Graham Watson MEP

EU must be more than the World's banker

Published on Wednesday 12th January 2005

Addressing the European parliament in a debate today, Graham Watson, on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats praised the rapid humanitarian response of the Commission and the €450m pledged by the Commission to the aid effort following the Asian tsunami but called for honesty and transparency about fresh versus already committed funding. He also pointed to the need for the European Union to exert its 'soft power' on the world stage more effectively by having a rapid humanitarian response capability comprising hospital ships, helicopters, trained forces and equipment ready on standby rather than just distributing aid.

Watson described the situation as "a global tragedy requiring a global response in which the EU must play its part." He called for Member States of the Union to back up the Commission's coordinating role by each putting a humanitarian relief expert at the disposal of the Union to assist in maximising the potential of the Union to respond effectively to this and future crises.

Read more: EU must be more than the World's banker

Speech on Tsumani disaster

Published on Wednesday 12th January 2005

Watson (ALDE), on behalf of the Group. - Mr President, this is a global tragedy requiring a global response. It provides an opportunity to reassert the role and the benefit of multilateral action through the United Nations, but also a challenge to the United Nations to prove itself up to the task. Thus far, its response has been promising.

Read more: Speech on Tsumani disaster

Liberals & Democrats the most European group in Parliament 98% of ALDE members voted in favour of the Constitution today

Published on Wednesday 12th January 2005

In a massive sign of group unity and common vision, European Liberals and Democrats voted almost unanimously in favour of Parliament's recommendation in support of the European Constitution.

Welcoming both the substantial parliamentary majority in favour of the Constitution (500 in favour, 137 against) and his own group's particularly strong support (98%) following analysis of roll call votes, Graham Watson, ALDE group leader declared: "Today's vote sends two clear messages; a strong signal to Europe's citizens that their democratically elected representatives have given their overwhelming support to the work of the Convention and the text of the Constitution signed by Heads of State last June and an equally strong signal to fellow parliamentarians and political commentators that European Liberals and Democrats mean business and will defend a common vision of a Europe united and strong."

In supporting Parliament's positive recommendation, the ALDE group confirms the political message that guided its formation following the last European elections. European Liberals and Democrats want to see a stronger Union, capable of playing a leading role on the world stage and offering stability, security and prosperity to its citizens.

Read more: Liberals & Democrats the most European group in Parliament 98% of ALDE members voted in favour of the Constitution today

Speech welcoming Luxembourg Presidency

Published on Wednesday 12th January 2005

Watson (ALDE), on behalf of the Group.

Mr President, this is the eleventh Luxembourg presidency. Mr President-in-Office, your presidency has high standards of its own to live up to and the high expectations of others to meet.

Simultaneously President-in-Office of the European Council and of the Economic and Finance Council, you are in a unique position from which to reach agreement on one of your biggest and most delicate objectives - the financial perspectives for 2007 2013.

Read more: Speech welcoming Luxembourg Presidency

"Hope is reborn in Palestine and Israel" expressed Graham Watson with satisfaction

Published on Monday 10th January 2005

The ALDE Group in the European Parliament strongly welcomed the democratic election by a substantial majority, by the Palestinian people of Mahmoud Abbas as President of the Palestinian Authority, especially as the election was carried out without serious incident or challenge, despite the difficulties linked to the occupation of the Territories by Tsahal. This strong popular legitimacy augurs well for peace in the region for which the Head of the PLO has promised to work with all his strength, including through an appeal for a unilateral ceasefire and an end to the armed intifada.

"Peace and a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can become realities that no-one must now undermine", declared Watson, President of the ALDE Group. "Israel must rise to this new political situation and can count on the full support of the EU to accompany the new process.

Read more: "Hope is reborn in Palestine and Israel" expressed Graham Watson with satisfaction

"We are all minorities"

Published on Thursday 6th January 2005

At a conference yesterday (5th January) in the European Parliament on the integration of minority immigrant communities in the EU, Graham Watson, leader of ALDE outlined the importance and timeliness of the subject under discussion:

"For Liberals and Democrats, an acceptance of a multicultural society must lie at the heart of a policy of unity in diversity, of shared values beyond different individual beliefs. Underlying this must be active promotion of tolerance of all creeds and colours since ultimately we are all minorities of one sort or another," he added.

Antoine Duquesne, Belgian liberal democrat, and moderator of the third expert panel expressed his concerns thus: "Public anxiety and hostility expressed towards muslim minorities (in particular since the attacks of 9/11/01) and the recrudescence of antisemitism and xenophobia in Europe are both wake-up calls for European politicans to draw up urgently not only an immigration strategy but also an effective integration strategy."

Victoria Mohácsi, a Hungarian Roma member of the European Liberal Democrats also outlined her experience as commissioner responsible for integration in the Hungarian ministry of education where Roma minority were constantly discriminated against, especially in schools.

Read more: "We are all minorities"

Unity Through Diversity Conference speech

Published on Wednesday 5th January 2005

Welcome to the ALDE seminar "Unity through Diversity". We have chosen this subject for today's conference because we believe that Liberalism and multiculturalism can be reconciled, however seemingly great the current difficulties right across the European Union. Immigration and integration have become major issues on the political agenda in all of our member states. Though hitherto integration has been essentially a competence for member states, the new draft Constitution gives EU law a role in promoting integration.

Read more: Unity Through Diversity Conference speech

"We don't sell arms to dictators" says Watson

Published on Tuesday 21st December 2004

Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, won loud applause from parliamentary colleagues for reminding the European Council to live up to commitments to defend Human Rights abroad by not abandoning the EU embargo on sales of arms to China.

