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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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March 2002
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| Watson hails Somerset swing to the LibDems |
| US terror trial rules "not as bad as we had feared" |
| Watson condemns 'senseless' murder of Marco Biagi |
| EU leaders risk 'credibility gap' on economic reform |
| Euro MP forges links with the candidate countries |
| Euro MP 'disappointed' at vitamin directive vote |
| Beef ban: France must face fines, says MEP |
| MEP welcomes court decision in Customs car seizure case |
| EU funds will boost county's growing reputation |
| MEP votes against vitamin clampdown |
| Watson challenges Tories and LibDem doubters over Europe |
| MEP defends health food choice for consumers |
| EU vote could offer lifeline for postal services |
| Watson welcomes Kyoto decision |
Euro MP backs sea anglers
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Watson hails Somerset swing to the LibDems
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Friday, 22 March 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson today warned that the Tories are "on a slippery slope" in Somerset after Liberal Democrat candidates greatly increased their share of the vote in two council by-elections.
Mr Watson hailed the Liberal Democrat success as "a tremendous performance in what are two of the Tories' safest council seats in the county. This is a clear indication that the Tory vote in Somerset is falling away."
In Camelot ward of South Somerset District Council, the Conservative majority was cut by 63 per cent. In Monument ward of Taunton Deane Borough Council, the Tory majority fell by nearly 20 per cent.
Liberal Democrat Chris Perrin sliced hundreds of votes off the Tory majority in Camelot ward where there was an especially high turnout. Labour did not contest either of the by-elections.
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US terror trial rules "not as bad as we had feared"
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Thursday, 21 March 2002
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ELDR leader and European Parliament rapporteur on terrorism Graham Watson today described US rules on military tribunals for terrorists as "not as bad as we had feared", but called for further clarification of defendants' rights.
Commenting on the US administration's summary of rules to be issued today, Mr Watson said: "The European preference would have been for the US to try terrorist suspects in civilian courts rather than in military tribunals. However, I am pleased that the US Department of Defence appears to have moved on some of the issues of greatest concern to Europeans, namely the presumption in favour of the openness of trial proceedings, and the need for unanimity to apply the death penalty. The proposals are not as bad as many of us had feared."
However, Mr Watson did call for clarification of the rights of defendants: "Europe will have to be satisfied with the answers to two questions in particular before we can negotiate a fast-track extradition agreement with the United States: will defendants have the right to private discussions with their attorney? And will the trials take place on US soil and provide the same rights of appeal as US soldiers?"
Concerning the latter point, Mr Watson expressed concern that the review panel would consist of military officers appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence, and civilians could only be included if they were temporarily commissioned as military officers: "Modern international practice would normally allow a right of appeal to a civilian body independent of the executive branch, in conformity with international norms of fairness and justice."
Mr Watson also urged the United States not to apply the death penalty, describing this as a "sure-fire way of creating new martyrs for the terrorists. The European Parliament has on many occasions passed resolutions calling on the US to abolish the death penalty". He recalled that he had recently expressed these concerns to Congressman James Sensenbrenner (Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee) on his recent visit to Brussels. Similarly, he discussed the matter with Senator Patrick Leahy (Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee) during his 6 December visit to the US Senate Judiciary Committee's hearings with John Ashcroft, which he attended in his capacity as chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Mr Watson called on the European Parliament to invite them both to give evidence on these new rules.
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Watson condemns 'senseless' murder of Marco Biagi
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Wednesday, 20 March 2002
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ELDR group leader Graham Watson has condemned the murder last night in Bologna of Marco Biagi, a senior adviser to the Italian government on labour issues. Mr Watson was the European Parliament's rapporteur on terrorism.
"The senseless murder of Mr Biagi reminds us all that terrorism is still the enemy within as well as an external threat", said Mr Watson. "If it is confirmed, as first indications suggest, that Mr Biagi was assassinated by left-wing extremists, this would represent a terrible return to the dark days when politicians were killed for their political convictions. Europe must redouble its concerted efforts to tackle terrorism in whatever form, and from wherever it originates".
