A major breakthrough occurred in Strasbourg this month, when MEPs backed a new
EU-wide licensing system for treatments which may eventually help beat killer
diseases like cancer and Parkinsons. The plan, backed by Labour MEPs, could mean
that treatments such as ‘cell therapy’ and ‘tissue engineered replacements’ –
capable of restoring damaged parts of the body like skin, muscles and even
nerves - may soon be more widely available for patients, whichever EU country
they live in.
Welcoming the plan, Labour’s Leader in Europe, Gary Titley predicted that the
new technologies will improve the lives of millions of people suffering from
illnesses like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. A single EU-wide licence will mean
that a product developed in Germany or Spain will quickly become available in
the UK, doing away with bureaucracy and getting new treatments directly to the
people who need them.
The legislation now goes to EU member governments for final decision. If agreed,
it will ensure that, although some countries may wish to block research and
treatments, they cannot prevent other countries like Britain from going ahead
and benefiting from such pioneering medical advances.
Faster and cheaper access to cash abroad
There was more good news for people travelling and working abroad this month, as
the European Parliament passed a law to make it easier to transfer and withdraw
cash anywhere in the EU. Currently, transferring money to Belgium, for example,
can take as long as 30 days and cost up to £20. But proposals passed this month
will dramatically reduce this to a maximum of three working days anywhere in the
27 EU member states. They will also pave the way for the introduction of new
high-tech payment techniques. For example, paying gas bills at the supermarket
or electricity bills by text message could soon become a part of everyday life.
Speaking from Strasbourg after MEPs had voted, Gary said: "This will make it as
easy to transfer cash abroad as it is to make a transfer from one UK bank
account to another. It's also good news for holiday makers. Soon people will be
able to withdraw cash anywhere in the EU, using any type of bank card."
Labour MEPs move to stop unfair criminal prosecutions
Labour MEPs spoke out this month against an overly ambitious EU plan to
prosecute people connected to trade in counterfeited goods. In recent years,
counterfeiting has become a serious problem costing the EU almost €8 billion a
year. The cosmetic industry, for instance, loses almost 7% of its income
from counterfeit products, whilst over a third of all music CDs and cassettes
sold worldwide are believed to be pirated. Under the proposals considered this
month, those connected with counterfeiting could face a maximum penalty of at
least €300,000 and imprisonment.
Commenting on the draft law, Gary who is a member of the Parliament's Legal
Affairs Committee said: "Piracy is bad for all of us as consumers. It drives up
prices and stifles innovation. However, we have to be clear about who the bad
guys are. This law could create a situation where a teenager wrongfully
downloading a single track in their bedroom faces the same charges as an
international goods smuggler."
Although the proposals were approved by the majority of MEPs, the draft law has
to come back to the Parliament for second reading. At that stage, Gary will be
hoping to introduce further amendments to improve the legislation.
Labour MEPs demand release of BBC journalist
This month Gary was one of the early signatories of a letter calling for the
release of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, which has been delivered to Palestinian
Authorities in Gaza. And as a further show of solidarity, Gary was amongst a
group of MEPs and journalists who held a vigil in front of the Parliament in
Strasbourg.
The letter — drafted by Socialist Group MEPs and the Federation of Journalists'
General Secretary Aidan White and signed by over 200 Euro MPs — said:
"We, members of the European Parliament, urge the Palestinian authorities, and
all other authorities and organisations that may possibly be of help, to do
everything in their power for the release of BBC-journalist Alan Johnston, who
was kidnapped on March 12. We believe that the European Union, and in particular
the most important donor countries of the European Union to Palestine, should
react strongly and emphasise the need for releasing Alan Johnston and to call
for press freedom."
Croatia moves a step closer to joining the EU
It's hard to believe that just over a decade ago Croatia was ravaged by civil
war and genocide. Now the Balkan state is once again becoming a thriving economy
and a holiday hotspot for thousands of Britons, as it prepares itself to join
the EU. Croatia became an official candidate to join the EU in 2005, under the
British Presidency of the European Council and hopes to join the EU within the
next decade.
The European Parliament heard this month that Croatia is on the right track for
EU membership, but still has a lot more work to do before it is ready to join.
Speaking as a Member of the Parliament's delegation to Croatia, Gary issued some
words of caution, despite the country’s best efforts. "On the face of it,
Croatia has made huge progress in its bid to join the EU,” he said. “However we
must be certain to weed out any corrupt elements left over from the troubles in
the mid-nineties. What's more, the EU needs to put its own house in order before
it can welcome another country on board."
And finally,
Regular readers of Strasbourg Round-Up will know just how much most MEPs loathe
the monthly haul down to the French city. Many of Gary's Greek colleagues had
extra reason to bemoan the trip this month when their aeroplane had to make an
unscheduled landing in Munich, Germany, because of a bomb scare. The plane with
130 passengers on board, including a large group of MEPs, was forced to take
emergency action after police in Athens received a warning by phone. Thankfully,
the scare turned out to be a hoax.
