85 Most Recent Stories From Liberal Democrat MEPs news

Fri 16th May 2008:

MEP Concern at Misleading Flight Websites.

  New research has found “serious and persistent consumer problems” across the board during a survey of 386 airline websites from across 13 of the EU’s 27 Member States. As many as one in three of the all sites surveyed were found to be in serious breach of EU consumer law. And while the Commission has been putting pressure on these companies to change their approach, Elspeth Attwooll MEP wants more to be done to protect the thousands of Scots who buy flights online each year – even naming and shaming the guilty companies. The Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland said: “I’m glad that the Commission is acting upon this, but more has to be done to stop airlines using these unfair practices. The price advertised is rarely, if ever, the final price actually paid. Once extra charges for things like airport tax and extra baggage are applied the total is nowhere near the advertised price. Many sites were also found to be advertising special offers that don’t even exist. The Commission has sent out a warning. If this isn’t heeded then the companies in question should be named and shamed”. ENDS   Notes: The Commission research found that: 1 in 3 websites have required follow up enforcement action for breaches of consumer law. Many sites had multiple problems. The problems exist across the airline industry as a whole – airlines and tour operators The problems persist amongst a wide range of companies. The 137 websites under investigation represent about 80 companies – including large brand names and lesser known companies. Enforcement has now passed 50%. Enforcement levels for national and cross border enforcement differ substantially. The report shows a 55% enforcement/correction rate (50 out of 90), for national sites, where authorities are dealing with companies based in their own country.. Transparency. Legal constraints prevent the majority of Member States from publishing company names at this stage, while administrative or legal proceedings are ongoing. This is a key issue for the future functioning of the network. Norway and Sweden have made public lists of company websites under investigation (see link below).   For more detailed results, see the Commission press release at: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/722&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en   Or for more on the wider campaign, go to the Commission’s ‘Airline Sweep’ homepage at: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/enforcement/sweep/index_en.htm  

Activities of Lobbyists Must Be Open and Transparent.

and face sanctions if they infringed it.  Diana Wallis MEP, who drafted an opinion on the report in the Legal Affairs Committee and is the European Parliament Vice-President responsible for transparency, said:   “Lobbying has an important role in the policy process but there needs to be a more structured and vigorous framework as to disclosure than currently exists. I have my doubts as to the effectiveness of a voluntary registration system but it is a first step and, in any case, there will be a review of the register after a year.   "Lawyers acting as lobbyists should submit to the same level of transparency as any other lobbyist - the institutions must work together to develop a simple test to ensure there are no loopholes in this regard."    

Closing Guantanamo - Congressional Leader Accepts Brussels Invitation.

   In Brussels as part of the European Parliament's annual human rights report voted today, the Civil Liberties committee adopted an amendment on Guantanamo from Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford. This calls for closure but also for the EU to assist by promoting an international initiative to resettle detainees unable to return to their countries of origin for fear of torture or prosecution.    In Washington Sarah Ludford last week met again Congressman Bill Delahunt, Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight. A year ago she presented to his committee the results of the MEP probe on European governments' collusion with CIA kidnap and torture and just this week it has held a hearing on Guantanamo   Sarah Ludford commented:   "I am optimistic on the prospects for ending this scar on our conscience that Guantanamo represents, especially as Congressman Delahunt has accepted in principle an invitation to address the European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. I hope we can arrange that before too long.   "All potential successors to President Bush have declared their intention to restore the US' moral authority by ensuring compliance with the rule of law including the absolute ban on torture. The EU needs to advance that prospect by helping to empty Guantanamo as soon as possible. This would be represent some compensation for complicity in filling it.   "The fact that a released Guantanamo prisoner is alleged to have committed a suicide bombing in Iraq is beside the point. What we are demanding is that anyone suspected of terrorist activities should be tried in accordance with due process, and then locked up if guilty."     ENDS   Notes to Editors:   A web link to the Congressional hearing can be found here

EU Sport Proposals: Bowles Defends Collective Selling of Media Rights.

Speaking in Parliament, Sharon said: "In sport we must not let good intentions bring unintended consequences. Economic competition rules can not always apply - collective selling of television rights is the financial lifeline for many clubs that would otherwise be squeezed by the famous."   She explained further: "I welcome the commitment of both the Commission and Parliament to this principle and in rejecting the situation in Spain where clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid solidify their dominance through vast revenues gained by individual selling of media rights.   "Collective selling ensures that clubs such as Portsmouth or Reading can compete on a more even footing and that the success of the Premier League is enjoyed by all clubs, not just the Manchester Uniteds of this world". ENDS Notes to Editors: Collective selling of media rights is where football clubs negotiate media contracts as a league rather than on an individual club-by-club basis. This prevents a situation such as in Spain where individual clubs have free reign to negotiate deals on their own, often to the disadvantage of smaller and less marketable clubs.   Collective selling of media rights ensures that the income generated by sport competitions is distributed more evenly to smaller clubs.   For further information on the White Paper on Sport please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/041-28228-128-05-19-906-20080430IPR28013-07-05-2008-2008-true/default_en.htm.

MEP launches Euro campaign against mosquito devices.

  emits a very high frequency buzzing sound which supposedly cannot be heard by people over the age of 25. In the UK, 3,500 have been deployed, often by shops. Sarah Ludford has tabled in conjunction with a French and a Dutch MEP a written declaration (similar to a Commons Early Day Motion) which denounces the use of 'Mosquito' devices as a breach of fundamental rights and calls on the European Commission to promote a ban on sale and use of these devices on the grounds that they are designed specifically to distress and annoy young people.  Sarah Ludford said  "It is time to call a halt to the drift into demonisation of young people. I am pleased that the campaign against these discriminatory devices, which treat young people as no more than pests, is being taken onto a European platform. This is justified in the light of the fact that usage which began in Britain is spreading to the Continent, while all EU states are bound by common human rights obligations. "Astonishingly, while these devices are deliberately designed to be unpleasant, no research has been done into possible harm caused by 'Mosquito' devices to the hearing or health of youngsters or adults. “It is a mark of how low we have sunk in attitudes to kids that this is allowed to go on. It would not happen to any other group in society. A loudspeaker which only shouted abuse at men, black people or old people would not be tolerated for a moment. "Mosquito devices are not an effective or long-term solution to anti-social behaviour or crime. The answer is traditional policing, with more police and community support officers on the streets. Young people should not be harassed by electronic buzzing but given firm guidance and supportive discipline as well as opportunities to socialise."   ENDS   Notes to Editors: The written declaration, which specifically asks the European Commission to promote a ban on the sales of mosquito devices, must gather a majority of MEP signatures (393 out of 785) in order for it to be adopted by the European Parliament and sent by its President to the other EU institutions and national parliaments for their consideration. The full text can be read here. Sarah Ludford has actively campaigned on this issue and has tabled a previous parliamentary question, see here.  A Buzz Off campaign against mosquito devices is being run by Liberty (of which Sarah is a Council member), the Children's Commissioner for England and others, see here. The Co-op recently agreed to withdraw 'mosquito' devices from its stores after complaints that the noise severely affected people with autism. More information about this story can be found here.     ENDS   

WEST MIDS SIKH VISIT TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ENDS IN PROTEST.

delegates were not allowed to enter.   This was supposedly because some were wearing the kirpan (a Sikh ceremonial dagger), but delegates not wearing it were also denied entrance to Parliament.   Liz Lynne MEP, Vice-President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and member of the Human Rights Subcommittee, joined the protest with other MEPs and said:    “This decision is outrageous. In the UK the right to wear the kirpan is enshrined in law, as it should be across the EU. Sikhs have made an outstanding contribution to the wealth and diversity of society in the West Midlands and elsewhere across Europe, and to treat EU citizens in this way is totally unjustified.   “I wrote last week to President Pöttering of the European Parliament hoping to ensure entrance for my constituents but to no avail. I now hope to lead a cross party campaign on this issue to ensure this discrimination cannot be allowed to continue here or anywhere else. The Sikh faith should be recognised throughout the EU, kirpans are widely regarded as a religious symbol, not a threat, and to refuse entry to those wearing them is discrimination pure and simple.   On the role of the EU’s anti-discrimination legislation in combating discrimination faced by Sikh's in the workplace, Liz added:   “If we are to remove discrimination from all places of work across the EU, including this Parliament, we need to ensure the 2000 Employment Directive is properly implemented across Europe, something which many Member States have failed to do. I hope anyone who feels they have been discriminated against in the workplace finds the courage and support they need to take further action.”   END Notes to Editors:    Liz Lynne is currently spearheading a campaign urging the EU Commission to propose a new horizontal directive to end all forms of discrimination in access to goods and services. More information at: http://www.signtostopdiscrimination.org/ Liz Lynne was the Liberal Democrat Shadow Rapporteur on the European Employment Directive 2000.  

