Wednesday, 26 June 2002

South West MEP Graham Watson says the UK government has chosen the worst possible option for dealing with the scrapping and recycling of old cars.

He said the decision to make the last owner of a vehicle pay the cost  could result in a huge rise in the number of abandoned cars across the region.

The government’s announcement follows months of indecision on how to introduce the EU End-of-Life Vehicles directive designed to promote recycling and protect the environment.  It requires that all hazardous substances such as oil, brake fluid and coolant be removed before the vehicles are scrapped.

Dismantlers estimate it will cost up to £100 for each of the 2,000,000 or so cars scrapped every year.  Manufacturers will be forced to foot the bill from 2007 but it had been unclear who would meet the cost in the meantime.

Reports suggest that the government looked into three options – taxing new cars to pay for the scrapping of old ones, asking the manufacturers to pay, and forcing the last owners to be responsible.

Mr Watson said people paying several thousand pounds for a car would be more likely to be able to afford an extra £100 in scrapping and recycling costs.

Wednesday, 26 June 2002

South West Euro MP Graham Watson has rebuked the US government for seeking immunity from prosecution for its troops.  He said the US is undermining the International Criminal Court, the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal, which comes into effect on Monday (1^st July).

At the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week, Mr Watson will sponsor a motion attacking the US action.  He said: “Military personnel of no country should be above the law.”

Mr Watson will carry his message with him when he flies to Washington on Sunday, 7^th July for talks with US government leaders.

Mr Watson said: “There is some evidence of war atrocities committed by US servicemen in Afghanistan.  I shall be interested to hear the US version of the alleged offences. 

“It is a harrowing reminder of the Mai Lai massacre in Vietnam.  I hope that the allegations are false.  But it is clear that military personnel of no country should be above the law.”  

Monday, 24 June 2002

South West MEP Graham Watson today flew to Copenhagen on the first leg of a journey to hold talks with the prime ministers of three countries.

In Copenhagen, Mr Watson met Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen to discuss the results of last week’s heads of state summit in Seville which rejected Tony Blair’s call to cut overseas development aid in a bid to stop immigration.  In July, Denmark’s Liberal government will take over the presidency of the EU from Spain.

On Tuesday (25^th June), Mr Watson travels to Helsinki in Finland for a two-day meeting of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform group which he leads.  During his visit to Finland, Mr Watson will discuss the Seville summit with the Finnish PM, Paavo Lipponen.  He will also be meeting political and business leaders for talks on industrial, environmental and social issues.

Monday, 17 June 2002

South West Euro MP Graham Watson today attacked the European Commission and the Council of Ministers for failing to implement new freedom of information rules.

It is more than a year since MEPs voted a directive through Parliament requiring greater public access to EU documents in a bid to make decision-making less secretive.

Mr Watson, a champion of greater transparency, was chairman of the European Parliament’s Citizens’ Rights and Freedoms, Justice and Home Affairs committee when the new code was agreed in May last year. 

He said: “A public register of documents should have been introduced by this June but the deadline has passed and the register has not been completed.

“The Commission and the Council have been dragging their feet.  If the EU is to be closer to the public there must be greater transparency. There is no justification for the deplorable delays in implementing this measure”

Monday, 17 June 2002

South West MEP Graham Watson today attacked the UK Government’s “gunboat mentality” over immigration.

In a major speech in Sweden, Mr Watson pledged that European Liberal leaders meeting in Seville, Spain, on Thursday on the eve of an EU heads of government summit would fight a proposal by Britain and Spain to cut development aid to countries which failed to control migration.

Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: “We will oppose Tony Blair and Spanish PM Josie Maria Aznar’s plans to take away economic aid and to send warships to the Mediterranean to hold back the Iraqi and Syrian refugees.”

Speaking at a conference of Sweden’s Centre Party, Mr Watson pointed to “a failure by the EU to agree a proposal that has been on the table for two years calling on member states to agree a common immigration and asylum policy to halt the international pass-the-parcel attitude to asylum seekers.”

