Graham Watson MEP
Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar
A local champion with an international reputation
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News from the Lib Dems in Government
Graham's Newsletter
Every week Graham writes a newsletter letting you know what has been happing in Europe over the past week. You can subscribe to receive this by email here. Below are the last editions.
Graham's Newsletter Friday 17th February 2012
Greetings
I reported last week on plans for a joint British German cabinet meeting; these have now been downgraded to a joint meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs sub committees.
The European Parliament met in Strasbourg this week. In a vote on next year's budget we called for a single seat for the European Parliament, to cut operating costs. Our vote will not make a crucial difference but is yet another sign that we are gradually winning the campaign.
Watson calls on EU energy ministers to electrify the debate, not gas it
European Union energy ministers are meeting in Brussels today to discuss EU energy policy and the draft regulation on guidelines for European energy infrastructure.
Sir Graham Watson, South West Member of the European Parliament, who is Chairman of the Climate Parliament, a global network of MPs and MEPs from all mainstream political parties campaigning to increase government investment in renewable energy and electricity supergrids, commented:
"EU energy ministers need to be laying the foundations for the transformation of our energy infrastructure. The EU's job is to kickstart the renewable energy revolution we need for the climate and our energy security by making sure the cross-border grid connections get built."
"There is no time to waste.
Read more: Watson calls on EU energy ministers to electrify the debate, not gas it
Graham's Newsletter Friday 10th February
Greetings
On Monday the governments of France and Germany held a joint cabinet meeting. This was not the first such occasion, but to give an idea of the extent to which they are committed to closer union, they discussed a plan to harmonise company taxation by 1 January next year. The Green Paper prepared by their civil servants recommends cutting company taxes but extending the tax base, or widening the taxman's net. I am pleased to report that the UK and German governments will hold a joint cabinet meeting shortly, which I believe will be a first, but I doubt any plan of such nature will be on the agenda.
Graham's Newsletter Friday 3rd February
Greetings
Monday this week saw the heads of state and government of the EU member states meeting in Brussels at an 'informal' European Council meeting. They agreed one treaty setting up the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), a 'bailout fund' available to countries which sign the second treaty, outlawing Keynesian economics by writing into law a requirement on governments not to run budget deficits. The European Court of Justice will be able to fine countries who break the latter treaty, paying the fine into the ESM. They also agreed that when items of business exclusively to do with eurozone issues are on the agenda in future, only the countries which have adopted the euro will participate, though this merely formalises a practice which has become the norm.
Graham's Newsletter Friday 27th January
Greetings
This week brought the great news that Bristol will get a £2.5 million grant from the European Investment Bank to invest in green energy and through setting up of an energy services company. It is hoped that this may create up to 1,000 jobs. Similarly, an SME financing arrangement in Spain worth €200 million has been announced.
Graham's Newsletter Friday 20th December
Greetings
The European Parliament met in Strasbourg this week for the traditional mid-term session in which we spend an inordinate amount of time electing a new speaker ('President' in our parlance), deputy speakers ('Vice Presidents') and 'Quaestors' (the MEPs' equivalent of trade union shop stewards, to look after our interests vis-a-vis Parliament's administration).
The old-pals act between the two major parties ensured the election of a German Socialist, succeeding a Polish Christian Democrat, as our new Speaker. LibDem Diana Wallis put up a spirited fight but came in third, one vote behind a maverick UK Tory: nonetheless the two of them took over 40% of the votes cast, denying the victor the substantial majority he would have liked. Liberals succeeded in electing two deputy speakers, Brit Edward McMillan Scott and German Alexander Alvaro.