MEP Welcomes Commission Decision on Broadband for all of Scotland.

  The Liberal Democrat Member for Scotland said:   “This is great news. Many constituents have contacted me in the past concerning the lack of broadband coverage in certain areas of Scotland, and the negative impact upon small and local businesses. I hope this funding will now provide an affordable and comprehensive service, as it is important that all of Scotland is covered”.   ENDS   Notes:   The Commission press release is available at:   http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/668&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en    

Greenpeace report on CCS - "Divisive and Dangerous".

Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat (ALDE Group) MEP who is leading the CCS negotiations, described the comments by Greenpeace as "ill-informed, divisive and dangerous."  He claims that CCS can help to buy the world time to develop zero carbon power technologies not yet available.   He said:   "The Greenpeace report is a mixture of inaccuracies and distortions tied together to fit an agenda that takes no account of reality.  The International Energy Agency predicts that worldwide use of coal will increase by 70% over the next twenty years.  If we are to fight the menace of global warming we have to deal with life as it is not how Greenpeace would like it to be.   "The organisation is divisive in that their efforts turn environmental campaigners against one another. For example, WWF, the world's largest environmental charity, strongly supports CCS development.   "It is dangerous because the UN predicts that up to two billion people on the planet will within 20 years face acute water shortages partly as a result of climate change.  If we do not reduce carbon emissions from coal many, many people will die."   A total of 24% of all Europe's CO2 emissions are derived from coal-fired power stations.  While CCS will be slow to develop but is expected to play a major part in reducing overall emissions by 80% by 2050.   The ZEP low emission technology platform, set up by the European Commission and involving industry, NGOs and scientists, says that CCS will be commercially viable by 2020.  The increased costs of operation, taking into account savings in carbon allowances through the emissions trading scheme, are expected by 2030 to be no more than 10% on present prices in real terms."   Mr Davies added:   "In recent days there have been riots in India because of power shortages.  That country gets 70% of its electricity from coal and people there will now be demanding that politicians turn to greater use of coal to boost supplies.  This is the reality that must be faced by campaigners against global warming, but it is a reality that Greenpeace chooses to ignore."   ENDS

EU can play a vital role in China/Africa relations.

The Parliament examined the relationship between China as a rapidly growing economy and Africa, lacking the capacity to control national resources and often relying on foreign expertise and investment. Fiona Hall (Lib Dem, UK), ALDE shadow rapporteur for the report said: "I applaud the report's appeal for multilateral dialogue between the EU, Africa and China. This is particularly important in relation to climate change. No continent is more vulnerable to global warming than Africa, and the future of millions of Africans may be dependent on the EU bringing China into the post-Kyoto agreement and sharing renewable technology". She points out that China continues to import illegal timber from Africa with terrible environmental impact, nonetheless ALDE believes that engaging with China is vital in order to encourage them to respect human rights and sustainable economic development. "By engaging with China, we will be in a stronger position to promote international standards in areas such as human rights, arms control and illegal logging. The EU, China and Africa need to work together to ensure a stable, secure and sustainable future for Africa." For further information Neil Corlett: +33-3-88 17 41 67 or +32-478-78 22 84 Edel Crosse: +33-3-88 17 35 61 or +32-498-16 17 80

EU Negotiating Mandate for US Visa Waivers Must Not Erode Privacy Rights.

Recently the US has been negotiating bilaterally with a number of the newer Member States who do not benefit from the US visa waiver at present in return for concessions on further security measures, including the transfer of personal data and armed air marshalls. Liberals and Democrats raised the issue last month as undermining EU data privacy law and the common negotiating position of the European Union on matters such as PNR. European Liberal Democrats welcomed the adoption of an EU negotiating mandate but expressed concern over adequacy of the data protection arrangements, demanded MEP involvement and insisted that the EU has more to gain in the long term from a strong, united Europe that negotiates on behalf of all its citizens. In that respect the negotiations should also address the current US travel ban on HIV positive persons. Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, European Parliament rapporteur on the EU Visa Information System, wanted assurances that the US would not acquire access to EU border control databases: "At a time of warnings about the frightening spread of the Mafia as well as terrorist conspiracies, why is the EU going down this blind alley of mass surveillance of the 99.9% of the public which is innocent, when the real need is to target the 0.1% of travellers who might be dangerous or criminal through intelligence-led policing and effective cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies?"

Euro Donor Card Would Help Organ Shortage.

The vote is expected to show a majority of MEPs are in favour of new legislation on organ donation, including an EU-wide donor card system, accompanied by a 24-hour transplant hotline, which it is hoped would alleviate organ shortages.   Liz Lynne MEP (UK, Lib Dem), Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and member of the Human Rights Subcommittee said:   “Across the EU 40,000 people are on waiting lists and some ten people a day die waiting for a transplant; including at least one a day in the UK, because the right organ was not available. The EU-wide donor card and transplant hotline could significantly speed up the process of finding the right donor. It is important to note that the new card would not replace existing national donor card systems.   “If organ donation was expanded and speeded up, the demand for illegally trafficked organs would also decrease. It is known that organs are bought for cash in Eastern Europe and elsewhere and that this trade is increasing. More research and cooperation on organ trafficking and transplant tourism is badly needed. In addition all remaining Member States must sign the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime to help combat this trade.   On the rights of individuals to decide, Liz Lynne added:   “Ultimately however, people’s fundamental rights must be respected. Becoming a potential donor is a personal choice which would need to be enshrined in any future legislation, as would the outlawing of discrimination against potential donors on the basis of disabilities which would have no bearing on a patient’s health.”   END Notes to Editors: The new card system would compliment, not replace existing donor card systems. Rules of implementation, such as whether to have an ‘opt in’ or ‘opt out’ donor system, would be left to Member States.    More information and link to the report

Commission statement on food prices: Lib Dem reaction.

Graham Watson MEP (Leader of the Liberal and Democrat group) highlighted the multiple and complex factors which have led to the current food crisis in many parts of the globe:   "The startling hikes in the cost of basic foods are pushing millions of people into poverty and starvation threatening to cancel out all progress toward the Millennium Development goals of halving world poverty by 2015.   "While it is true that bio-fuels increase demand for crops and displace food production the reasons for the recent food price rises are many and varied and so must be the international community's response.   "World population growth, poor growing conditions linked to climate change; loss of agricultural land for industrial use; commodities speculation; and changing eating habits all contribute to the current crisis.   "We cannot stand by and watch this disaster happen: In the short term that means giving more money to the World Food Programme to feed the poor. In the long term we need to think beyond food aid to prevent a downward spiral of trade restrictions, pressure on agricultural production, and higher prices for staples."   Fiona Hall MEP, Liberal Democrat Development Spokesperson, added:   "Many factors are pushing up food prices globally. Increased wealth in China had led to a doubling of meat consumption which means more demand for grain. Financial speculation on food prices is adding significantly to the problem.   "There are a number of things we can do to tackle the problem of rising food prices. First, we should increase funding for the World Food Programme to ensure that there are adequate supplies of emergency food aid. Second, we need to support production by small holders in developing countries. For years, the EU and UN dumped surplus food on third world markers and undermined local production. Now is the time to reverse that injustice and invest in agricultural development for the benefit of rural communities in Africa and Asia.   "Finally, we must ensure that biofuel production is developed according to strict sustainability criteria, including the constant monitoring of the relationship between biofuels and food production and food prices"  

Lib Dems Welcome Reform of EU Ombudsman.

