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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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February 2002
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| Liberal Democrats set out aspirations for Convention |
| Watson outlines political priorities for ELDR |
| Euro MP Watson to meet Wellington residents |
| Tourism must make full use of cash boost, says MEP |
| Early Euro entry essential, MEP tells business leaders |
| MEP backs tougher action on tobacco |
| Euro MP seeks action to halt human trafficking |
| Watson hails victory for common sense in Euro debate |
| Temps are not second-class citizens, says Euro MP |
| Metric martyr cases misguided, says MEP |
| Foreign languages vital for sucess, says MEP |
| Customs postage cost is frankly too high |
| MEP says couples should have equal rights |
| MEP steps up campaign to free Thailand prisoner |
| MEP invited to Asia to tell of terror fight |
| Watson welcomes new air link |
Watson goes head to head on the Euro
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Liberal Democrats set out aspirations for Convention
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Wednesday, 27 February 2002
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On the eve of the inaugural meeting of the Convention on the Future of Europe, leading European Liberal Democrats have set out their aspirations for the process.
Graham Watson, leader of the European Liberal Democrat group in the European Parliament, said:
"The Convention offers a great opportunity to reconnect the EU to its citizens by enhancing democracy and transparency and by placing our common European rights and values at the centre of a new constitutional settlement. I am optimistic that with prominent members such as Henning Christophersen, Lamberto Dini, Hans van Mierlo, Louis Michel and Andrew Duff all representing the European Liberal family, we can make a substantial and positive impact. At our working dinner on Thursday for Convention members from the Liberal family, I will be asking Andrew Duff to co-ordinate the work of the Liberal participants to ensure that our voice is heard."
Andrew Duff, the Vice-President of the European Parliament's delegation and the Liberal group's representative, commented:
"The opening of the Convention is a great moment for Europe. Its historic mission is to draft a constitution fit for the future of Europe. Liberal Democrats will be at the forefront of those arguing for a Union that is fully endowed with powers to act effectively at home and abroad, sustained by a strong transnational parliamentary democracy."
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Watson outlines political priorities for ELDR
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Tuesday, 26 February 2002
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In his first keynote speech to a European Liberal gathering since his election as leader of the ELDR group, Graham Watson MEP will outline this evening in Brussels his three main political priorities for the ELDR for the rest of this Parliament.
Highlighting enlargement as his first priority, Mr Watson will say: "This year is decision year for enlargement, and we must be in a position to decide which of the applicant states are ready for admission by the end of the Danish Presidency. This places a heavy burden on the Spanish Presidency to make good progress if we are to close all the negotiating chapters in time. The Liberal group's emphasis will be on ensuring that the Copenhagen criteria are fully respected."
Turning to the Lisbon process, Mr Watson will add: "The Barcelona summit could be an important milestone in taking forward the Lisbon agenda if the political will is there. The Liberal group will measure the success of that summit against progress towards the adoption of key legislation, including the pensions directive, liberalisation of energy markets and the European patent. If we are to make a success of enlargement, we must show the applicant states that we too are capable of the economic reform that we rightly expect of them. "
Finally, Mr Watson will set out his hopes for the Convention on the Future of Europe, which holds its inaugural meeting on Thursday: "The Convention offers a great opportunity to reconnect the EU to its citizens by enhancing democracy and transparency and by placing our common European rights and values at the centre of a new constitutional settlement. I am optimistic that with prominent members such as Henning Christophersen, Lamberto Dini, Hans van Mierlo, Louis Michel and Andrew Duff all representing the European Liberal family, we can make a substantial and positive impact."
The meeting of Liberal Democrat supporters which Mr Watson will address, will take place today at 20:00 at the Chaloupe d'Or, the Grand' Place, Brussels.
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Euro MP Watson to meet Wellington residents
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Monday, 25 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson will be knocking on people's doors in Wellington, Somerset, on Friday (1st March) to discuss the issues which concern local residents.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, will be in Monument ward where a by-election for a seat on Taunton Deane Borough Council will be held on 21st March.
Mr Watson will be talking to residents accompanied by the Liberal Democrat candidate, Geoff Henley.
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Tourism must make full use of cash boost, says MEP
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Monday, 25 February 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson has called for a more professional approach to tourism in the South West.
