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Strasbourg Roundup (March)

Welcome from the Brussels Parliament for the second instalment of my Roundup in recent weeks. We’re here for a mini-plenary, where we have a legislative session lasting just a couple of days. It always makes me think – if we have the facilities here in Brussels to do the important business of lawmaking, why can’t we stay in Brussels rather than going all the way to Strasbourg each month? The week before the mini-plenary we also had the second Strasbourg session of March, where the European Parliamentary Labour Party were visited by Gordon Brown before his round-the-world trip in advance of the G20 summit. In other news, I spoke to the Parliament on the importance of supporting small business during the economic crisis; I voiced concerns about the need to remember businesses throughout the supply chain when helping the car industry; we debated the testing of cosmetics on animals; I called for more openness in the EU and more online security; and in the mini-plenary, I spoke on ecolabels, EU environmental policy, and anti-discrimination measures.

On Tuesday of Strasbourg week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the Parliament on preparations for the forthcoming G20 summit. In a fascinating speech, Gordon said Europe is uniquely placed to provide world leadership in the economic downturn because of its history of co-operation. He told MEPs that the UK was not ‘in Europe's slipstream but firmly in its mainstream’. Looking to the financial crisis, he added that the EU had to promote an economics based on principles, through implementing tough regulatory standards.

His comments were in stark contrast to the Tories’ recent isolationist announcement that they intend to withdraw from the mainstream centre-right EPP grouping in the European Parliament after the European elections on June 4th. On the same day as Gordon’s speech, Conservative MEP Christopher Beazley left the Tory delegation in response to Cameron’s Euro-sceptic decision, closely followed by the announcement that their only female MEP, Caroline Jackson, is considering leaving the party. So Europe seems to be splitting the Conservative Party once again. What their plans will mean, however, is that voters face an even clearer choice for the June elections, a choice between a Labour Party that would give workers and businesses the means and influence to defend themselves against the economic storm, or a Tory party that will put up the shutters, saying Britain is closed for business.

On the same day, I spoke to the EP on the need for small loans to be given to businesses during the current economic crisis. Last year I worked on legislation for mini-loans to enable small businesses to grow, and in Strasbourg I again argued that the extension of microcredit will underpin economic recovery. I called on the European Commission to take urgent action, because microcredit not only assists entrepreneurship, it also delivers social cohesion. I suggested that the EU could help in the often daunting process of establishing a business by setting up a European network of lawyers prepared to give advice to micro-business start-ups. Many European companies’ economic recovery plans have so far focused on supporting key industrial sectors such as banking and the car industry. With small and medium-sized enterprises making up 95% of firms in the West Midlands, now is the time we turned our attention to small businesses, too.

My campaign for jobs continued the following day, when Parliament agreed on a statement calling for a united European response to help the troubled car industry. Since the end of last year, car sales have plummeted dramatically across the EU as the economic downturn has taken effect. This is endangering millions of jobs across the continent. In an address to the House, I welcomed the MEPs’ statement, and explained how I believe the car industry is a model for the way businesses can survive. Recently I was lucky enough to visit Jaguar Land Rover in Castle Bromwich where I was struck by the forward-thinking of the trade unions, who have been working with management to ensure continued research and development into greener vehicles. The week before Strasbourg I had visited Michelin in Staffordshire to see the effects of the downturn there. Car components are just as vital as cars themselves, so I was pleased to see legislation I had been working on to improve the fuel efficiency of tyres pass through the Parliament’s industry committee just before the mini-plenary. There’s little point in protecting the biggest car makers without ensuring proper support for the businesses down the supply chain that create so many jobs in the West Midlands.

Testing of cosmetics on animals is an issue that concerns many of my constituents and, as part of my ongoing efforts to protect animal rights, I made a speech to the EP on the need for pan-European legislation to combat the practice. Welcoming a report adopted by MEPs in Strasbourg, I urged cosmetic manufacturers to stick to standards restricting the use of potentially harmful materials, and do more to make consumers aware of exactly what goes into their cosmetics.

We also discussed the reform of institutions closer to home, when I debated in favour of increasing the transparency of EU institutions. I told Parliament that the EU risks losing its citizens. Voters often say they don’t understand what goes on in Brussels, and MEPs are worried that not enough people will be interested in what we do to vote in the European elections on June 4th. The UK has the worst level of knowledge about the EU than any European country. Communication is therefore key. We need engagement with citizens not only for successful European elections, but to clear up much of the Euro-scepticism that poisons discussion of the good things the EU does.

Another issue that I spoke on in Strasbourg was the need for better security on the internet. Though the internet has brought us countless benefits, constituents often tell me they are also concerned about its dangers. We have a remarkable resource at our fingertips, but the very freedom it gives us has also left criminals – such as child pornographers – free to abuse the technology. The legislation we were debating focussed on e-literacy – the ability to use information technology comfortably. I said that we cannot move forward as a society if, by promoting new freedoms for some, we restrict the rights of people who are less familiar with the internet.

Back in Brussels for the mini-plenary, I took my campaign for the environment to the floor of the House. Discussing a report on ecolabels, designed to give customers information on how environmentally-friendly their purchases are, I suggested that if we’re to be successful in fighting climate change, we need to make choosing green products easier for the consumer. By introducing a scheme such as ecolabel we can stimulate a market in ecologically kinder goods. People often tell me that they’re happy to make different choices if buying green makes sense. Speaking on another environmental issue, I explained how I agreed with a report on EU Cohesion Policy because it linked our commitment to the environment to our need to deliver Member States out of the current financial crisis. But I stressed that change, like so much else, should begin in the home. The report’s suggestion to use European Development Fund money to complement regional or local authority schemes for double-glazing, insulation and solar panels, or replace old boilers for more energy-efficient ones, is an excellent example of how the EU can help countries meet targets which will benefit us all.

Lastly, I outlined to the plenary in Brussels how I’ve always fought against all types of discrimination. MEPs voted on a report to strengthen frameworks which prevent exploitation of people because of their religion, age, disability, education or marital status. This is particularly necessary during economic downturns, when the tendency grows to exploit those who can’t defend themselves.

In the West Midlands, of course, we face the real possibility of a BNP win in the European elections. I’ll be back next time with more news of my campaign against the far right, and what I’ve been up to in the second-last Strasbourg of this Parliament. In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, Vaisakhi, and St. George’s Day!