Andrew Duff MEP, Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party, said:   "People need to know they can trust the European Union. The European Parliamentary Ombudsman is one of the most successful features of EU governance: upholding good practice, helping petitioners get remedies, and penalising maladministration.    "Parliament has decided to lift the qualification that documents can be withheld from the Ombudsman 'on grounds of secrecy'. Such a caveat has no part to play in modern democratic systems. The Ombudsman must be enabled to do his job properly without bureaucratic constraints.   "Good news also is the agreement to deny officials the right to claim they were 'only obeying orders'. The Commission is a political executive, and the Commissioners themselves must take full responsibility for the actions of their officials.   "Now our proposals pass to the governments of the member states, sitting in the Council of Ministers. They should approve the new statute of the Ombudsman in good time for the election campaign next year."

Safeguards Needed On DNA Sharing In Europe.

Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has called for EU exchanges of data between police forces to be limited so that the DNA data of innocent British people is not circulated across Europe.   Speaking ahead of a vote in the European Parliament in a debate about the 'Prum Treaty' which is set to become law, Sarah Ludford said:   "I am all in favour of reducing unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles to exchanges of police data among EU law enforcement agencies. But I am totally against the supply to 26 countries - and potentially across the world - of the DNA of innocent people including children.   "The UK has the most extensive database of fingerprints and DNA data in Europe. Shockingly, it includes details of people acquitted or never even charged.   "The National DNA Database is a bad enough 'Big Brother Britain' disgrace in a domestic context, but to open it up to thousands of international forces without any safeguards is a gross betrayal of the human rights of UK citizens."     ENDS     Notes to Editors:   Sarah is asking the EU Council in an oral question on Wednesday about this matter. A copy of the question is here        

Turkey report firm but fair.

Andrew Duff MEP welcomed the outcome of Parliament's resolution which incorporated many Liberal Democrat amendments:   "Parliament has been fair with Turkey but also firm. There has been some good progress towards meeting EU criteria for membership, but the more radical reform of the Turkish constitution to rid the statute book of outmoded and in some cases authoritarian features is still awaited.   "The AKP government has a good opportunity to engage Turkish civil society, including minorities, in a real debate about the country's modernisation programme. Prime Minister Erdogan would be wise to press forward on the main points of his reform agenda and ignore relative distractions, like the headscarf in universities.   "And now that the Cyprus situation looks more hopeful, Turkey should prepare to recognise the Republic of Cyprus as a full trading partner to be consistent with EU law."

Liberal Democrat MEP launches EU anti-discrimination petition.

Current EU anti-discrimination laws outlaw discrimination in the workplace on all grounds but only provide protection against discrimination in access to goods and services on the basis of gender and race while disability, age, sexual orientation and religion are excluded. The MEP is seeking support from people and organisations across Europe to put pressure on the EU Commission and Member States to bring forward a horizontal directive, after it emerged that some Member States have expressed strong objections to the proposal. Liz Lynne MEP, Vice-President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, is rapporteur for a European Parliament own initiative report calling for a horizontal directive, adopted by committee last week. Speaking in Brussels, Liz Lynne said: "Anti-discrimination and the protection of human rights are the fundamental principles of the European Union and it is vital that the millions of people currently excluded from anti-discrimination legislation in access to goods and services are given the equal rights they are entitled to as European citizens. "Millions of individuals encounter discrimination everyday. A comprehensive horizontal directive covering access to goods and services would tackle this discrimination and break down the barriers currently faced by so many. "My hope is that this petition will contribute to the groundswell of organisations and individuals calling for this legislation and convince President Barroso, Member States and MEPs of their obligation to put in place tangible rights for all people, not just a few." END Notes to Editors: The new petition can be found here: www.signtostopdiscrimination.org Liz Lynne’s report adopted last week by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee . The report was adopted by a majority with 29 MEPs in favour and 19 against, with 2 abstentions. EPP-ED MEPs voted against. The report now proceeds to a plenary session in Strasbourg where it will be voted on by the whole European Parliament in May. Current anti-discrimination legislation is enshrined in the Employment Directive 2000, Equal Treatment Directive and the Race Directive. The European Commission made a commitment in its 2008 legislative work programme to complete the anti-discrimination package and bring forward a horizontal directive outlawing discrimination in access to goods and services on all remaining grounds under Article 13 of the EC Treaty. These areas include discrimination on the basis of disability, age, sexual orientation and religion amongst others.  

Iraq and EU must continue cooperation.

The Prime Minister spoke on a wide range of topics and answered many questions from the MEPs present. During the discussion he reaffirmed his commitment to building an Iraq where human rights are universally respected for all Iraqis, no matter their faith or ethnicity. He assured the meeting that the Iraqis were well prepared for elections on 1st October, and said that foreign neighbours such as Iran, although they had a role to play in fighting terrorism, should not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs. Baroness Nicholson, who co-chaired the meeting as President of the European Parliament's Iraq delegation, commented: "We were delighted to welcome the Prime Minister today at an extremely well attended meeting. Both he and the MEPs present tackled serious and challenging issues, but the overriding sentiment of the meeting was that Iraq and the EU should continue to build on their already very close relationship. "The Prime Minister tackled a number of difficult questions, not least regarding his country's relationship with Iran. He emphasised that the EU, rather than providing direct aid, could help Iraq by providing technical assistance and expertise to increase its ability to use existing natural resources."   

Petition launched against U.S. discrimination of travellers with HIV.

The US maintains that they are a threat to public health but the European Commission has affirmed that there is no objective reason for this stance.   Commenting, Sarah Ludford said:  "The greater the number of people who support the call to end this unfair discrimination, the less the problem can be ignored by European policy-makers. The persistence of the travel ban just feeds prejudice and ignorance.   "EU equalities laws will be meaningless if the Commission and Council fail to insist that the US treat all EU citizens fairly. They can only redeem their 15-year tolerance of this gross discrimination by taking a firm line in the new negotiations."   Sophie In't Veld added:  "The European Commission has stated that there are no objective grounds for this ban. As the custodian of the Treaties, the Commission should protect the rights of all European citizens alike. It cannot pick and chose the grounds for discrimination that are more "comfortable". The Barroso Commission can show it stands by its solemn pledge to the European Parliament in 2004 to be the champion of Fundamental Rights.   "In response to queries of the Dutch liberal party D66 the government has stated it will push the issue in the Council, in the context of the ongoing negotiations on visa waiver with the US."     ENDS   Notes to Editors:   The petition can be found at:   http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/pages/endHIVdiscrimination.html      

European Parliament Backs Attwooll Fisheries Report.

  "I am delighted that the Parliament has given its backing. It's really important that we understand the various fisheries management systems in operation and the particular effects that they have.   The present discussion centres on whether there is any one system of management that best fulfils the objectives of the CFP. But I am very cautious about the idea of moving to a single system given the complexity of all the issues and the many different types of fishery involved.   The Report strongly recommends that the Commission conduct a comprehensive study into the merits of rights-based management approaches and, in turn, allow for a longer period of debate".   In the course of her speech to Parliament last night, the MEP also warned against placing too great a reliance on the potential of increased economic efficiency alone to achieve the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy.   Note:   Rights-based management is concerned with setting the conditions under which fish may be harvested and determining by whom the harvesting may be done. There are various different ways of doing this. For example, restrictions may be placed on the area to be fished, the amount of fish that can be caught or the amount of effort that may be used to make the catch. In some situations the right to harvest may be passed from one person or group to another and this may be for economic value.   The Report identifies the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy as: improving the livelihood of those engaged in fisheries; having a sustainable marine ecology in which fish stocks are conserved; and maintaining the viability of fisheries dependent communities.  

BAE judgement: Wake-up calls to EU on crime and corruption.

It comes as the European Parliament voted a report noting the 'in some cases unacceptably high level of corruption' in candidate country Croatia and just after the EU Council warned Bulgaria under threat of sanctions to act against organised crime and gangland killings.   Commenting, Sarah Ludford said:   "The EU needs these wake-up calls to get a sense of urgency about acting to eliminate alarming levels of corruption and crime. Although the spotlight is particularly on new and aspiring member states, the example set by the UK government in killing a vital corruption investigation set an appalling precedent. If Italy elects Berlusconi this weekend, Italian justice  will also again be threatened."   "Although Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is taking a much more vigorous line nowadays to try and make the rule of law a non-negotiable condition for EU accession, standards for both entry and continued membership have up to now been too lax. Only by taking a tough stance before entry and sanctions against states - new or old - which continue to breach legal norms after accession, can the EU live up to its rhetoric and commitments on law enforcement and fundamental rights."       ENDS    

Behold a European foreign policy!

