What next for the Lisbon Treaty?
The repercussions of the Irish “no” vote in their referendum on the Lisbon Treaty reverberated around the corridors of Strasbourg this month. As EU heads of government and MEPs alike were trying to work out the best way to move forward, UKIP and Tory MEPs took great delight in wearing t-shirts bearing the slogan “Respect the Irish no vote”. This prompted Irish MEP Avril Doyle to note that this “motley collection” of British right-wingers had come lately to the phenomenon of respecting the Irish vote.

Labour’s Deputy Leader, Richard Corbett offered some more thoughtful reflections. He said that the Irish “no” vote did not disqualify those countries who are still to ratify the Treaty from having a say. Moreover, he added that it may be possible that Ireland’s concerns can be addressed and a deal reached at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, welcomed the Lisbon Treaty’s successful completion of its parliamentary passage in the UK, saying it was important that other EU member countries continue to set out their position on the matter. Speaking on behalf of Labour MEPs, Gary Titley said: “We need to pause now and wait for the Irish government to tell us how they think we should proceed. But until they do, other states should exercise their sovereign right to ratify this treaty”.

New deal for electricity consumers

This month the European Parliament gave its backing to a report by Labour MEP Eluned Morgan, calling for full ownership unbundling of EU electricity markets. What this means is separating the generation and transmission parts of the business. Currently, companies that own both can dictate terms to new suppliers wanting to make use of their transmission networks. Ultimately, this leads to less competition and higher prices for customers.

The parliament rejected a ‘third way’ compromise, supported by French and German MEPs, which could allow energy companies to retain ownership of distribution arms under strict conditions and with no say in the running of the distribution company. But, by adopting Eluned Morgan’s proposal, MEPs put themselves on a collision course with the Council of Ministers, who have agreed a position similar to the ‘third way’.

Welcoming the vote, Gary said: “Increased competition in the electricity market is a victory for consumers who have been paying sky-high prices for far too long. While the coming negotiations with the Council of Ministers will be tough, Labour MEPs are determined to ensure the best deal possible for consumers”.

New directive on return of illegal migrants

Measures to encourage the voluntary repatriation of illegal immigrants to the EU were approved by parliament this month. What has become known as the ‘Returns Directive’ lays down a maximum time period that immigrants can be detained if they refuse to leave and are considered at risk of absconding – usually 6 months, but extendable by a further 12 months, in certain cases. Importantly, the new directive also calls for minimum standards of treatment. For their part, Labour MEPs decided to abstain in the vote, after amendments to give extra protection to children failed to go through. Like Ireland, the UK has not opted into the directive and, therefore, is not covered by its provisions.


Increased recycling targets given backing

Labour MEPs this month supported measures in Strasbourg that will establish clear targets for the recycling of waste across Europe. EU member countries will be obliged to draw up binding national programmes for waste prevention and to set targets of recycling 50% of household waste and 70% of construction waste by 2020.

A hierarchy of waste processing will be established, starting with prevention, re-use, recycling and recovery. It will leave disposal as a very last resort. In a move designed to reduce the use of landfill sites and promote energy efficiency, incineration will be considered a recovery rather than a disposal operation, provided it meets strict energy efficiency targets. After parliament approved the measures, Gary said: “This will help us to meet our climate change goals. Reducing waste and increasing recycling will lead to significant reductions in CO2 emissions.”

New car safety measures approved

‘Intelligent cars’ won the parliament’s backing this month, in an attempt to help reduce some of the 40,000 deaths on Europe’s road each year. MEPs want to see manufacturers make full use of the latest technology to make cars safer. The new features that could be installed include a stabiliser system to warn drivers if they were about to veer out of a lane and an e-call system that would automatically alert call centres across Europe to a driver’s location in the event of an accident.

Labour MEPs are calling on the big car companies to make this technology cheaper and available to more people. Gary said: “The cars we drive today are made all over Europe. So, it makes sense to agree on EU-wide standards that will allow us to exploit the full potential of this new technology to make our roads safer and save thousands of lives every year”.

Poor Ashley Mote

UKIP were up to their usual tricks during the debate on the European Council, attacking the new Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot and accusing him of being a fraudster. In actual fact, Commissioner Barrot, who previously served as the Transport Commissioner, has no criminal convictions. Ironically, the next person scheduled to speak was Ashley Mote, the former UKIP MEP, who was thrown out of the party for fraud and has served a jail sentence! He did not take kindly to people pointing out this irony, though, and sent a pitiful email to Socialist Group Leader, Martin Shultz, demanding an apology.

And Finally…

Gary was delighted to hear that he had topped a YouGov poll which asked 1300 people across the country if they could name any of their local MEPs without having to look them up. Gary said: “I have been proud to represent the people of the North West for almost two decades. It’s nice to know somebody out there knows who I am. But the most important thing is getting the job done”.



