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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Time for a comprehensive European Patent

Published on Wednesday 6th July 2005

The European Parliament rejected the Council Common Position on Computer Implemented Inventions today by a massive majority of 648 to 14 with 18 abstentions. It is the first time a piece of draft legislation has been rejected by Parliament in second reading.

Graham Watson MEP (UK, Lib Dem), leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (the largest of the groups which tabled an amendment to reject), called for the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a Single European Patent regime covering all sectors:

"The Commission's proposal was unclear, Council's Common Position remained ambiguous and Parliament was faced with a barrage of technical amendments pulling in all directions. The chances of achieving legal clarity and improving on the status quo were remote.

London wins Olympics - Watson

Published on Wednesday 6th July 2005

Liberal Democrat MEP for Gibraltar and the South West Graham Watson has said that Spain's decision to mount a legal challenge to the inclusion of Gibraltar in the franchise for European elections owes more to political spite than to any rational examination of the issue. The case has opened in the European Court today.

In 2003 Gibraltar was combined with the South West Region of England for the purposes of European elections.

Spanish Court challenge 'Political Spite' says Gibraltar MEP

Published on Tuesday 5th July 2005

In 2003 Gibraltar was combined with the South West Region of England for the purposes of European elections. This was in keeping with a judgement of the European Court of Human Rights of February 1999 against the United Kingdom which held that the exclusion of Gibraltar was in breach of the Convention of Human Rights.

Blair has six months to convince Europe that he offers a viable alternative

Published on Friday 1st July 2005

"Blair has promised a shake-up of the EU, beginning with the budget but prompting a wider debate about how it has gone about trying to protect the social model that differentiates it from the US. The liberal economic agenda combined with social justice he espouses is music to the ears of many of us who have long argued that a sustainable welfare system and efficient public services require a prosperous society to fund them." said Graham Watson (UK, Lib Dem), leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

"Blair now has six months to convince his European partners that he offers a viable alternative model and to convince the British public that Europe can offer added value and is capable of reform if it has the right leadership.

MEP's European Arrest Warrant law returns Quintas to UK

Published on Thursday 30th June 2005

Commenting on the delivery of murder suspect Hugo Quintas to Wiltshire police, Graham Watson, the South West and Gibraltar Liberal Democrat MEP - the person who took the European Arrest Warrant legislation through the European Parliament 2 years ago - said;

'If the Conservatives and other anti-Europeans had got their way, Hayley Richards' family would not have the satisfaction of seeing the prime suspect brought before the law. British Conservative MEPs voted against my European Arrest Warrant proposals out of knee-jerk opposition to anything European. But this cross-border co-operation between police forces and magistrates is precisely the kind of area where the EU brings added value to our citizens. Before the European Arrest Warrant law came into force there would have been no realistic chance of Hugo Quintas being brought back to face trial.

Liberals and Democrats will hold Blair to his commitments over Europe

Published on Thursday 23rd June 2005

"Liberals and Democrats take at face value Tony Blair's assurance when he said 'I believe in Europe as a political project'", said Graham Watson in Brussels this morning following a European Parliament debate on the UK Presidency priorities for the European Union.

"We have long argued for the kind of reforms that Tony Blair is now advocating that will make Europe more effective in meeting global challenges on the one hand and restoring confidence in its citizens on the other. But Britain now needs to show that it is fully part of Europe and helping to shape it as a community of values that has a modern, strong economy matched with social justice."

Graham Watson outlined 3 basic reforms that the British Prime Minister and incoming President of the EU can implement to address the alienation of European public:

Transparency of decisions made by the Council of Ministers.

Start of UK EU Presidency

Published on Thursday 23rd June 2005

Graham Watson, on behalf of the ALDE Group. - Thank you, Mr President. Prime Minister, you take the helm of a craft lacking direction, wallowing in heavy seas. You have every opportunity to show leadership.

End of the Luxembourg Presidency 22nd June 2005

Published on Wednesday 22nd June 2005

Graham Watson, on behalf of the ALDE Group. - Thank you, Mr President. President-in-office, if the Luxembourg presidency has failed your expectations, I hope you will not blame yourself. President-in-Office, Liberals and Democrats in this House applaud your attempts to keep the EU show on the road.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe spreads to the Council of Europe

Published on Monday 20th June 2005

Today the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats spread its wings with the official launch in the Council of Europe in the presence of its chairman Mátyás Eörsi and Graham Watson, leader of the ALDE in the European Parliament.

Since its inception a year ago following the European Parliamentary elections, the new centre force in European politics has gained momentum and established itself as an unashamedly pro-European, pro-reform alliance holding to a vision of prosperity, solidarity and security in Europe.