  Earlier in the year, the EU decided to supervise Kosovan independence - again, against Russia’s wishes. Although the decision on Kosovo was not unanimous, the dissenting minority chose to abstain constructively rather than to block the effort. Now, surprising (perhaps) even itself, the EU has confounded hard-liners in Washington and Moscow by deciding to revitalise Nato. Here, the big swing has been made by France. President Nicolas Sarkozy is reversing General de Gaulle’s 1966 decision to leave the military side of Nato. Next year French forces will re-integrate with their allies. “The more France takes its place in Nato,” Mr Sarkozy explained, “the more European Nato becomes”.  By way of an entrée, France is sending more combat troops to Afghanistan, relieving pressure on the Canadians in time for this year’s fighting season. Read the article  

Statute of the Ombudsman: EPP and PSE shy away from transparency.

  The ALDE Group denounces the attitude the two main groups, EPP and PSE who have shown their reluctance to greater transparency. The report is set to review the provisions by which the Ombudsman exercises his duties, in particular those allowing him access to classified documents if need be.   "The Constitutional Affairs Committee had reached a unanimous compromise according to which the Ombudsman would have been authorised to consult classified documents following the same rules of confidentiality as those set up for MEPs", Ms Jäätteenmäki recalled. Her report has been postponed until the next plenary session.   "It is very regrettable, and quite extraordinary, that EPP and PSE show so little enthusiasm on matters of transparency. They are dragging their feet while the Treaty leaves the initiative to us to modify the statute of the Ombudsman. This delay is irresponsible since the Slovenian Presidency has explicitly asked us to deal with this matter rapidly", Andrew Duff (LibDem, UK), ALDE Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Committee, stated.   Link to the report of Anneli Jäätteenmäki

EU to investigate Northern Rock rescue plan.

Sharon Bowles MEP, Liberal Democrat Economic Affairs Spokesperson said, "It is right that the Competition Commissioner scrutinises the rescue plan in detail so as to ensure it does not run counter to state aid rules and the fair competition principles of the single market. By opening this up for external comment, concerned parties have an opportunity to air their views. It does need to be clarified whether there are unintended, but nevertheless unfair consequences." Only a month ago the Commission launched a similar investigation into the German government's bail out of German banks IKB and Sachsen LB. "There may be concerns that Commission approval will set a precedent that will allow national governments to shelter or protect national champions, particularly in the current financial climate. Of course we must not give a green light for protectionist reactions across the EU, which is why a thorough and proper investigation is essential. There is a mechanism to allow rescue aid under EC law that we must ensure it is used correctly not as an excuse for unfair government intervention. It may be that some restrictions to prevent aggressive seeking of market share have to go hand in hand with intervention. "I am sure there will be a lot of "interested parties" wishing to comment. The lodging of a complaint by the Danish Banking Association two weeks ago has already been well documented in the press. I doubt it will be the last."   ENDS    Notes to Editors: The European Commission's announcement can be found here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/489&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Lobbying of the EU institutions should be subject to full transparency.

It will be Parliament's formal response to the Commission's Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative.   Liberals and Democrats advocate maximum disclosure of lobbying activity as an essential element in regaining the trust and legitimacy amongst the public. There is widespread consensus on the merits of a common register with the other institutions - a one-stop-shop.   Liberals and Democrat MEPs on the committee have defended the idea that Parliamentary rapporteurs should compile a 'legislative footprint' of those who have lobbied them in the course of preparing their reports. Such a list could be introduced in the first place as an experiment prior to an evaluation of any principled or practical issues in implementation.   The ALDE Group also wants to work towards making the register of lobbyists mandatory. "The Treaty of Lisbon, once ratified, provides the legal base for a mandatory register of all lobbyists present and active in Brussels and Strasbourg," said Andrew Duff (UK, Lib Dem). "In the meantime we should proceed on the basis of the voluntary system and provide incentives for participation as well as sanctions for breach of codes of conduct."   Anneli Jäätteenmaki (Finnish Centre Party and ALDE shadow rapporteur on the subject) said: "No-one has an interest in making it more difficult for interest groups to make legitimate representation to Members of the European Parliament. They are a vital and necessary part of the democratic process.  The fundamental issue is rather how to make the EU legislative procedure more open and transparent."   Diana Wallis MEP (UK, Lib Dem) who drafted the opinion from the Legal Affairs committee commented: “Lobbying has an important role in the policy process but there needs to be a more structured and vigorous framework as to disclosure than currently exists. I have my doubts as to the effectiveness of a voluntary registration system but it is a first step and, in any case, there will be a review of the register after a year. Financial disclosure is important but it is only part of the overall picture. As important are identifying who the lobbyists are and their roles in any given policy process.”      

Liberals and Democrats welcome Polish ratification of Lisbon Treaty.

  This is a turning point in Poland's relations with the European Union. Logic and common sense have prevailed over prejudice and distortions. The Polish parliament has decided to reflect the pro-European majority of public opinion, and to put its weight behind the common effort to build a strong Europe. Other countries should now follow the Polish example."   Bronislaw GEREMEK (Partia Demokratyczna, Poland) added:   "Fears concerning the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty have been dispelled by Poland today. We should rejoice that Poland, which unequivocally connects its future expectations with the European Union, has taken such a decision."     

Kosovo on the right path to stability.

The delegation has expressed its continuing support for full Kosovan independence and a roadmap for future membership of international organisations such as the EU. Commenting, ADLE Group Leader Graham Watson MEP (UK, Lib Dem), who is leading the delegation, said: "Kosovo is takings its first steps on its path towards greater European integration. It is of crucial importance that the authorities of Kosovo are determined and dedicated to maintain its commitment to the Ahtissari proposals, especially human rights, rights of minorities in particular and the rule of law. The signs so far have been good and the EU can help Kosovo's economic development and the integration of Kosovo into the European union of nations by liberalising its visa regime, particularly for Kosovan students."   Jelko Kacin (LDS, Slovenia), ALDE shadow rapporteur for Kosovo, added: "It is mutually beneficial and necessary that Kosovo engages in a pragmatic dialogue with all of their neighbours in order to avoid two continuous monologues. Engagement and co-operation are the keywords for greater stability in the region.   "The ALDE group congratulates and welcomes the pro-active involvement of liberal parties of Kosovo in participating and taking responsibility for the future of the country. We greatly admire the courage shown by the Serbian Independent Liberal party and its leader Slobodan Petrovic and by this visit we extended our support to their work today and in the future."  

European Parliament explores link between citizenship and electoral procedures.

  In a workshop, organised by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, experts were invited to give their views on questions concerning the relationship between EU citizenship and nationality, the possibility of creating a trans-national constituency, and other matters aimed at boosting the popular legitimacy of the European Parliament after successive falls in voter turn-out. The European Parliament is required by the Treaty of Rome to draw up proposals for a uniform electoral procedure. Attempts have been made in the past and progress has been made in so far as all countries now use one form or another of proportional representation. However the 27 national systems still vary considerably in the criteria, eligibility and age of candidates and voters, nomination procedures, thresholds for election, cost for nomination and scope for the electorate to choose from party or candidate lists.   The matter is due to be taken up in a report by Andrew Duff MEP (UK, Lib Dem) who said: "Parliament has not looked at its electoral procedure for over ten years. With our many new powers under the Treaty of Lisbon, it is vital that Parliament looks again at the basis of our democratic legitimacy and prepares to take new initiatives on reforms to boost turnout and to raise the level of party political debate."   "The process of reform promises to be both fairly lengthy and controversial."  

The use of the European Arrest Warrant.

about a police bid to use the European Arrest Warrant not only to return people for prosecution but also for questioning. She believes that in the absence of much more work in Europe on raising the quality of criminal justice and making safeguards like access to legal aid and the recording of interviews universal this could be abused and lead to serious prejudice to individuals disproportionate to the interest of law enforcement.   Listen to the interview:         

EU needs to play hardball with US on privacy guarantees before data exchange.