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EU leaders risk 'credibility gap' on economic reform
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Wednesday, 20 March 2002
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Speaking in a European Parliament debate, European Liberal Democrat group leader Graham Watson MEP today welcomed the Barcelona summit as "a step forward on the difficult road to economic reform", but highlighted the need for heads of government to actually implement the new targets they set.
Mr Watson said: "What we must ensure is that the 'delivery gap' identified by President Prodi does not turn into a 'credibility gap' due to Council's failure to actually meet the multitude of targets it sets at every summit." He added that when EU Prime Ministers "set deadlines and targets in their communiqués, they must show they mean them, and then apply themselves to banging ministerial heads together to carry them through ".
The ELDR leader cited the partial agreement on energy liberalisation as an example of this 'credibility gap', asking: "What credibility will we have in the eyes of our citizens if we deny them the benefits of more choice and lower energy prices?". He commended to the Spanish and Danish Presidencies "Parliament's call for a second stage of energy liberalisation, to include domestic customers, by 2005".
Mr Watson also pointed to Council's failure to agree the directive on occupational pension funds, agreed by Parliament in July 2000: "Here is a prime example of a 'delivery gap' which Parliament has closed, and which requires more than mere warm words by Council."
In the field of foreign policy, Mr Watson welcomed the summit declaration on the Middle East, and the decision to increase overseas development aid as a first step towards the UN's 0.7% target. In the economic field, he welcomed the summit's emphasis on making work pay and reducing taxes for low wage earners. He also congratulated Pat Cox on the success of his first summit, and Javier Solana on the deal he brokered on Serbia Montenegro.
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Euro MP forges links with the candidate countries
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Monday, 18 March 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson is this week visiting a number of the countries which have applied to join the European Union.
On Saturday (16th March) he flew to Brno in the Czech Republic where he met leaders of ODA, the Czech Liberal Democrat party.
Today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday, 18th and 19th March) he is in Sofia, Bulgaria, to forge links with political leaders and government officials.
On Thursday and Friday (21st and 22nd March) Mr Watson will be addressing a Liberal International conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Hungary is likely to be one of the first of 10 Central and Eastern European states to join an enlarged EU.
There are 13 applicant countries and as many as 10 new members may join in 2004.
Mr Watson, who in January was elected leader of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform group in the European Parliament - the group which unites Liberal Democrat MEPs from across Europe - said: "One of my priorities as leader is to build and strengthen links with Liberal Democrats in the candidate countries."
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Euro MP 'disappointed' at vitamin directive vote
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Monday, 18 March 2002
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South West MEP Graham Watson, who voted against a new EU directive on vitamin and mineral supplements, has vowed to fight on for the right of consumers to make their own choices.
Mr Watson said he will continue to press for legislation under which consumers can purchase whichever food supplements they choose provided that these are safe and appropriately labelled.
Mr Watson said: "I voted in favour of an amendment which sought to throw out the directive 'lock stock and barrel' but, disappointingly, this secured the support of only 139 MEPs. South West Tory MEP Alexander Stockton and Labour MEP Glyn Ford voted in favour of the directive.
Health food manufacturers and shops have expressed fears for their future at the plan that may limit availability of some supplements.
Mr Watson said: "It is right for there to be controls to ensure the safety and quality of products and for consumers to be fully informed about these products. However, the proposals go too far."
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Beef ban: France must face fines, says MEP
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Friday, 15 March 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson today called for the European Commission to "throw the book" at France for continuing to defy a court ruling that its ban on British beef is illegal.
Mr Watson said it was time for the Commission to take immediate action to stop "this blatant flouting of EU law." He called for punitive daily fines to be imposed until France complies with last December's European Court of Justice ruling.
France imposed its ban because of fears about BSE but the commission gave British beef a clean bill of health over two years ago. As a result, the commission brought an action against France in the Court of Justice.