The Liberal Democrat family now boasts 6 Prime Ministers, 7 European commissioners, 89 members of the European Parliament, 85 members in the Committee of Regions and now 95 members of the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly as well as a group in the NATO parliamentary assembly.

Europe finds itself at a crossroads following uncertainty over the future of the Constitution and a loss of confidence amongst large sections of the population.

Suspected Hayley Richards' murderer Quintas would remain at large without SW MEP's law

Published on Sunday 19th June 2005

SW MEP Graham Watson, who leads the 89-strong Liberal Democrat group in the European Parliament, today welcomed the use by Wiltshire police of the European Arrest Warrant procedure to seek the arrest of Portuguese murder suspect Hugo Quintas. Mr Watson piloted the introduction of the Arrest Warrant through the European Parliament in 2001 when he was Chairman of the Parliament's committee on Justice and Home Affairs.

"Without the European Arrest Warrant scheme it would take Wiltshire police years to arrest Hugo Quintas and bring him to trial, and the chances are he would never face justice", Graham Watson MEP pointed out.

"Under the old system, Wiltshire police would have to go to the Home Office, who would have to go to the Foreign Office, who would have to contact the Portuguese Foreign Office, who would go to their Home Office for an arrest warrant; and even then there would be no way of forcing the Portuguese police to act.

Blair now bears a heavy responsibility for Europe's future

Published on Saturday 18th June 2005

"Since neither Tony Blair not Jacques Chirac were prepared to make the concessions necessary for agreement to be reached on the future of EU financing at this weekend's summit, Tony Blair now has the responsibility under the UK Presidency of the EU to build a new consensus that will move Europe forward and avoid stagnation", said Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament.

"The 190th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo today should prove a salutary reminder that both Britain and France share a duty to ensure that the Europe of 25 or more Member States works together peacefully and avoids the tribal warfare of the past."

"Next Thursday (23rd June), when he addresses the European Parliament, Tony Blair must show that Britain is finally prepared to engage fully in shaping a Europe which not only meets the enormous global challenges ahead but enjoys the confidence of its citizens."

"Liberals and Democrats welcome the prospect of a more open and competitive Europe which the French no vote may have unwittingly advanced but it must be one in which Britain is prepared to both play and pay its fair part", concluded Watson.

Liberals and Democrats call for a new vision for Europe

Published on Thursday 16th June 2005

Preparing for the Brussels summit this weekend, Graham Watson addressed a meeting of 6 Prime Ministers and 6 commissioners belonging to the Liberal Democrat family in the Palais d'Egmont where they shared their assessment of the failure to ratify the European Constitution and the steps necessary to restore confidence amongst the European electorate.

"Leaders must have a real debate tonight, tomorrow and in the coming months about what sort of Europe they want and what will enjoy the support of their citizens" said Watson. "Europe is clearly lacking a compelling narrative. Our national leaders need to convince the electorate that EU can provide the answers to the many international challenges of the 21st century and offer a vision of society for the people and not just for the elite.

What colour is your car?

Published on Thursday 16th June 2005

New cars are to be colour coded to indicate their pollution levels but a South West Euro-MP says the scheme does not go far enough.

The spectrum of new labels will be displayed on vehicles in car showrooms from the start of July. A dark green label will signify lowest emissions of the global warming gas carbon dioxide (CO2) while a red label will signal the worst polluter.

UK motor manufacturers have agreed to introduce a voluntary scheme in a bid to head off the prospect of EU legislation.

Arab International Women's Forum - Cairo 12th June 2005

Published on Sunday 12th June 2005

"Women in the Arab world: progress and opportunities"

Thank you very much for inviting me to this conference. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is pleased to work together with the other sponsors at this conference hosted by the Arab International Women's Forum, a follow-up to the Brussels conference which was held in the European Parliament in April.

We are confident that this conference can make a valuable contribution to the Barcelona process at the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Conference in November.

Our interest in this dialogue is not new.

European Liberal Democrat Leader Challenges Tony Blair to Democratise the EU

Published on Friday 10th June 2005

Graham Watson, leading a delegation of European Liberal Democrat spokespersons in London for meeting with Tony Blair today, called for Britain to take the lead in restoring confidence amongst Europe's citizens during its six month stint at the EU helm, beginning on 1st July.

"Europe is at a crossroads following the French and Dutch rejection of the Constitutional treaty" said Watson. "It now falls to Tony Blair as the incoming President of the European Council to begin the process of explaining Europe better and justifying the decisions of British Ministers when they meet in Brussels."

Whilst agreeing with the British Prime Minister on the need for reorientation of EU budget priorities, in favour of measures that will raise European competitiveness, he nevertheless called on Blair to lead by example and show a readiness to cap the UK rebate in return for completing further much needed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

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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.

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