Following the fiasco of the Czech government agreeing bilaterally to supply more data on travellers - even possibly from EU databases - to secure US 'visa waiver' for its nationals, the Commission is hastily requesting the Council to give it a mandate for an overall EU-US deal involving visa waiver for citizens of all 27 states. This is bound to involve more demands for personal information.   Commenting, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, UK Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman, said:   "The Commission and Member states have had a nasty shock. For years they have been happy to bow to every new American demand for data. Now they find there was no gratitude and no reciprocity on extending visa-free travel, only divide-and-rule.   "They have only themselves to blame as they did not listen to the European Parliament or the European Data Protection Supervisor. Instead of EU solidarity they sought US sweetheart deals. Now chickens have come home to roost it is time for a change of approach, to one which stands up for hard-won EU privacy standards.   "The EU should first put its own house in order by extending normal EU privacy rules to security data, and then export those rules with the data. I see not reason why the EU cannot achieve US compliance with EU standards as in the 'safe harbour' arrangements for commercial data. After all, we are talking about the personal data of EU citizens. They are being let down through the current willingness to water down our rules."     ENDS      Notes to Editors:   The Commission and Council have come under intense European Parliament criticism for negotiating secretly with the US in the so-called 'High-Level Contact group' to come up with a proposal covering data protection in all future exchanges of personal data to the US. The 10 common data protection principles on which agreement has been reached are weak and full of holes, far below standards in EU data protection directive 95/46 .    The US attitude can be discerned in the recent dismissive remarks of Paul Rosenzweig, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security of the EU seeking to apply to exchange of data for law enforcement purposes "the same tired, failed standards of adequacy that it has applied in its commercial laws."  

Increased EU investment in Iraq must be priority for stability of region.

The suggestions made in the report are part of a recommendation to the European Council on the EU's role in Iraq.   ALDE Shadow Rapporteur on the report, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (UK, Lib Dem), who is also chair of the European Parliament's delegation to Iraq and was the first non-Iraqi parliamentarian to address the Iraqi Parliament, said:   "We all have an interest in consolidating democracy in Iraq and its border regions. This is as important for the future political and economic development of Iraq itself as for stable neighbourhood relations with the European Union."   "We have to empower Iraqis. We need to help strengthen the administration, health and public services. We should focus EU aid on improving the rule of law and justice, human rights, good governance, and gender equality. Furthermore, we must do more to improve government institutions at local, regional and federal level."      ENDS    

Call to end 'pass-the parcel' on asylum seekers like Mehdi Kazemi.

Liberal Democrat European Justice and Human Rights Spokeswoman and member of the European Parliament's Gay and Lesbian Intergroup, has called for an end to the shameful shuffling of gay and other asylum-seekers between EU countries: "Almost a decade ago, EU leaders gave a pledge that they would have a common asylum system which fully respected the UN Refugee Convention 'thus ensuring that nobody is sent back to persecution'. They have broken every one of those promises.   "The only thing common about the EU asylum scene is 'lowest common denominator' as governments have stubbornly refused to agree on truly harmonised rules which would stop vulnerable people being shuffled around in a macabre game of pass-the-parcel."   Mehdi Kazemi fled to the Netherlands after his request for asylum in the UK was turned down, despite his boyfriend already having been executed. Under the EU's so-called "Dublin system" the Dutch government has returned him such that the UK government is now left with the final decision on his possible deportation to Iran.   Sarah Ludford added:   "Rigorous but fair asylum procedures should mean the EU harmonising on best practice, not worst. It cannot be fair for the Home Office to demand that Mr Kazemi demonstrates that he risks persecution without looking at the whole record of Iran's repression of gay people by detention, torture and execution.   "It is absurd that EU governments can have a common view on the risks Iran's nuclear development poses to Europeans but no common assessment of the threats Iran's political system poses to its own citizens. As long as the UK and other governments misunderstand the facts, there must be an EU-wide moratorium on sending gay people to Iran."    ENDS     Notes to Editors:   At the first ever summit devoted to justice & home affairs at Tampere in Finland in 1999, EU prime ministers said in their conclusions that "The European Council reaffirms the importance the Union and Member States attach to absolute respect of the right to seek asylum. It has agreed to work towards establishing a Common European Asylum System, based on the full and inclusive application of the Geneva Convention, thus ensuring that nobody is sent back to persecution, i.e. maintaining the principle of non-refoulement."  

EU should challenge US on visa rights for travellers with HIV.

dating from 1993, to extend its Visa Waiver programme to people with HIV. The US maintains that they are a threat to public health but the European Commission has affirmed that there is no objective reason for this stance.   Simultaneously, EU prime minsters will be meeting for their spring summit. Although this is mainly about economic matters, they are expected to have a huge internal row about the success of US divide-and-rule tactics over visa-free travel for the new EU states who are keen to do bilateral deals.   Sarah Ludford said:   "The EU should fight, in unison, not only for citizens from all 27 EU countries to get visa-free travel for US trips, but for that to happen on a non-discriminatory basis. Our leaders should not tolerate that their HIV-positive citizens are bracketed with criminals or treated like modern day lepers. To put HIV on a par with infectious diseases like tuberculosis in any case betrays medical ignorance.   "We have wonderful human rights clauses in the EU treaties which commit EU institutions and governments to strive for the respect of equality and fairness. But while they will attempt to ensure that no-one suffers discrimination on grounds of nationality, they have proved so far reluctant to do the same for people with HIV.   "I am launching with MEP colleagues a petition to the European Parliament to press for inclusion in the European Commission negotiating mandate with the US of the objective of full Visa Waiver for people with HIV."      ENDS    

Terror victims' best protection is the rule of law.

Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP commented:   "The victims of the despicable crime of terrorism deserve every support, and it is a shame on our society that they do not always get it promptly, whether in rehabilitation or compensation. As MEP for London, the July 5th 2005 tube and bus bomb victims are rarely far from my thoughts as I travel round my city.   "The firm upholding of the rule of law is not only the best riposte to terrorists who would destroy it, it is also the best practical protection against creating new waves of terrorism. The US-led but Europe-facilitated 'war on terror' which has sanctioned illegal torture and disappearances can only prolong the likelihood of new terrorists and new victims."      ENDS   

Guantanamo prisoners must not be trapped by inaction.

This hearing will discuss the current legal state of play in American courts as well as finding safe havens for about 50 detainees who cannot be returned to their countries of origin for fear of persecution or torture or found a home because they are stateless.   Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman, who is a vice-chair of the Human Rights subcommittee and originally proposed the hearing, commented:   "Today's hearing will highlight the shocking 6-year failure by the United States to respect the rule of law by continuing the use of kangaroo courts and holding hundreds of detainees in a legal blackhole. While the Supreme Court may again uphold the right to habeas corpus and the illegality of arbitrary detention, for the prisoners 'justice delayed is justice denied'. In the meantime, many are suffering cruel ill-treatment and even torture."   "But the European Union cannot turn its back on an opportunity to live up to its human rights principles. Galling as it is to have to pick up the pieces from a US disaster, EU member states must carry through the logic of their call for the closure of Guantanamo and offer refugee or humanitarian resettlement of detainees who languish in Guantanamo because they have no safe country to return to. It is time for Europe to muster the political will and help America finally close this shameful chapter of history."    

Strasbourg court rejects UK claims on deportation to torture risk.

that persons can be deported to countries which have a record of torture on the basis of 'diplomatic assurances' that they will not be harmed. The court described as 'misconceived' the UK government's argument that the risk to the individual could be balanced against the risk he posed and instead upheld the absolute nature of the prohibition against sending persons suspected of involvement in terrorism to countries where they face a real risk of torture. Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, the vice-chair of the European Parliament enquiry into kidnap, torture flights and secret prisons (extraordinary rendition) that concluded many EU governments had been complicit in such illegality, commented: "I hope this will finally put an end to a shameful campaign by the British government to subvert the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Convention against Torture and other international human rights instruments, and to try and lead EU governments down the same path. The idea that countries that routinely torture people can be trusted not to, on the basis of a promise to David Miliband, is absurd. "As with the House of Lords 2 years ago which blocked their attempt to use evidence obtained through torture in trials, the Strasbourg court has thankfully thwarted this slide away from the post-war human rights settlement born of painful experience of fascism. "The tide across the Atlantic is turning as the Bush era comes to an end and, as we saw last week with the admission of rendition flights through Diego Garcia, Washington is cleaning house. Brown, Straw and Miliband risk being stranded on the wrong side of the divide between law and lawlessness unless they clean up their own act."

