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Strasbourg Round-Up

“Strasbourg….” in Brussels - again!

The second of the week-long plenary sessions scheduled for September once again took place in Brussels as repair work to the debating chamber roof in Strasbourg, which collapsed during the summer recess, had still not been completed. To add to the intrigue, rumours had been rife that even more defects had been discovered in the structure of the building – some potentially quite serious. However, as the week progressed, it became clear that Strasbourg would be up and running in time for the October plenary session, much to the disappointment of Labour’s Leader in Europe, Gary Titley, who has long campaigned for the Parliament to hold all its plenaries in Brussels.


Improving Financial Market Regulation

Not surprisingly, in view of all the current global economic instability, the European financial market and the way it is regulated was at the top of the European Parliament agenda at the second September plenary session. Socialist MEPs as a group called for greater transparency, improved supervision and better regulation, echoing the moves Labour MEPs have long been making to introduce a stronger regulatory regime. As Gary told the Labour Party Annual Conference in Manchester: “We have been campaigning for years to get clear operating rules in place for the financial market - and boy do we need those rules now!”


Tackling Energy Poverty

It has not just been the credit crunch and turmoil on global markets that has caused the world to catch its breath this summer. With the steep rise in global oil prices over recent months, many people have also felt the knock-on effects in their wallets as energy prices have soared. Only too well aware of the need to 'get a grip on energy prices', MEPs called on the European Commission and member state governments to take greater action to tackle fuel poverty, especially for the most vulnerable households.


A Better Deal for Consumers

The European Parliament voted to boost consumer rights and improve access across the telecoms sector. Mobile phone and broadband internet users will now have the same rights to a quality service at affordable rates as landline phone users. Under the proposals, disabled consumers will be able to demand the same access rights as other users. MEPs also pressed the Commission further on the issue of consumers’ right to know, requiring service providers to give customers more information on tariff and contract conditions.

And just to prove that politicians are not too far out of touch, they voted to extend data protection rules to cover information on social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace. Speaking after the vote, Gary said: “These measures mark an improvement for all users, whether they are using an ordinary telephone handset, a mobile or making contact over the internet.”


Big Cuts in Car Emissions

In the Environment Committee, Labour MEPs won support for a proposal to cut CO2 emissions by 60% for new cars from 2020, doubling the CO2 emission savings target the European Commission had originally proposed. The vote for the 60% cut came despite fierce opposition from car manufacturers, especially in Germany. The move will not only help to improve the environment, but it will also stimulate the production of ultra low carbon emission vehicles through the introduction of a time-limited incentive scheme. Moreover the package includes protection for smaller manufacturers, which should help to safeguard jobs in these difficult times. The proposals are now due to come before the Parliament as a whole, probably before Christmas.


Addressing the Cultural Divide

In this European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the European Parliament has been keen to get different people, cultures and faiths talking, and hopefully understanding each other a little better. Earlier this month, African politics, culture and even food was brought to the Parliament with 'Africa week'. At this latest plenary, the Orthodox Christian Leader, Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, addressed MEPs. He stressed the importance of intercultural dialogue to develop understanding between peoples, acceptance of minorities and the need to protect our shared global resource - the atmosphere.

The Patriarch concluded his address by talking about the success of the European Union bringing peace and prosperity to a continent torn asunder by bloody conflict just two generations ago. As MEPs applauded, he said Europe now needed to bring Turkey into its union. Gary welcomed the speech, especially the reference to the importance of Turkish accession. He said: “Politically, strategically and economically, we need Turkey to be engaged in a process which will eventually lead to their EU membership, when the country is ready, a decade or more from now.”


Fighting Obesity

MEPs voted for greater action to fight nutrition and weight-related health problems this month. All the evidence points to us Europeans catching up with our US counterparts in the obesity stakes. Nearly 27% of men and 38% of women in Europe weigh in as overweight or obese. To address the problem, the European Parliament wants clearer food labelling and more healthy choices in the supermarkets. It called on national governments to make a healthy lifestyle for children a top priority. Meanwhile Labour MEPs also pressed for a ban on artificial trans-fatty acids, which are linked with female infertility and increased chances of heart disease.


And Finally…

So much for honest family values being at the heart of David Cameron's New Model Tory Party. That was shown to be a sham this month when Tory MEPs tried to rewrite a European Parliament report on family policy. They wanted to alter the report to stop it expressing concern about the advertising of sexual services in local newspapers which are readily available to children. Luckily they failed.


Gary Titley MEP
September 2008
(2nd Session)