Mr Watson was instrumental in urging the commission to take the issue before the court which agreed that a national law could not justify a refusal to apply community law.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrat MEPs, said: "France has been flouting a binding EU law.
"I shall be calling for the commission to take immediate and decisive action."
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MEP welcomes court decision in Customs car seizure case
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Monday, 11 March 2002
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Euro MP Graham Watson's campaign to stop Customs and Excise officers from seizing the cars of cross-Channel shoppers bringing home alcohol and tobacco has received new support from a Court of Appeal decision.
The Court has dismissed an appeal by the Customs and Excise Commissioners against a decision by the VAT and Duties Tribunal in November that Customs' refusal to return a vehicle seized from a driver about to board the Shuttle in Calais "was disproportionate and would cause him undue hardship."
The Court of Appeal's judgement said the policy of the Customs and Excise Commissioners to seize the motor vehicles of those who evaded duty on tobacco and alcohol, and to refuse to restore the vehicles save only in exceptional circumstances, failed to distinguish between commercial smuggling and importation for distribution among family and friends.
The policy accordingly fettered the discretion of an officer, preventing her from applying the doctrine of proportionality in an individual case.
The Court of Appeal said those who deliberately used their cars to further fraudulent commercial ventures, knowing that their cars might be forfeited if they were caught, could not reasonably be heard to complain if they lost their vehicles. The policy did not, however, draw a distinction between the commercial smuggler and the driver importing goods for social distribution to family or friends in circumstances where there was no attempt to make a profit.
In the present case, the customs officers had not distinguished between the true commercial smuggler and the driver importing goods for family and friends. The cars of both had been treated as subject to almost automatic forfeiture.
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EU funds will boost county's growing reputation
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Monday, 11 March 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson has welcomed the use of EU funds to boost Cornwall's horticulture industry.
A £6.6 million Objective 1 funding scheme will aid 800 horticultural firms throughout Cornwall, boosting its reputation as a flower and plant producer.
"With the onset of spring, it is encouraging to see enterprise blossoming in the south west," said Mr Watson, Liberal Democrat leader in the European Parliament.
The cash will help create and protect jobs as well as improving quality and marketing, spreading the county's reputation further afield.
"The use of EU funds in this way will enhance Cornwall's enviable reputation. This is an ideal use for European funding and I applaud the way that imaginative thinking is taking root.
"Quality produce marketed in a professional way is a key factor in the county's future."
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MEP votes against vitamin clampdown
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Monday, 11 March 2002
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Local MEP Graham Watson will this week vote against a plan to limit the availability of vitamin and mineral supplements.
He will oppose a new EU directive when it receives a second reading in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
High-dose preparations that exceed a "recommended daily allowance" may not be available without a prescription and up to 300 ingredients would be banned. Health food manufacturers and shops have expressed fears for their future.
Mr Watson said: "Consumer protection is of paramount importance. I welcome labelling that gives consumers more details about the food supplements and to ensure that false claims are not made.
"It is right for there to be controls to ensure the safety and quality of products and for consumers to be fully informed about these products.
"However, the proposals go too far. Consumers should be free to choose which ever food supplements they wish provided that these are safe and are appropriately labelled."
Supporters of the measures claim that they are being introduced because of fears about the safety of some products, but Mr Watson said the European Commission, which has the support of the British Government, is actually introducing them to create common rules for the sale of vitamins across the EU.
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Watson challenges Tories and LibDem doubters over Europe
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Saturday, 9 March 2002
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In a keynote speech yesterday evening to an eve of conference rally at the Liberal Democrat Spring conference in Manchester, Graham Watson, South West MEP and leader of the European Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, challenged the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat euro-doubters to set out their alternatives to European integration.
Graham Watson said: "We challenge Iain Duncan Smith and his tin hat territorials to show how the world would be a safer place if the tribes of Europe were still apart. Freebooting is their overriding value - more important than concerted action on climate change, more important than pooling resources to curb HIV infection in Africa, more important than making common cause against the drugs trade - then humankind would pay a heavy price for their happiness."