Gary Titley MEP
June 2008


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July 2008


French Presidency

This month France took over the Presidency of the European Union and to mark the occasion, Nicolas Sarkozy came to Strasbourg to outline his vision for Europe over the next six months. Top priorities will include clinching a deal on the crucial climate change package, moving forward on establishing a common European energy policy and working towards a common immigration policy.

The French President also acknowledged the tricky issue of Common Agricultural Policy reform. But he made clear that any farm reform should not lead to a fall in EU output. “Is it reasonable to ask the EU to reduce its agricultural production when the world has never needed food so much? I don’t think it is reasonable. This is not about French agriculture, it is about common sense,” he said. But the jury is out on what his comments will mean in practice.

President Sarkozy mentioned the social dimension for Europe too - but mainly because he wants to keep it to a minimum. Speaking after the Presidential address, Gary Titley confirmed that Labour MEPs will be battling to make sure that the next 6 months is not just about liberalisation and opening up markets, but that worker and consumer interests are catered for as well.

Gas markets

Last month in Strasbourg, MEPs achieved a victory for consumers by voting to liberalise the European electricity market, which should eventually lead to lower prices. This month, the focus was on reform of the gas market. MEPs opted for a system, which will allow independent monitors to keep a close eye on the conduct of gas companies, without forcing them to split up, as was the case with electricity. Hopefully, though, this approach will ultimately bring about the same positive result for consumers – lower prices for gas.

MEPs also backed measures to improve consumer protection. The new package will give customers the right to withdraw from a contract without being charged and claim compensation, if they don’t get the quality of service they were promised. They will also have the right to access information about their bills on the internet. In addition gas companies will be banned from disconnecting pensioners and disabled people in winter. Gary said: “While this is not all we had hoped for, the enhanced consumer protection measures are a major step forward.”

Vote to stop hidden air fare costs

Ever been annoyed to find that the cheap flight deal you thought you were getting was not so special after all, because of ‘hidden’ costs like airport taxes and charges? This month in Strasbourg, MEPs voted to end the days when passengers have to stump up more than they originally thought, by forcing airlines to advertise the total price customers will have to pay right up
front. Describing the move as long overdue, Gary said: “The days when airline adverts can be one big con-trick are over.”

Safety on Europe’s railways

Europe’s railways came under the spotlight in Strasbourg this month when MEPs approved measures designed to improve safety and make the network more efficient. In future, passengers on cross border journeys will have the reassurance of knowing that the trains they take will have to meet rigorous safety standards covering all EU member countries.

Rolling stock already approved for use in one member state will have to be accepted by all 26 others. This will allow them to cross borders without getting caught up in red tape. All trains will also have to be properly maintained, thanks to a new mandatory certification system.

UKIP say one thing, then do another, again….

July was a busy month for Gary’s fellow North West MEP and Labour transport spokesperson, Brian Simpson. As well as piloting fair air fares and the rail safety package through the parliament, he also helped to secure an exemption for heritage, museum and tourist railways from the EU Railway Safety Directive. Funnily enough, UKIP voted against Brian’s amendments and in doing so, voted against safeguarding an important part of Britain’s heritage – something they say they stand up for!

Without the Simpson amendments, all heritage railways would have had to conform to exactly the same safety regulations on staffing, rolling stock maintenance and railway workshop operations as the mainline national railway companies. This would have severely restricted their operational capability and raised costs significantly. Speaking after the vote, Gary said: “What’s right for the big operators is not always right for everyone else and it’s a shame UKIP don’t seem to recognise that. They have seriously let down our heritage railways movement in favour of their own narrow minded-interests.”

Stopping new-Nazis getting their hands on taxpayers’ money

It’s not only European Parliament anoraks who will be pleased to hear that it has voted to increase the number of MEPs required to form an official political group. Currently, just 20 MEPs from 5 different member states need to join forces to qualify for special funding from the European Parliament. MEPs decided this month to raise the limit to 25 members from 7 countries. This will help the parliament adapt to enlargement and save taxpayers money into the bargain.

Labour MEP Richard Corbett, who wrote a report for the parliament on the proposals, insisted that the rule changes would not stifle debate, nor attempt to stamp out euroscepticism. Instead, he argued, it should stop far-right extremists getting up to €1 million in taxpayers’ money. Commenting on the fact that the majority of Conservative and Liberal Democrat MEPs opposed the changes, Gary said: “It is astonishing that the Tories and Lib Dems seem happy for taxpayers’ money to go to neo-Nazis.”

And Finally…

Tory Leader, David Cameron may get more than he bargained for when he asked all his MEPs to sign up to new rules on the disclosure of members’ expenses. A leaked memo from an un-named Tory MEP, made it clear that existing MEPs would kick up a fuss if they were told what to do by Cameron. It declared: “If the Party decides to de-select an incumbent for no other reason that he obeys the rules of the Parliament, it may well lay itself open to very substantial claims for damages.” Phew. Cameron can’t say he hasn’t been warned!


Gary Titley MEP
July 2008