Friday, 14 June 2002

South West MEP Graham Watson has given his support to a proposal to help people affected by food allergies to get a clearer idea of the make up of foods.

The European Parliament this week gave the go-ahead at first reading to the proposed revision of the EU food labelling directive.  This provides for a more comprehensive listing of ingredients to enable consumers with allergies to identify any allergenic substance that may be present.

Mr Watson said: “Currently, components of compound ingredients that make up less than 25% of the final food product do not need to be included in the list of ingredients.  The proposal will establish a list of ingredients liable to cause allergies or intolerance.”

In its vote in Strasbourg, Parliament called for celery, mustard and lupin to be added to the list.  MEPs also want the European Food Safety Authority to have a role in reviewing the list of ingredients.

Friday, 14 June 2002

South West MEP Graham Watson has welcomed the European Parliament’s approval this week of legislation to prevent sexual harassment at work and to promote equality in the workplace.

The new legislation revises a 1976 equal opportunities directive and is the first attempt to tackle sexual harassment on a Europe-wide basis. 

It includes a common definition of what constitutes sexual harassment and requires member states to monitor and promote equality and provide effective compensation for victims.

The final shape of the legislation was agreed in lengthy talks between the Council of Ministers and Parliament.  Member states have three years to implement the new rules.

Thursday, 13 June 2002

Local MEP Graham Watson tonight (Thursday, 13^th June) praised a group of Exeter solicitors for their commitment to helping the local community.

A community group supported by the solicitors won third prize in a nationwide contest for the best examples of pro bono work undertaken by lawyers.

The ADVICE group in Exeter helps to raise awareness and provides a support service for victims of domestic violence.  ADVICE stands for Action Against Domestic Violence in the Community of Exeter.

The group worked together with Helen Tremeer, of Michelmores solicitors in Exeter.  Helen helped establish a victim legal help-line involving six other firms of solicitors in Exeter.

Mr Watson, who helped to judge the entries, tonight saw the group receive a cheque for £1,000 at the DLA Paul Nicholls Memorial Foundation awards ceremony in London.

The foundation was established in memory of Paul Nicholls, DLA’s late office managing partner, who was a great advocate of pro bono work. DLA is one of the UK’s largest full service commercial law firms.

The awards reward lawyers for their outstanding voluntary contributions to society while providing financial assistance to the winning community projects.

Mr Watson said: “The ADVICE project is a wonderful example of the way that local law firms are able to support local communities.”

Thursday, 13 June 2002

South West Liberal Democrat MEP, Graham Watson, today welcomed the announcement by Dairy Crest that it is to expand its creamery at Davidstow in North Cornwall.

The group is investing £49 million to re-build and expand the facilities at Davidstow, increasing its capacity by two thirds over the next 10 years.

The project is part funded by a £4 million grant from the EU’s Objective One funding programme, matched by £4 million from DEFRA (the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Mr Watson said:

“I am delighted at this morning’s announcement, and I wholeheartedly welcome the use of EU funds in this way.

“As well as providing jobs for local people, the new plant will need some extra 140 million litres of milk a year, helping to support the farming industry in Cornwall which has been hit so hard recently.

Wednesday, 12 June 2002

Opponents of EU enlargement on both sides must not be allowed to use the remaining problems to derail the negotiations, ELDR leader Graham Watson MEP said today.

Speaking in a European Parliament debate on enlargement, Mr Watson said:

"Enlargement is a process of continuous assessment, not a one-off exam. The hotheads and fainthearts on both sides who seek to exploit difficulties in meeting the Copenhagen criteria must not be allowed to derail enlargement. Far better to overcome outstanding problems through the enlargement process. The screening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms must be an ongoing process, part of a wider scrutiny of all Member States, old and new, in a European Union with the Charter of Fundamental Rights at its heart."