Summing up remarks to Prime Minister Balkenende at the end of the Dutch Presidency period in office Watson praised the workmanlike approach of the Dutch over the past 6 months with many substantial achievements, but was very critical of signs of giving in to Chinese pressure over weapons sales.

"We don't sell arms to dictators" declared Watson, recalling the lessons that should have been drawn from experience with Iraq, Iran and others, "There should be no lifting of the embargo until we see significant signs of democratic reform."

Watson also welcomed the historical decisions reached under the Dutch Presidency concerning enlargement - Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey but warned that none should be taken for granted if the reform process is not consolidated and Human Rights fully respected:

"If our ambition is that all of the Western Balkans may one day be full members of the Union, we cannot afford to overlook this very basic criterion", he said, referring to the pre-condition of delivering ICTY indictees to the Hague both with respect to Croatia and the Bosnian Serbs.

Read more: "We don't sell arms to dictators" says Watson

Brussels Summit speech

Published on Wednesday 15th December 2004

Watson (ALDE), on behalf of the Group. - Mr President, the Netherlands presidency is likely to be remembered for the decision on Turkey. A majority of the members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe believe that Turkey fulfils the political criteria and that you should open negotiations. It seems to us important that Europe should not define itself as a Christian club.

Read more: Brussels Summit speech

Turkey: ALDE Group rejects the demands for a secret vote

Published on Wednesday 15th December 2004

"The ALDE group is opposed to holding a secret vote on the Turkey report. Parliamentary responsibility and political accountability require MEPs to take positions openly. We reject the coward's option " said Graham Watson, leader of Parliament's third largest group.

Fellow ALDE members, Emma Bonino and Andrew Duff are appealing to all their colleagues to cast their votes in public as a sign of rejection of the secret ballots requested.

Read more: Turkey: ALDE Group rejects the demands for a secret vote

EU Liberals and Democrats welcome Romania poll outcome

Published on Monday 13th December 2004

Welcoming the result of Romania's presidential election ballot, ALDE Leader Graham Watson

MEP said:

"I congratulate Traian Bazescu and Calin Tariceanu on their victory. The Alliance of Democrats and Liberals in Romania has been a runaway success, with gains in parliamentary and presidential elections. Romania's citizens have taken a stand against the corrupt practices and authoritarian tactics of the Iliescu/Nastase regime. In so doing, they have elected a President and a parliamentary team, which will set Romania firmly on the path to EU membership in 2007.

Read more: EU Liberals and Democrats welcome Romania poll outcome

The EU must represent a Community of values - ALDE group political priorities for next 5 years

Published on Monday 13th December 2004

Outlining his group's political priorities for the next 5 years, Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the EP, called for the EU to "represent a Community of values with which the European citizen can associate; a political Europe combining economic dynamism and social justice."

He announced that the two underlying currents for the Barroso Commission should be:

1. reconnecting the ambitions of the Union with the hopes of citizens

2. placing a far greater emphasis on respect for Human Rights in everything the Union does, both within the territory of the Member States and in its dealings with third countries.

Read more: The EU must represent a Community of values - ALDE group political priorities for next 5 years

10th December - World Human Rights Day European Liberals and Democrats signal top priority for Human Rights

Published on Friday 10th December 2004

Marking what has been dubbed by the UN as World Human Rights Day, Graham Watson, South West Lib Dem MEP and Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, indicated that "improving respect for universal Human Rights - whether from oppression or poverty - is the top priority of our group in the European Parliament and indeed should be for the Parliament as a whole."

"However important the Lisbon Agenda or the ratification of the Constitution to the success of the European project, they cannot compare. José Manuel Barroso should make Human Rights amongst his highest priorities for the coming 5 year term in office. It is simply intolerable that the industrialised world turns a blind eye to the suffering going on around it - whether massacres in Darfur, political prisoners in China or poverty in sub-Saharan Africa," he added.

Read more: 10th December - World Human Rights Day European Liberals and Democrats signal top priority for Human Rights

Graham Watson MEP to visit The Mead Community Primary School, Hilperton, Wiltshire

Published on Thursday 9th December 2004

Tomorrow (Friday 10th December) morning from 1000-1100 Graham Watson, Wiltshire's Liberal Democrat MEP will visit the Mead Community School, Paxcroft Mead, Hilperton, near Trowbridge.

Graham will talk to year 5 and 6 pupils about his work in the European Parliament and the role of an MEP. Graham's visit will follow on from recent work by the pupils on the democratic process at Council level. The pupils are keen to see how Graham's work at a European level affects decisions taken at County and District level.

Read more: Graham Watson MEP to visit The Mead Community Primary School, Hilperton, Wiltshire

An ambitious agenda for Europe for Liberals and Democrats

Published on Thursday 9th December 2004

Addressing the first Congress of the new Party of European Democrats at the Hotel Amigo in Brussels today, Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe faction in the European Parliament made a keynote speech in which he stressed the following points:

• The new political grouping in the Parliament is a vital development to strengthen the hand of pro-Europeans against a rising tide of euroscepticism. The 88 member grouping represents 12% of directly elected MEPs (including 19 from the new Member States), includes 17 different nationalities and 27 political parties speaking 16 different languages.

• The marriage of the Liberals and Democrats is a long term project - a fusion of liberal and democratic philosophy to reinvigorate debate about the benefits of European integration and the need to work together more in response to global economic and security challenges whilst preserving the essence of our open and free society.

• The relationship cements the need for renewed vision of how the Europe of 25 Member States can deepen its commitment in new areas such as justice and home affairs or common external actions whilst at the same time addressing immediate concerns of competitiveness and cohesion.

Read more: An ambitious agenda for Europe for Liberals and Democrats