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Published and promoted by Graham Watson MEP, Bagehots Foundry, Beards Yard, Langport, TA10 9PS. Printed and hosted by Nextra, Global House, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, KT18 5AD.
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December 2001
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| Watson welcomes 'Year of Euro' |
| MEP Accuses Customs of Ignoring Hardship |
| "White Caucasians must beware of racism" : Watson |
| MEP welcomes u-turn on anti-terror law |
| Secrecy fight may go to European Court |
| Euro MP welcomes Labour and Tory defectors |
| MEP seeks to halt human trafficking |
| Watson warns America over civil liberties |
| MEP's praise for college leads to VIP visit |
Brussels doesn't deliver the red tape, says MEP
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Watson welcomes 'Year of Euro'
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Thursday, 27 December 2001
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The euro will become a "parallel" currency in Britain within a year, South West MEP Graham Watson predicts. The new currency will be in common daily use in the UK alongside pounds and pence before the end of 2002, he said.
Mr Watson made his comments just days before euro notes and coins replace the currencies of 12 European countries.
He said: "The euro is a fact of life and it will have an immediate effect on people in Britain not only when we go abroad but because many euros will be spent here in Britain.
"Many of the larger retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Virgin, W.H. Smith, Dorothy Perkins and Dixons will accept euros. Firms selling to Europe will quote their prices in euros. The notes and coins will be in daily use in Britain and the euro will become a parallel currency with the pound."
Mr Watson said he believes that Britain may have no choice but to join the single currency sooner rather than later. "If sterling becomes difficult to manage alongside the euro we may be forced to go into the single currency at a time that is not of our own choosing and on conditions that are not favourable to us," he said.
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MEP Accuses Customs of Ignoring Hardship
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Wednesday, 19 December 2001
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson today accused the Government of "gross insensitivity" over the plight of cross-Channel shoppers who have had their cars seized by Customs and Excise. The European Commission asked the Government to explain its harsh application of the guidelines on quantities of tobacco and alcohol that may be brought into the UK for non-commercial use. In his response to the Commission, Customs Minister Paul Boateng defends Customs' action and says that of 14 million people who entered the UK via Channel ports last year more than 99.8 per cent passed through Customs controls without a problem. But Mr Watson said such statistics ignored the individual hardship caused to hundreds of innocent travellers making use of the single free market for their own benefit. Many have been left stranded at ferry ports having had their vehicles impounded. Mr Watson said: "I agree that smuggling is a big problem and that it must be stopped. But the reality of the situation is that innocent people are being victimised. "Unless the Government finds a way of ensuring innocent people are not being penalised I will ask the European Commission to take the matter to the European Court of Justice. "Under British law, people are innocent until proved guilty but Customs are treating people as guilty until proved innocent. In addition penalties should be proportionate. "Last month, Mr Watson arranged for a delegation of his constituents who have been victims of the car seizures to meet EU Customs Commissioner Frits Bolkestein in Brussels.
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"White Caucasians must beware of racism" : Watson
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Tuesday, 18 December 2001
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Speaking at a press conference today at the European Commission to launch the Annual Report of the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, European Parliament Citizens' Rights committee chair, Graham Watson said:"As communities across the world become more interdependent, the white caucasian minority must beware of the impact of its behaviour. Racially discriminatory laws, practices or attitudes today will add to the store of tomorrow's problems. Recent debates on asylum and immigration and on terrorism have led to a heightening of tension which threatens Europe's unique rights-based approach to human relations. We must educate our citizens now to the dangers of racial discrimination to ensure that the twentieth century, which ethnic conflict has soaked in blood, gives way to a 21st century in which the energy, creativity and genius of humankind can be harnessed to the creation of a just, peaceful and harmonious world."
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MEP welcomes u-turn on anti-terror law
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Wednesday, 12 December 2001
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Euro MP Graham Watson has welcomed Italy's decision to abandon its opposition to a Europe-wide arrest warrant. Italy had threatened to try to block the warrant, a major weapon in the fight against terrorism, when it is discussed at this week's Laeken heads of government summit. The Italians objected to the warrant being used in such crimes as money-laundering and fraud. The arrest warrant is an integral part of the moves to combat terrorism piloted through the European Parliament by Mr Watson in his role as chairman of the Committee on Citizen's Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs. Mr Watson has stressed the need to respect civil liberties in the new legislation. Mr Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South West, said: "I am pleased that the Italians have agreed to support this move at the heads of government summit in Laeken. "The other EU member states could have gone ahead without Italy by invoking Article 40 of the Treaty on the European Union. However, it is right that there is European unanimity on this important issue. It is a vital measure in the fight against terrorism."
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Secrecy fight may go to European Court
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Monday, 10 December 2001
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Euro MP Graham Watson is preparing for a top-level battle to ensure that his constituents can get greater access to information about the European Union. Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, he will demand to know why new freedom of information rules have not yet been implemented. These were agreed months ago by the European Parliament but the European Commission and the Council of Ministers have been dragging their feet in putting the new rules into effect. Now Mr Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South West, is threatening to have the matter taken to the European Court of Justice if delays continue. When the new rules were agreed by his Committee on Citizen's Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs in April, Mr Watson hailed a new openness in European government. He called the move "a roaring rip in the veil of secrecy. "The new rules give greater public access to European government documents. Mr Watson said today: "There is absolutely no justification for the delays in implementing this measure and I intend to do everything I can to rectify this deplorable situation. "Following his protest in the parliament chamber, Mr Watson will be speaking on the subject at a press conference in Strasbourg.