The Liberal Democrat leader argued that the enlargement negotiations should not be used to reopen old wounds and animosities: "The infamous Benes decrees are a good example of this - it serves no useful purpose to inflame tensions on this issue."

Mr Watson also regretted the failure of the Council to agree a common position on the common agricultural policy: "If a deal is postponed until the autumn as some propose, this would jeopardise the prospect of admitting the new Member States in time for the European Parliament elections in 2004."

Wednesday, 12 June 2002

South West Euro MP Graham Watson will be in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday (15^th June) to support Christian Aid’s “Trade for Life” campaign.

Mr Watson will be receiving signed “Action Pledges” urging political leaders to help make international trade more beneficial to developing countries.

The campaign aims to fight global poverty by rewriting the rules that govern international trade.

It says that, instead of bringing prosperity, trade often causes injustice and poverty, making the world’s poorest people poorer.

Mr Watson said: “I shall be raising the issues highlighted by this campaign in the European Parliament.”

Monday, 10 June 2002

The arrest of a suspected Al Qaida terrorist for an alleged plot to detonate a radioactive 'dirty bomb' on US soil shows the urgent need for EU  ministers to agree anti-terrorism measures at a meeting on Thursday, according to ELDR leader Graham Watson MEP.

In a statement before the European Parliament in response to the statement this afternoon by Attorney General John Ashcroft, Mr Watson said:

"Today's announcement by the Justice Department that an alleged Al Qaida plot to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb on US soil has been foiled reminds us that it is essential for the European Union to adopt its package of anti-terrorism legislation. We owe it to our friends in the United States to ensure that Europe's safeguards against terrorist groups are as good as possible. I therefore call on EU Justice Ministers to resolve all outstanding issues and proceed to adopt the anti-terrorism legislation when they meet on Thursday."

Friday, 7 June 2002

South West Euro MP Graham Watson will vote next week to ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.

MEPs are heading for a showdown with the UK government which opposes the ban.

EU ministers have so far agreed only to a Europe-wide testing ban but a cross-party coalition of MEPs believe they will win their bid for tougher rules when the Cosmetics Directive is put to the vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

Mr Watson said: “It is difficult to accept that there are no alternatives to testing new cosmetics on animals. If we vote only to ban tests within member states, the problem will simply move outside EU borders.”

The ban would take effect in five years time but three tests would be allowed to continue for 10 years.

Friday, 7 June 2002

South West Euro MP Graham Watson is to fight a European Commission plan to cut the funding available for twinning projects.

The Commission has proposed cutting support from about £8 million to about £5 million.

EU funding supports events and exchanges involving communities and local authorities throughout Europe.

Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: “Twinning plays an important role in promoting our understanding of other nations and cultures.   With the proposed enlargement of the EU and the addition of Central and Eastern European countries, the benefits of twinning will grow.”

Wednesday, 5 June 2002

A thorough reappraisal of NATO's structures and of Europe's role in the alliance must take place now, according to European Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson MEP. The call came ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels on Thursday to discuss NATO reform.

In a keynote speech on defence in the European Parliament today, Mr Watson argued that 11 September, the war in Afghanistan and the West's new relationship with Russia all meant that reform of NATO was required:

"The first priority is to streamline NATO's cumbersome military command structure, so that decisions on which installations to target for missile strikes can be made more quickly, or perhaps even be delegated to commanders on the ground on the basis of guidelines set by the alliance."

"We also need to ensure that NATO has small, highly mobile forces at its disposal which can be deployed at very short notice to take on risky missions such as the search for Al Qaida and Taliban fighters in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. But we also need the capacity to sustain forces on the ground for longer periods."

"Last but not least, we need to set targets for each NATO member country to address the shortfalls in our military capabilities. We have to make the case to our citizens for a sustained increase in defence expenditure, but accompany this with reforms to get better value for our spending through economies of scale at European level."