Mr Watson added: "I read in the public prints that some of our own MPs are set to challenge Charles' championing of Europe. That's OK - we're a big enough party to embrace differing views. But let it be honest dissent, honestly debated, not some closet committee corridor cabal. If these MPs exist, let them show their colours, let us eyeball their ideas and test their alternatives. Our concept of government is clear - local wherever possible, national where appropriate and international where necessary."
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MEP defends health food choice for consumers
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Wednesday, 6 March 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson will oppose any measures that might threaten the future of the health food industry when proposals for an EU directive on food supplements is debated in the European Parliament in Strasbourg next week.
The directive aims to harmonise national legal provisions on food supplements and to increase consumer protection.
Some members of the health food industry have expressed fears that any new "draconian" legislation could put them out of business.
The proposals include a call for new labelling to give consumers more details about the food supplements. Claims that a product can prevent, treat or cure illness are likely to be banned.
The proposals will receive a second reading in parliament on Tuesday (12th March). New legislation will be co-decided between MEPs and the Council of Ministers.
Mr Watson said: "I shall continue to press for consumers to be allowed to purchase which ever food supplements they choose, provided that they are safe and appropriately labelled."
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EU vote could offer lifeline for postal services
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Wednesay, 6 March 2002
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The European Parliament will vote next week on a text which allows for EU governments to support postal companies financially in the interest of a high quality postal service without falling foul of tight EU rules on state aid.
The vote on further liberalisation of the market in postal services comes in the wake of radical proposals by the British postal regulator to open the UK market fully to competition by March 2006.
South West MEP Graham Watson said: "Once this directive is passed, the UK Government will not be able to overlook the problems of postal services in rural areas. Even when the postal regulator's proposals are in place, the smokescreen of the free market will thankfully not be thick enough to hide behind.
"The EU is moving forward with liberalisation, but at a slower pace than proposed in the UK. It has also recognised that government aid through State resources in any form whatsoever can have a role to play in order to maintain this vital sector, particularly in rural areas where it may not be profitable to run a high quality postal service."
Although the UK's existing plans for market opening go further than those of the EU, the acceptance that state aid can be given to support postal services will still be applicable in the UK.
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Watson welcomes Kyoto decision
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Monday, 04 March 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson has welcomed an agreement by Europe's environment ministers that all 15 member states should be bound by the Kyoto protocol.
Originally drawn up in Japan in 1997, the protocol commits countries which ratify it to cut emissions of greenhouse gases which warm the atmosphere.
The treaty will now go to the European Council heads of state for ratification.
Mr Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said: "This is good news for the environment. It is unfortunate that the US has rejected the protocol because it says it will damage its economic interests.
"It is important now that countries such as Russia, Japan and Canada ratify the treaty. The EU is leading the way."
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Euro MP backs sea anglers
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Monday, 04 March 2002
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South West Euro MP Graham Watson is calling for the interests of recreational sea anglers to be taken into account during reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.
The sea anglers say they are concerned about depletion of fish stocks and environmental damage caused by unsustainable commercial fishing practices and want their interests to be included in the current review.
Mr Watson said: "I and other Liberal Democrats fully share the anglers' concerns. Lib Dem MEP Elspeth Attwool, a member of the Fisheries Committee, tabled amendments to the CFP proposals to include specific reference to the RSA.
"It is disappointing that these were rejected but that may have been a lack of understanding of the issue rather than a negative approach to the RSA.
"New legislative proposals will soon be presented by the Commission and then Parliament will again be able to give its opinion. Fishing policy is one of the areas where the Council of Ministers makes the final decision. Spain holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers for the next six months and it is heartening that the Spanish Fisheries Minister recognised at the last Fisheries Committee meeting that recreational sea angling should be taken into account."
Mr Watson said the sea anglers' interests and views would be put forward at the highest level during the various negotiations.
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