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Strasbourg Round-Up Dec 06

Green Light for EU Driving Licences

The new EU driving licence passed its final test in Strasbourg this month when, at second reading stage, the European Parliament gave it the green light by a large majority.  It will now be issued as standard across Europe.

Currently there are well over a hundred different licences in use across the EU in different languages, colours and formats.  This huge diversity presents national police forces with real problems, according to Gary Titley, speaking in his capacity as Labour’s European transport spokesperson.

“How can a British policeman be expected to know what a valid Czech or Latvian driving licence looks like?,” he said.  “The new licence will let police weed out the banned joyrider from the safe, fully licensed driver in an instant.  This decision is also great news for motorists who want to drive across Europe for business or on holiday.”

Dangerous chemicals a thing of the past

This month the European Parliament approved one of the most important and far reaching pieces of legislation in the history of the EU.  The REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) regulations will make it compulsory for companies to remove dangerous chemicals from everyday products and replace them with safer substitutes.

The legislation will help protect the public from harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, asthma, allergies and reproductive disorders.  Scientific research has found that it could reduce illnesses caused by chemicals by 10%, saving up to 4500 lives a year.

Speaking after the vote, Gary Titley said:  “The things we use in everyday life such as cleaning products, clothes or computers all contain a huge variety of chemicals.  People shouldn’t have to run the risk of coming into contact with highly toxic chemicals, every time they need to clean the bathroom.”

Labour leads the way on climate change

Labour MEPs were once again at the forefront of efforts to get the EU to take drastic action on climate change.  A report spearheaded by Welsh Labour MEP Eluned Morgan and backed by a big majority in the Parliament called for 25% of Europe’s energy to be generated from renewable sources by 2020, on top of a 30% cut in carbon emissions.  These radical plans will make sure the biggest polluters pay more in an ambitious attempt to prevent environmental disaster.

The Parliament also supported a shake-up of Europe’s energy market to break up some of continental Europe’s biggest power companies which are currently operating as virtual monopolies.  It is expected this will increase competition and drive down energy prices for business and domestic customers alike.

Commenting on the action plan, Gary said:  “Europe had a harsh wake up call at the beginning of this year, when Russia cut off gas supplies to the Ukraine.  On top of threats to our energy security, climate change is affecting our planet in more dramatic ways than we could have ever imagined.  This means Europe desperately needs an energy policy that will keep the lights on and keep climate change at bay.”

Turkey talks still on track - just

When the British Presidency of the EU opened talks on Turkey joining a year ago, nobody was under any illusion that things would be easy.  This month, the accession process hit a low point with the European Commission announcing it was suspending talks in eight of the 35 policy areas, where agreement is needed for Turkey to become a member.

The crunch issue is Cyprus.  The Northern or Turkish part is regarded by most countries as an illegal regime.  Meanwhile, Turkey is boycotting the Greek side until the isolation of Northern Cyprus ends, especially after the Turkish side voted for the UN peace plan but the Greek Cypriots rejected it.  In order to join the EU, every member state must open its ports and airports to all fellow members.  Until recently, Turkey has refused to open its ports to Cyprus.  With both sides unwilling to budge, talks on this sensitive issue have been put on hold.

Commenting on the Commission announcement, Gary said:  “I am hugely disappointed about this.  It is in Europe and Turkey’s interests to ensure that relations remain strong and that we keep these talks moving forward.  We should not forget how far Turkey has come in reforming and trying to meet EU standards.  And we should not lose sight of the fact that talks with Turkey will still continue in 27 important policy areas.”

Cameron ducks and dives in Brussels

It may have taken him over a year, but David Cameron has finally set foot in Brussels as Tory Party Leader.  The fleeting visit earlier this month saw Cameron come face to face with the warring factions in his group of 29 Tory MEPs all wanting to know why he had gone back yet again on his pledges on Europe.  Cameron promised during the leadership election to pull his MEPs out of the centre-right European People’s Party and to ally them with the likes of Robert Kilroy Silk, Jean Marie le Penn and Carolina Mussolini.  But half the group refused to budge, while the other half relished the chance to sit with these extreme right-wing eurosceptics. 

Now Cameron has gone back on his word after Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel and France’s Presidential hopeful, Nicolas Sarkozy, both said they would refuse to work with him, if he went ahead with the move.  Following the Brussel’s showdown, Cameron dodged this issue and instead called upon his Tory MEPs to be the “champions for real change” in the EU.  Commenting later, Gary said:  “Cameron’s words are laughable.  It is the Tories who time after time have stood in the way of reform of the EU and who consistently vote against measures to tackle climate change, poverty and all forms of discrimination.”

And Finally...

Labour MEPs left Strasbourg after the final plenary session of the year, reflecting on another successful twelve months for Labour in Europe.  Gary and the whole Titley team would like to wish readers of Strasbourg Round-up all the best for the festive season and a successful 2007.

Gary Titley MEP

December 2006