our parlance), deputy speakers ('Vice Presidents') and 'Quaestors' (the MEPs' equivalent of trade union shop stewards, to look after our interests vis-a-vis Parliament's administration).

The old-pals act between the two major parties ensured the election of a German Socialist, succeeding a Polish Christian Democrat, as our new Speaker. LibDem Diana Wallis put up a spirited fight but came in third, one vote behind a maverick UK Tory: nonetheless the two of them took over 40% of the votes cast, denying the victor the substantial majority he would have liked. Liberals succeeded in electing two deputy speakers, Brit Edward McMillan Scott and German Alexander Alvaro.

Read more: Graham's Newsletter Friday 20th December

Graham's Newsletter Friday 13th January

Published on Monday 16th January 2012

Greetings

As Parliament and the other EU institutions returned to work this week I co-hosted with Nick Clegg a meeting for senior EU LibDems (three prime ministers, five deputy prime ministers, one or two other ministers and five EU Commissioners) with UK government cabinet ministers from our party. Though lampooned in the Daily Mail it was a useful meeting and adopted a declaration on the measures needed to ensure that government austerity is accompanied by economic growth and job creation. (For details see www.

Read more: Graham's Newsletter Friday 13th January

Graham's newsletter 22nd December 2011

Published on Thursday 22nd December 2011

Greetings

Parliamentary business wound up this week with committee meetings to clear outstanding matters before the Christmas break. The foreign affairs committee voted to approve two reports, one of which was my report to prevent the leaders of authoritarian regimes from laundering their private and often dubiously acquired gains in our banking systems or property markets. It is expected to reach the floor of the House in February. The legal affairs committee approved a deal on the long awaited EU patent which has been agreed with national government ministers but must yet formally be approved in Council.

Read more: Graham's newsletter 22nd December 2011