Welcoming a new £40 million package aimed at reviving the UK tourist industry, Mr Watson said: "Tourism is a major contributor to the region's economy and this is a welcome boost to help it recover after the devastating foot and mouth outbreak.
"In addition to that outbreak, the 11th September terrorist attacks in the US caused a huge slump in the number of overseas visitors.
"Now is the time for the industry to take new initiatives, improve quality and become more professional. There is tremendous growth potential," he said.
Mr Watson said he welcomed the cash package announced by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell unveiled today and called for the South West's attractions to be given maximum exposure in the planned promotion drive for UK tourism.
An extra £20 million in government aid will be matched by the tourist industry in cash and promotions.
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Early Euro entry essential, MEP tells business leaders
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Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Early entry to the euro is essential to securing jobs and investment in the South West, MEP Graham Watson will tell business leaders in Bournemouth on Friday ( 22nd February).
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, will be a guest at a Confederation of British Industry luncheon meeting to be held at Bournemouth University.
"The eurozone is worth £6.9 billion to the South West," Mr Watson said today. "Trade with the eurozone accounts for more than a quarter of a million jobs in the region. It involves not only large companies but almost 40 per cent of our small and medium sized enterprises.
"For such an internationally focussed region as the South West, membership of the euro will be a good thing. Staying out will add extra costs that those in other countries will not face."
Following the lunch, Mr Watson will be shown around Bournemouth University by the vice-chancellor, Professor Gillian Slater.
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MEP backs tougher action on tobacco
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Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson is backing a tough new EU crackdown on smoking.
He called cigarettes "the greatest killer drug of all" and said: "If concern about dangerous drugs was expressed consistently every tobacco manufacturer would be in prison for making products which are deliberately addictive."
He welcomed new EU laws which are expected to ban additives that improve the taste of tobacco. Cigarette packs will display larger and more dramatic health warnings.
EU Health Commissioner David Byrne this week described cigarette manufacturers as "the first legal industry to generate disposable consumers."
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: "It is right to allow adults to choose for themselves whether to smoke, but tobacco product manufacturers must not be allowed to market their goods as though they were normal safe products.
"Tobacco use kills around 120,000 people in the UK every year, about 330 every day - as if a jumbo jet crashed every day killing all on board.
"The message about the dangers of smoking will be put more effectively than ever before. We must hope that this will discourage more young people from starting the habit.
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Euro MP seeks action to halt human trafficking
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Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson is calling for urgent EU-wide action to halt the growing problem of human trafficking.
"This is one of the fastest-growing areas of organised crime and is becoming more lucrative than the drugs trade," said Mr Watson.
As chairman of the European Parliament's Justice and Home Affairs Committee until the beginning of this year, Mr Watson campaigned for increased co-operation among member states and stronger powers to combat cross-border crime.
The United Nations estimates that more than 700,000 people are smuggled from their home countries each year. They often end up used as forced labour or are sexually exploited. Documents are taken from them and they are often forced to pay off huge and ever-growing alleged debts.
Mr Watson called the trafficking a "modern form of slavery." He said: "It is vital that there is greater co-operation between authorities and institutions dealing with this vile trade in human misery."
Mr Watson welcomed a new United Nations video aimed at increasing awareness of human trafficking which is expected to be shown in about 35 different countries.
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Watson hails victory for common sense in Euro debate
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Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson hailed a head-to-head public debate with UKIP MEP Nigel Farage as "a significant victory for common sense underlining the need for an early decision on the euro."
The lively debate centred on whether Britain should join the common currency and the wider issue of Britain's continued membership of the EU.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, explained the vital need for an early decision on Britain's membership of the common currency. Britain cannot remain isolated from events in Europe and should exert its influence in shaping policy, he said.
The debate took place in front of a large audience at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton, Bristol.
Mr Watson said: "It is a shame that some Eurosceptics seem incapable of putting their case in a courteous and civilised way.
"However, the pro-euro argument is such a persuasive one that it can easily withstand any barrage of hysteria from the Eurosceptics."
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Temps are not second-class citizens, says Euro MP
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Monday, 18 February 2002
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Agency temps should not be treated as second-class citizens, South West Euro MP Graham Watson said today.
He was reacting to a report that business leaders have warned that a leaked EU draft proposal to extend temporary workers' rights could be damaging if companies are forced to provide all temps with the same remuneration as permanent staff, including pensions and holidays.
