Graham Watson MEP

European Parliament: EU must not help launder authoritarian leaders' ill-gotten gains

Published on Tuesday 31st January 2012

The European Parliament will on Thursday vote on a report on EU policy towards the leaders of authoritarian regimes. It is expected to pass with a comfortable majority.

The report has been timed to coincide with a European Commission and EEAS review of the EU's sanctions policy which has been requested by the Council of Ministers. It is widely expected that this report will feed in to that process.

Read more: European Parliament: EU must not help launder authoritarian leaders' ill-gotten gains

Wells MP Joins Forces With Euro-MP To Tackle Circus Animal Welfare

Published on Tuesday 31st January 2012

MP for Wells Tessa Munt and Lib Dem MEP for South West England Sir Graham Watson have joined forces to raise awareness of Tessa's campaign to ban wild animals from performing in circus acts across the United Kingdom.

Following on from a successful court case in Austria in which an attempt to overturn a recent ban on circus animals was thrown out, Tessa and Graham are now demanding that the UK Government bans the practice.

Commenting, Tessa said, "Entertainment is no excuse for this barbaric treatment of wild animals in circuses. Other European countries already have a ban.

Read more: Wells MP Joins Forces With Euro-MP To Tackle Circus Animal Welfare

Sir Graham Watson to Address ‘Better Lives with Less?’ Discussion in Ilminster

Published on Monday 30th January 2012

Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar Sir Graham Watson will be one of two key speakers at the Warehouse Theatre, Ilminster on Friday 10th February at 7.30pm at the 'Better Lives with Less?' event being organised by the South Somerset Climate Action Group.

The discussion will focus on future local and global challenges such as climate change, investment in infrastructure, water and food shortages and an ageing workforce. As leader of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, Sir Graham has recently led discussions on the future of Europe at a European leaders summit in London alongside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Read more: Sir Graham Watson to Address ‘Better Lives with Less?’ Discussion in Ilminster

Sir Graham meets German Vice Chancellor and FDP leader Philipp Roesler

Published on Wednesday 25th January 2012

South West Lib Dem MEP and ELDR President Sir Graham Watson met with the German Vice Chancellor, FDP leader and Minister for Economics and Technology Dr. Philipp Roesler last Friday to discuss how they could strengthen European Liberalism ahead of EU ministers meetings. They also discussed how the ELDR party can support the FDP in the run-up to the 2014 European elections. Sir Graham also met with Markus Loening, the new German human rights ambassador and spoke alongside Hans-Dietrich Genscher at the Freidrich Naumann Stiftung's annual Freiheitssymposium about how important it is for the EU to regain the trust of European citizens.

Read more: Sir Graham meets German Vice Chancellor and FDP leader Philipp Roesler

Region takes plunge with first Marine Energy Park

Published on Wednesday 25th January 2012

Long time advocate of renewable energy Investment, Sir Graham Watson MEP has welcomed today's launch in Bristol by UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker of Britain's first Marine Energy Park.

The new South West Marine Energy Park stretching from Bristol to the Isles of Scilly will create a collaborative partnership in the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and industry including Cornwall's famous Wave Hub.

Watson commented:

"This new partnership will help further establish the region at the world's leading centre for renewable marine power."

"EU funding has already supported the Wave Hub and the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy, which together are allowing world leading research and development to take place here in the South West.

Read more: Region takes plunge with first Marine Energy Park