Andrew Duff latest article on FT.com : Mr. Brown goes to Brussels.

  ever since King Edward VII enjoyed the entente cordiale with France in 1904. Unlike Queen Victoria’s progeny, who were sent abroad to marry for Britain, Queen Elizabeth’s children have taken steadfastly English spouses. So the Prince of Wales’s recent official visit to Brussels - his first for sixteen years - is notable. The prince made a rather interesting speech to MEPs mostly about forestry. In a departure from the royal norm, he spoke warmly about the European Union having become “a leading player on the world stage”. “Surely,” he asked, à propos of climate change, “this is just the moment in history for which the European Union was created?” In the context of the current ill-tempered debate at Westminster over the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, this was bold. Read the article  

European Parliament Fisheries Committee Approves Elspeth Attwooll's Report.

  Elspeth, who is Vice-Chair of the Committee, said: "I am delighted that the Report has been so overwhelmingly approved. It shows that the Committee recognises the need for reform of current management policy and considers debate on rights-based management tools as an important contribution in this regard. The Report details the concerns of the many different stakeholders about the possible effects of engaging in some forms of rights-based management. It questions whether the same form would be appropriate for all types of fishery, drawing particular attention to the situation of small-scale coastal fleets. At the same time it acknowledges the role that certain types of rights-based management can play in improving economic efficiency, whilst adding a note of caution about too great a concentration of ownership of these rights. It asks the Commission to conduct a full and thorough study before making any recommendations. Rights-based management tools have their merits, but we need to research the different kinds of systems, some of which are already in use in the UK, and to take up the debate again once their advantages and disadvantages are better understood". ENDS Background: In February 2007, the European Commission published a Communication on rights- based management tools in fisheries. The Communication seeks to bring together the different questions on allocation of fishing rights across the EU. Traditionally, each Member States' share of fishing possibilities has been historically guaranteed by the principle of "relative stability" a core principle of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), set down in Regulation. Through the CFP, fisheries resources are currently allocated by the disbursement of national licences and quotas, limiting "days at sea" for specific species, and tools to limit the capacity of the fishing fleet, such as limiting the engine power. Forms of trading in fishing rights already take place within some Member States. The Commission wishes to discuss whether and to what extent any EU wide system for this would and could be established. The Report is scheduled to be debated and voted on in Brussels on the 9th and 10th of April. For more, including a full draft, go to: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pr/691/691927/691927en.pdf  

Criminalising 'thought crimes' obstructs fight against terrorism.

"We have been round this circuit before in UK legislation and it does not work. There is firstly a chilling effect on free speech in discussing conflict situations or 'liberation struggles' like Nelson Mandela and the ANC. But also the law may prove ineffective and subject to mockery if convictions for 'thought crimes' are unsustainable.   "British law is now in a state of confusion and disarray after the Court of Appeal, the second-highest British court, struck down convictions for terrorism of five men because there was no evidence in their possession of extremist literature of an intention to incite a terrorist act.   "If they are terrorists, they have walked free because legislators in the search for gestures created bad and unsound law. The same will happen elsewhere if the need to show terrorist purpose or incitement is removed. Laws must be both just and effective, and sloppy thinking undermines the real fight against terrorism. "   Sarah Ludford, who was vice-chair of the European Parliament committee on 'extraordinary rendition'  also commented  on the presentation from Dick Marty of the Council of Europe (CoE), who wrote the CoE's report on torture flights and secret jails, that EU procedures for terrorist blacklisting do not comply with European human rights law. This is resulting in cases in the Luxembourg EU courts.   She said:   "This is also an example where the lack of careful law and proper safeguards torpedoes the anti-terrorist effort. When people are blacklisted with no right of appeal or independent scrutiny, the risk is that martyrs are created and public confidence in the law is eroded."     ENDS  

MRI scanners saved by EU u-turn.

This directive would have restricted the use of Europe's high-tech MRI scanners, used to detect early signs of cancer amongst other things.   Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, had campaigned hard for a postponement of the directive after outcries from leading scientists and experts across the European Union.   Liz today expressed relief after the Parliament's vote:   "The decision to postpone the implementation of this directive is a victory for common sense. Health and safety legislation must be based on the latest medical and scientific advice. The medical profession's evidence has always been against restricting MRI scanner use, which is why I campaigned to have them left out of the directive in the first place.   "These machines are vital life-savers and have been used safely for 25 years. Limiting their use would have been a backward step in patient car and may lead to an over reliance on the use of technologies with proven health risks, such as X-Rays.   "The guidelines imposed by the directive are unnecessary and overcautious. MRI scanners pose no known health risks, and medical staffs are already protected under the Medical Devices Directive. I hope a four-year delay will give experts the time to prove this.   "It is vital that the Commission now urges countries that have already transposed the legislation to repeal it at once to ensure that MRI use is not restricted in any EU Member State as a result of this badly drafted directive.”  END Notes to Editors: Liz Lynne was shadow for the Physical Agents Directive for the wider Liberal and Democrat Group in the European Parliament and worked hard at the time this directive went through the Parliament to exclude medical devices and static magnetic fields from its scope but without the political support of Socialist or Conservative MEPs.   Liz Lynne subsequently tabled a number of parliamentary questions to the European Commission asking them to consider an amendment to the 2004 Electro Magnetic Fields Directive as well as holding meetings with Commissioner Spidla to discuss the issue and speaking on the issue in debates in the European Parliament since 2005.   Last year Liz Lynne gave evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on the use of scientific evidence in their review of the Electromagnetic Fields Directive. The House of Commons report criticised the European Commission's use of scientific evidence.   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmsctech/1654/1654.pdf   Liz Lynne is also a leading campaigner in the Alliance for MRI, a group comprising patients' groups, medical experts and politicians who together are seeking to avert the serious threat posed by EU health and safety legislation to the clinical and research use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).  

Commission Copyright Announcements: Make It a Package Says Bowles.

"I raised the matter of levies with the Commissioner again in December so I am delighted he is launching a new consultation. It is interesting that at the same time he announced extending the copyright term. This makes a much more attractive package if the two are eventually put together.   "Copyright levies are tantamount to a hidden tax because in many countries it is added to the price of electronic goods, such as computers, iPods and mobile phones on the presumption that they will be used to create multiple personal copies of copyright works. Nowadays there is technology that can ensure copyright owners can get fair royalties, so levies are outdated."   The money raised does not all go to copyright holders it is also used by collection societies for supporting cultural works and for this reason many resist it being removed.    Mrs Bowles added:   "However the extension of copyright provides more income, including a significant percentage for collection societies, so with that there is less need for a levy" said Sharon Bowles.   "If levies are to stay it is quite clear that consumers have the right to know what the levy is and how it is spent. What percentage goes towards the copyright holders and how much goes to cultural works? I have no objections to support of cultural works but it should not be done as a hidden tax. That is a simple matter of transparency. The public may also want to question whether it should be a matter of general taxation and not a goods levy.  For the producers of goods it is also costly dealing with many different rates and regimes, removing the benefits of a single market. Let us hope that the Commissioner has maybe found a key to unlock the problem"   ENDS  Notes to Editors:   The UK does not impose copyright levies, but it still affects UK businesses selling across the EU.

EU Commission De-Regulates British Broadband.