Mr Watson said: "This is almost certainly another Eurosceptic scare story but it raises a serious point." He said he doubted that it would be viable for companies employing temps for short periods of time to have to make provision for pension and holidays. However, he condemned the practice of companies making staff redundant and then employing long-term temps to do the same jobs.
"Above all, temporary workers must not be exploited either by the agencies they work for or the companies they are placed with. They must not be treated as second-class citizens.
"They should be valued and appropriately rewarded for their skills and flexibility and not regarded as a cheap source of labour."
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Metric martyr cases misguided, says MEP
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Monday, 18 February 2002
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The five "metric martyrs" who today heard that they had lost their High Court fight should not have been prosecuted in the first place, says South West Euro MP Graham Watson.
"The prosecutions were misguided. This should never have been made a criminal offence.
" However, I have little sympathy for any traders who have clearly sought to involve taxpayers in an expensive court case purely to make a political point."
The five were fighting convictions and court orders for selling only in imperial weights and measures.
But Mr Watson said: "The EU directive of 1989 does not ban imperial measures but merely insists that metric measures are displayed. Anyone can continue to use imperial measures as well.
"Metric measures were made legal in Victorian times in 1897 because they are much easier than the old French system of avoirdupois that we call imperial. We took the national decision to go metric in 1965, eight years before we joined the EU. Don't blame Brussels for what is a home-grown, long-standing British policy."
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Foreign languages vital for success, says MEP
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Thursday, 14 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson has welcomed plans for the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools but says he is "very disappointed" that compulsory foreign languages may end for 14 to 16-year-olds. The changes have been announced in a Green Paper.
Mr Watson, a qualified interpreter who speaks fluent French, German and Italian, said: "It is vital that children begin to learn languages at as young an age as possible. It is at primary school age that children are most responsive to language learning.
"Our EU competitors are way ahead of us in language skills. With increased mobility of labour and a widening of the job market, this puts our youngsters under a great disadvantage. Foreign language skills are essential to business competitiveness. Only this week, ambassadors from Germany, France, Italy and Spain issued a plea for language teaching in the UK to be improved.
"I am pleased that more primary school children will learn foreign languages but I am very disappointed that there are plans to make languages a non-compulsory subject after the age of 14."
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, has said that he would like to see Mandarin Chinese, the world's most widely spoken language, more widely available as a language option in British schools.
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Customs postage cost is frankly too high
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Monday, 11 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson said today that he was "less than impressed" that Customs and Excise has sent a two-page letter to a constituent in an envelope bearing a £3.60 postage frank.
The letter complains about the amount of money that the Government is losing as a result of travellers bringing alcohol and tobacco into the country. It was in response to a postcard that the constituent had sent to Customs Minister Paul Boateng calling for an end to the Customs practice of impounding cars at ferry ports.
The reply, signed by Paul Gerrard of Customs and Excise's Law Enforcement Policy department, said that the smuggling of cigarettes cost the UK Exchequer nearly £3 billion in 2000/01.
Mr Watson, who has stressed that he is totally opposed to smuggling but believes innocent travellers are being penalised, said: "Customs may well have received hundreds of these cards and letters from people protesting about their heavy-handed policy. I certainly hope that not all the replies have been sent at a cost of £3.60 instead of 19p. It is a little worrying considering that the letter is about how much money the Exchequer is losing."
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MEP says couples should have equal rights
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Monday, 11 February 2002
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Unmarried couples in the South West risk huge financial losses in the event of a partner's death, Euro MP Graham Watson has warned.
With a quarter of children in Britain now being born outside marriage, Mr Watson is calling on the Government to give legal protection to committed partnerships made by both opposite sex and gay couples.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said many people still believe they have rights within a "common law marriage" which were in fact abolished more than 200 years ago. If relations go wrong, it can come as a shock to find that partners can lose everything.
Mr Watson said unmarried couples can face distressing and humiliating difficulties in securing legal recognition of their relationship. He added: "I believe that unmarried couples with a genuine commitment to one another should have legal protection similar to those who choose to tie the knot."
Mr Watson is urging the Government to give its support to the Civil Partnerships Bill in the House of Lords sponsored by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester. It calls for couples who have lived together for at least six months to be able to register as a civil partnership. They would then share the rights to property and would be able to benefit from each other's pension and social welfare schemes.