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Euro MP welcomes Labour and Tory defectors
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Monday, 10 December 2001
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson today welcomed the defection to the Liberal Democrats of Labour MP Paul Marsden and members of the Pro-European Conservative Party. Mr Watson said: "These defections really come as little surprise. Like more and more people in this country, Paul Marsden has had enough of Labour's control freakery and spin instead of policies that will really improve people's lives. He has recognised that the Liberal Democrats stand for honest and credible policies which can change this country for the better. "John Stevens, co-founder of the Pro-Euro Conservatives and former Tory MEP, Sir Anthony Meyer, former Conservative MP, and Brendan Donnelly, another former Tory MEP, are also joining the Liberal Democrats. Mr Watson said: "They have recognised that the Liberal Democrats are the only party capable of representing the best interests of the UK. The Conservative Party is now totally ineffective. "I look forward to welcoming Pro-Euro Conservatives in the South West into the Liberal Democrats."
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MEP seeks to halt human trafficking
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Monday, 10 December 2001
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson today called for a common European immigration policy to help curb trafficking in human beings. Mr Watson was speaking in Brussels at a seminar on Europe and Refugees organised by the European Committee for Refugees and Exiles. His comments come a few days after eight dead and five sick refugees were found in a freight container after it arrived in Ireland. He said immigration must no longer be considered as a threat for Europe but as an opportunity. However, migration flows must be managed in a new way in partnership with countries of origin. "It is only if we succeed in implementing this common immigration policy that we will succeed in reducing illegal immigration," he said. Mr Watson also called for a single and simplified European procedure for asylum applications. He said: "In some member countries there are fast-track procedures which deprive applicants of any correct examination of their requests. In others the procedure is so slow it can take two to three years before a decision is made. In most member states the rate of asylum claims is as high as 80% which shows how the fundamental right to asylum is not respected. "Mr Watson added: "The present situation where asylum seekers are either confined in retention camps such as at Sangatte in France or left by themselves without any resources is absolutely unacceptable. Such a situation leads them inevitably to crime. "Mr Watson also stressed the importance of ensuring that asylum seekers are not subject to racist and xenophobic attacks or discrimination.
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Watson warns America over civil liberties
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Wednesday, 05 December 2001
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson is to warn senior US government officials that they must not "ride roughshod" over civil liberties if they want full European support in the fight against terrorism. Before leaving for Washington today for "an exchange of views", Mr Watson said he was concerned that under new anti-terrorism legislation the US had already jailed many hundreds of people without trial and without publicity. The US government has also introduced measures which would allow the trial of people in military tribunals, short-cutting the normal judiciary procedures. Mr Watson, the architect of anti-terrorism measures overwhelmingly approved by the European Parliament, said America wanted to negotiate a fast-track extradition agreement with the European Union but warned: "If they want us to agree we will have to be convinced that human rights are being respected. "In Washington, Mr Watson will be meeting senior members of Congress and government officials. Transatlantic co-operation on other issues, such as data protection, will also be discussed. Last week, MEPs approved Commission proposals for a European arrest warrant and common definitions of terrorism and punishments. They also voted for amendments strengthening civil rights. The proposals will be discussed by Justice and Home Affairs ministers on Friday before receiving a second reading in parliament next week. Mr Watson drew up the initial report which was the basis of the new law which is expected to be given formal agreement in record time and he was responsible for piloting it through parliament.
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MEP's praise for college leads to VIP visit
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Wednesday, 05 December 2001
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Euro MP Graham Watson's visit to Tavistock College in Devon in July has led to more VIP interest in the college's innovative language classes. The Japanese Ambassador to London, Masaki Orita, has said he would like to visit the college after hearing Mr Watson's praise for its pioneering teaching of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. Following his visit, Mr Watson, Lib Dem MEP for the South West, said: "I was particularly impressed to meet the staff involved in this work. "I strongly believe that students should learn Japanese and Chinese as important languages for the future. "The Japanese Ambassador's visit is likely to take place in January."
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Brussels doesn't deliver the red tape, says MEP
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Wednesday, 05 December 2001
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Threats to the home delivery of newspapers should not be blamed on Brussels, South West Euro MP Graham Watson said today. Mr Watson was reacting to a decision by newsagent Richard Dare to cease some of his newspaper deliveries in Street, Somerset, at the end of the year. Mr Dare, of Central News Deliveries, has told customers in a letter: "It has now become almost impossible under the European Young Workers Directive to employ paper persons under the age of 16. " As a result of this letter, a number of constituents have contacted Mr Watson's office. But Mr Watson has explained to Mr Dare: "When a directive is passed by the EU, it needs to be adopted into each member state's law. The UK has a history of implementing directives in a more bureaucratic way than other member states, and this is the case here. Any red tape associated with the directive has not come from Brussels but from the interpretation of the directive into English law. "In a letter to Mr Dare, Mr Watson adds: "Even in 2001, children across Europe (including the UK) are prevented from receiving a proper education because they are forced to work by employers who take advantage of them. While this is not true of the majority of newsagents, a directive was clearly necessary to protect children from the minority of employers who treat them badly. "Mr Watson said today: "I have heard another newsagent complain that before children can be employed they must now be registered with the local authority. In fact, registration of children for employment has been a legal requirement for employers for 68 years since the Children and Young Persons Act of 1933. "
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