The move follows the request by British regulator, Ofcom, to divide the UK broadband network into three separate zones to reflect varying degrees of competition. The decision will remove regulation from 65% of homes and businesses where consumers already benefit from competition between four or more providers. In the remaining areas where service is dominated by only one, two or three providers, regulation to break up monopolies and encourage competition will remain. Key to the decision is the policy of Functional Separation introduced by Ofcom in 2001. This forced BT to separate its telecoms infrastructure from its customer service units. This has allowed new broadband service providers into the market and has facilitated equal competition with BT. The result has been increased competition and the Commission's landmark decision. Commenting, Sharon said: "The strength of the British regulatory system has been reflected in the Commission's ruling. The United Kingdom is the first country in Europe where regional regulation has been applied and it reflects the progress made by Ofcom and the Broadband industry. "I believe this has illustrated regulation at its best. Where necessary it can be used to stimulate competition, investment and provide a fairer deal for consumers. Once regulation has achieved its goals, as it has in this instance, it can and should be removed. "This is a very timely lesson now that work is just commencing on the EU telecoms package. One of my roles in that will be to press for the rest of the EU to be equally open and competitive, giving the UK access to their markets. Without the EU pressing for such reform, many countries simply would not consider introducing Functional Separation". ENDS Notes to Editors: Further information on the Broadband decision can be found on the Commission's website at: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/232&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Time to Raise Awareness of Europe-Wide Emergency Number.

The Commission has understood this and has included 112 in several recent initiatives, but Member States are still not showing the necessary enthusiasm to take this issue forward.   "The European emergency number was introduced across the EU over 15 years ago, so it is about time national authorities and European institutions start raising awareness of it, and evaluating how appropriately 112 calls are handled in the Member States.   "With people becoming increasingly mobile throughout the EU, this is clearly an issue which affects us all." ENDS Notes to Editors:   In September 2007 the European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration  calling for improved implementation of the European Emergency Number, 112. The Written Declaration (number 44 of 2007) achieved the highest ever number of signatures in the history of the Parliament, gathering cross-party support from over 500 MEPs.   http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/065-10135-246-09-36-911-20070906IPR10134-03-09-2007-2007-true/default_en.htm 112, the single European emergency call number, appeared in 1991 in the context of the single market and free movement of persons, with the aim of providing an additional, common means for accessing emergency services all over the Union. However, despite having been introduced in all Member States except for Bulgaria (for which an infringement procedure is pending), differences still persist in the implementation of 112. Whereas in some countries the emergency services are able to locate 112 callers and provide support in several languages, these facilities are not always certain.   It is estimated that only 20% of British citizens know about the European emergency number, far below the European average (only 40% of Europeans know the number). This is particularly critical due to the high number of outbound tourists from the United Kingdom, which reached 16.2 million in 2003. 13 million of these tourists are facing serious danger when travelling abroad as they are not aware that the number 112 could save their lives in case of an emergency.   Council Decision from 1991 establishing 112: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991D0396:EN:HTML   Commission page on 112 (Civil Protection Unit):  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil/prote/112/112_en.htm   Diana Wallis is a Vice President of the European Parliament, and a member of the advisory board of the European Emergency Number Association.   The current review of the Article 26 of the Universal Service Directive features 112 quite prominently, although the legislative process has only just started.    

Eurosceptics show their true colours.

The incident arose as Parliament was approving a procedural measure to prevent abuse of its rules on roll call votes and points of order intended to obstruct the functioning of Parliament. The analogy was enough for the chairman of the EPP-ED group to declare that he would recommend to his group that the British eurosceptic be thrown out. Graham Watson, Liberal and Democrat group leader in the Parliament condemned the comments by Mr. Hannan: "By comparing a vote today in the European Parliament with a vote in the Reichstag in 1933, UK Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan is plumbing new depths in UK-EU relations and in the Tories' approach to democracy in the EU." "I trust that David Cameron will waste no time in dissociating himself from such an offensive remark." The proposals for action, following eurosceptics' attempts at disruption, have been examined in Parliament's committee responsible for the rules of the House: Andrew Duff, leader of the UK Liberal Democrat delegation in the European Parliament and coordinator on the committee responsible, said: "The Tory-UKIP accusation that the Parliament is acting unconstitutionally is a lie. The rules of procedure are perfectly clear and are being applied fairly with the overhelming support of the House. It is shameful that the British far right should seek to obstruct the operation of the European Parliament. Britain's reputation as a model parliamentary democracy is at risk of being shattered by the hooligan behaviour of British europhobes."  ENDS  Editor's note: Requests from the UKIP parliamentary group for a roll call vote on every vote in plenary is now costing Parliament hundreds of thousands of euros every month in translation, production and distribution. Each roll call vote costs € 528 (£400). At Parliament's January session in Strasbourg there were 185 RCVs bringing the total cost to almost €100,000 (£75,000). If this were to continue, the total bill for the year would be approaching €1m (£750,000).

Parliament calls for incentives to end wasteful discard of fish by-catches.

  although some fishing communities have begun to lead by example. The report calls for adopting measures to reduce discards on a fishery-by-fishery basis, which would lead ultimately to a discards ban where necessary. It recommends positive incentives for fishermen to take only from the sea what can be marketed by allowing more days at sea or preferential access to restricted areas for vessels with selective fishing gear.   Both General Philippe Morillon (Modem, France), Chairman of the Fisheries committee and Elspeth Attwooll Vice-Chair of the committee welcomed the proposed course of action. “I welcome the Report for its sensitive yet practical approach to tackling discards. The measures suggested, however, must be undertaken with the full engagement of stakeholders if we are to be successful", said Mrs Attwooll. "We need proper incentives of the kind the industry is already beginning to take, though a great deal still remains to be done. I trust that the Commission and the Council will take matters forward in the manner that the Report recommends.”    

Energy efficiency is fastest way to cut Co2 emissions.

In particular, the report criticizes Member States and the European Commission for their failure to implement and enforce existing energy efficiency directives. Moreover, the report calls on the Commission to act speedily to bring in minimum standards of energy efficiency for such things as air conditioning and set top "decoder" boxes, and put in place a full timetable for taking the least efficient type of light bulbs - old-style incandescents - off the market as soon as possible. The report also asks the Commission to look at the feasibility of phasing out standby mode on electrical appliances and banning other energy-guzzling items such as patio heaters. The report calls for major changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, due to be revised in 2008, and recommends much higher energy efficiency standards for new and renovated buildings of all sizes. Rapporteur Fiona Hall said: "With 40% of the energy we consume being used in buildings it is vital that we that the measures I have recommended are put in place as soon as possible. "We talk of the need to combat climate change with renewables, but we should never lose sight of the fact that energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to cut CO2 emissions. Unless we can dramatically reduce the amount of energy we are consuming, then it will be incredibly difficult for the EU and UK to meet their respective targets for renewable energy."  Notes to Editors: A copy of the report can be found here: http://www.europarl.ep.ec/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2008-0003+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

European Data Protection Day highlights paucity of UK Information Commissioner powers.

Since its creation in 1981 this convention still remains the only binding international legal instrument on data protection covering police and criminal cooperation. The EU has a Data Protection Directive of 1995 which applies to data used for purposes other than security, but as EU data exchange and building of databases for border and crime control has accelerated, the European Parliament has pushed EU governments to agree modern privacy rules on data used for law enforcement purposes. They have so far failed to agree robust protections. Commenting on the anniversary, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman, said: “This commemoration will hold only an ironic significance for the British public, since the lessons of recent data scandals have still not been learnt. The UK has the largest DNA database in the world, with nearly 4 million entries including those never charged and those acquitted. I am fighting to ensure that British people will not have their DNA passed around Europe like a cheap trading card. “Despite various ambivalent noises from Gordon Brown, there is no sign that he understands that the monster scheme of ID cards and identity database is hopelessly compromised by the evident carelessness with which the UK government treats our personal information. “I am calling on the European Commission to amend the 1995 directive so as to oblige governments as well as companies to inform their national data protection supervisor when a data protection breach occurs. Scandalously, at present the UK Information Commissioner has no effective tools to compel the notification of security breaches". Notes to Editors: More information about the Lib Dem opposition to the NDNAD is available here: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/dna and about our opposition to ID cards and database here http://www.libdems.org.uk/noidcards   In response to the continued failure of the UK government to safeguard personal data, Sarah Ludford has written twice to EU justice Commissioner Franco Frattini to request a green paper on the adequacy of EU rules on data protection and data security, but Commissioner Frattini has declined her request.

No free ride for foreign traffic offenders.