Mr Watson said: "Civil relationship schemes have been introduced in 11 countries across Europe and they provide essential protection for partners faced with adverse circumstances such as ill health, domestic violence or death.
"I have been married for 15 years and I recommend it. However, I know unmarried couples both gay and heterosexual, who have been together for the same period of time. We have all made long-term commitments and there is no reason why my wife and I should enjoy more rights than they."
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MEP steps up campaign to free Thailand prisoner
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Monday, 11 February 2002
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Euro MP Graham Watson is taking new steps to obtain the release of a South West man held for 12 years in a Thai jail.
In March last year, Mr Watson presented a petition to the Thai ambassador in Brussels calling for Alan John Davis to be freed.
In 1990, Mr Davis, who lived in Poole, Dorset, and has a son, Paul, who lives in Looe, Cornwall, was arrested on drug trafficking charges. Despite the refusal by police to produce any evidence, the case went ahead and he was convicted.
Mr Watson presented the petition to Thai ambassador Mr Surapong Posayanond after collecting the signatures of other MEPs. He was accompanied by Mr Stephen Jakobi, director of the human rights organisation, Fair Trials Abroad.
Mr Watson said today: "The Thai ambassador told us that if our plea for freedom was supported by the UK government, a pardon for Mr Davis would follow. That backing came in May when the British government announced a change of policy about supporting pleas for clemency for prisoners in foreign jails. Previously, it would only support cases on humanitarian or health grounds but not on grounds of injustice or breach of human rights.
"Mr Davis seemed likely to be the first beneficiary of this major shift in policy but he is still being held in Thailand without any form of redress open to him other than the possibility of a pardon.
"This continued delay in freeing Mr Davis is just not acceptable and I shall be reminding the Thai government of their ambassador's words of almost a year ago and pressing for Mr Davis's immediate release."
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MEP invited to Asia to tell of terror fight
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Wednesdy, 06 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson has been invited to Singapore to speak about the European Union's approach to tackling terrorism.
As chairman of the European Parliament's key Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Mr Watson steered new anti-terrorism legislation through parliament in record time. The proposals were today voted through parliament on a second reading by an overwhelming majority.
Mr Watson has stressed that new laws must maintain a respect for human rights.
On Wednesday (13th February), Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, will be addressing a congress of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. ASEF seeks to promote and cement links between Asia and Europe.
He said: "The stance that the EU is taking against terrorism is of immense importance and interest around the world. Fighting the evil of terrorism is not a reason to ride roughshod over civil liberties."
While in Singapore, Mr Watson will be having meetings to encourage cultural and trade links between Singapore and Europe.
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Watson welcomes new air link
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Monday, 04 February 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson has welcomed news that budget airline Ryanair is to start flights between Newquay and Stansted airports. He described the plan as "an important boost to the region's economy."
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, has long called for better and faster transport links for the South West.
"This is an important development both for business travellers and for tourism. I would expect to see travellers from all over Europe viewing the South West as an attractive choice for short breaks as a result of short flight times and low fares. EU Objective One funding has helped to finance a business development initiative at Newquay airport and I am sure the airport will continue to attract new business for Cornwall and the region as a whole.
Last Friday, Mr Watson told a Confederation of British Industry lunch meeting in Devon that better transport links were vital for business.
He said: "Good communications are essential to attracting new investment to the region and maintaining existing investment. Mr Watson has criticised the Strategic Rail Authority for failure to improve rail links. "It is essential that we have a reliable rail system and journey times more geared to the 21st century," he said.
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Watson goes head to head on the Euro
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Monday, 04 February 2002
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Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South West, has challenged the United Kingdom Independence Party to a public debate on Britain's future in Europe.
A two-man head-to-head with Nigel Farage, UKIP MEP for the South East, will take place in Bristol on Monday, 18th February.
Mr Watson and Mr Farage will debate whether we should join the single currency and the wider issue of Britain's continued membership of the European Union.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: "I have organised this debate so that people in the region can hear the arguments for and against the euro and make a balanced judgement.
"There are people who feel passionately about joining or staying out of the euro but some have made up their minds without considering counter arguments.
"Many tell me they would welcome the opportunity to hear all of the arguments presented in a sensible and unemotional way before reaching their own decisions."
The debate will take place at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton, Bristol, starting at 7.30pm.
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