The lack of a current mechanism to make foreign drivers pay fines is a big problem for the UK and particularly London, but also for other EU countries and cities. There are 3 million foreign cars a year in the UK, of which many come to London. Less than 3 percent of penalty charges incurred by foreign vehicles for parking and traffic infringements or non-payment of the congestion charge are paid. The total cost to London is calculated at £24 million a year.   Speaking at the conference, London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford commented:  "The number of unpaid fines by foreign drivers is completely unacceptable. Londoners - or Berliners or Romans - will not understand how the EU can freely give their personal data away to the US when they take a plane but not sort out this headache. "The motives to sort it out are practical, legal and political. London needs the money, justice should be fair all round, and a free ride for foreigners does nothing to make people feel warmly towards Europe. "EU legislation, but also UK action, is necessary so that TfL and London councils can get access to the vehicle registration data needed to trace and catch foreign offenders. But this is a two-way street as it also means that parking ticket on the Costa del Sol could catch up with you. Safeguards on data protection are vital so that information is not misused." The programme of the conference can be found here

Climate change proposals : an opportunity not a threat.

Today the European Commission has outlined in detail how the Member States can reach their targets. Commenting on the Commission's announcements, Chris Davies MEP, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson in the European Parliament, said: "No-one ever said that meeting the challenge of global warming would be easy but we must grasp these measures as an opportunity and not see them as a threat. The move towards a low carbon economy will promote innovation, drive forward investment and create jobs. "In Germany there are now more than 250,000 people employed in the renewable energy sector, with 160,000 jobs created between 2004 and 2006 alone, Spain has 60,000 people employed directly and 100,000 indirectly as a result solely of wind power development. Meeting the targets now set will ensure that we cut waste, make better use of natural resources, and reduce pollution. These are all measures that are long overdue." Fiona Hall MEP, Liberal Democrat Energy Spokesperson and European Parliament rapporteur on energy efficiency, added: "I welcome the mention of energy efficiency in the Mr Barroso's speech. The quantitive targets announced today, 20% renewable and a sustainable 10% for biofuels, are only achievable if Europe greatly reduces its energy demand. I hope the Commission is going to keep its promise to put resources into energy efficiency as well as as into the supply side proposals announced today."

EU and governments must come clean on traveller 'profiling'.

This is a technique of putting together data from various sources in order to identify people who seem suspicious and merit further screening or are likely perpetrators of crime or terrorism. The proposed EU Passenger Name Record scheme would create risk assessments by 'running the PNR data of passengers against a combination of characteristics and behavioural patterns'. The European Parliament report will be drafted by British MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman, who said: "The first challenge is to get Commissioner Frattini and the ministers to acknowledge that 'profiling' is going on, instead of the coyness and denials that have been trotted out to date. Then we can talk about safeguards to stop unjustified stereotyping or abuses which could lead to real damage to individuals. "It needs to be remembered that Canadian torture flight victim Maher Arar, on whose horrendous experience the film Rendition was based, was picked up through profiling based on people his brother happened to know. "The danger of targeting people on the basis of race or religion is especially acute. The mere fact that someone was born in Pakistan must not lead to systematic searches at our airports. We need to ensure that all our citizens feel and are treated equally under the law. "The UK Labour government by its negligence in handling data has exposed 600,000 armed services recruits to possible threat from extremist or terrorist groups. This includes Muslim recruits, so it can make amends by not colluding in an exercise which stigmatises minorities."

EU enquiry needed into UK breaches of data protection.

Most recently, a Ministry of Defence official had a laptop, holding details of 600,000 potential recruits to the armed forces, stolen from his car. A reply is still awaited to a letter Sarah Ludford and Portuguese MEP Carlos Coelho wrote to Commissioner Frattini 2 months ago asking for a Commission 'green paper' on data security in EU databases after UK tax authorities lost two CDs containing personal records of 25 million child benefit claimants. There have been numerous other UK breaches in recent weeks.   Sarah Ludford, a leading member of the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee, said:   “The UK data losses are casting severe doubt on UK government information plans, such as  the ID card register But they also raise serious doubts about ambitious EU plans to store and exchange masses of personal data between Member States.   "If a major European state is so careless, what might be going on elsewhere? It may be that UK incompetence is unique, but we need to find out through a wholesale review of respect for rules on data protection and data security.   "It is rich of the UK's Labour government to call opposition parties 'soft on terrorism' when they have exposed potential armed forces recruits, including Muslims, to terrorist dangers. Their cavalier attitude to data safety is a massive own goal in what Commissioner Frattini has unfortunately called the ‘war on terror’."    Notes to Editors:   Research by the Liberal Democrats has shown that a staggering 37 million items of personal data have gone missing as a result of UK government incompetence , including names, addresses, passports, bank and mortgage accounts, credit cards, hospital records, dates of birth, national insurance numbers, driving licences and telephone numbers. To read further    

Lib Dem Notes from Brussels - Chris davies.

Lots of snippets in this one, although I am conscious that I haven’t touched upon important issues outside my brief, such as the new consumer credit legislation and the improved role for Europol that brings together policing across the EU. BIG NEWS ON CLIMATE CHANGE The European Commission will make major announcements about climate change strategy this coming Wednesday (23 January). It will introduce legislation aimed at putting into practice the EU’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 come what may, and by 30% if an international post-2012 agreement involving the USA, China and others can be put in place. This really is the EU leading the world from the front. By trying to turn aspirations into practical action it wants to move the debate forward and persuade other countries to make similar commitments. The Commission will announce the burden sharing agreement, the amount by which each EU member state must reduce emissions. It will table plans for the further enhancement of the emissions trading scheme which deals with 50% of all carbon emissions, those from power stations and major industrial installations. It will announce country by country targets for the proportion of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 (Britain is expected to be told it must move from 2% to 15% in just 13 years). And it will provide framework legislation for the development of carbon capture and storage schemes so that we can start taking CO2 out of the coal we will need to burn to keep the lights on. I have all the draft documents sitting on the table in front of me now. Together with the impact assessments they are about six inches thick and I am wondering how to find time to read them all. Eurosceptics may claim that the package represents a further extension of ‘Brussels’ control. Although the details of the legislation will be debated and amended by Ministers and MEPs over the next 18 months, they will have a point. Governments know that they cannot reach agreement between themselves on the individual targets – too much national self interest is involved. So they have asked the Commission to do the job for them, and as prime minister Tony Blair pressed harder than anyone for the renewable targets to be made legally binding rather than just a declaration of intent. Like some school students, our governments know that they really should do their homework but they just won’t get around to it unless someone stands over them with a stick! I shall be responding to the announcements in the European Parliament on Wednesday. Make no mistake, the targets are going to be tough for the UK to achieve. We shouldn’t be here of course, we should have been developing renewable energy for the past 30 years, but we are where we are. The measures to reduce carbon emissions will drive forward investment and innovation and they will create many jobs. We should see them not as a threat but as an opportunity. To read further

Northern Rock: Commission will investigate possibility of state aid.

"The Northern Rock rescue plan raises several interesting issues. First it depends upon a bond or note being backed up by tranches of mortgages as the security - of which Northern Rock itself will have the riskiest slice. There is an obvious passing resemblance to the tranche based investments that underlie the liquidity crunch and which companies are now desperate to be rid of. "Of course the solution is the Government guarantee, but as other banks' bonds do not have this backing, it is no surprise that the European Commission will have to investigate whether this constitutes unfair state aid." Potential buyers of Northern Rock are being requested to submit their restructuring plans to the Tripartite by 4th February so as to undergo examination by the European Competition Commission. Mrs Bowles added: "What the Competition Commission will be looking for is assurance that none of the proposals give an unfair competitive advantage to the buyout company, therefore violating State Aid laws. Much will depend on whether HMT will take a hands off approach, so it can be considered a commercial operation, and what share of the equity the taxpayer will get back". To read further

Lib Dems Welcome Pharma Crackdown.

Sharon Bowles said:   "Although any sectoral inquiry stresses that sector it is about time the rumours stopped and a better understanding of what is and is not the situation becomes known.  I am glad it also covers generic companies because too often pharma are painted as ‘greedy’, forgetting they do all the research and development, and generics as ‘good’, forgetting they copy drugs developed by others and do none of the research that brings new  products to market.     "The European pharma sector is already under stress with falling productivity and faces increased competition from developing countries, and China in particular,