![]() |
Liz Lynne MEP Liberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands |
| www.lordsreformday.org.uk - 342 days and counting | <liz@lizlynne.org.uk> | 2nd September 2010 |
POLITICAL BOSSES BACK WEST MIDLANDS MEP6.10.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th Sep 2005 Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have won strong cross-party support for their campaign to force ministers to debate new EU laws in public. In a remarkable and unique display of unity, the leaders of all the UK political groups in the European Parliament have joined with Liz Lynne MEP in demanding that Britain uses its current presidency of the EU to inject new openness into decision-making.
Conservative and Labour leaders, MEPs Timothy Kirkhope and Gary Titley along with UKIP's Nigel Farage and the Green Party's Jean Lambert, joined the Liberal Democrats by signing a joint declaration to the Parliament. The MEPs stated "it is unacceptable that Europe's most senior law-making body, the Council of Ministers, continues to meet behind closed doors when its members are debating new laws and it is acting as a legislative assembly. "The principles of openness and transparency should apply whenever European laws are being made. They are essential if national parliaments are to fulfil their role and hold ministers to account for their actions." The show of unity by the Britain's political bosses in Europe will increase pressure on Tony Blair to take a lead in bringing about change before the end of the year. The MEPs point out that the improvement requires only a simple change in the standing orders of ministerial meetings, needing the support of just 13 of Europe's 25 member states. EU laws are drafted by the European Commission and then amended or rejected both by the European Parliament and by the Council of Ministers. While MEPs meet in public, government ministers meeting in Brussels debate new laws behind closed doors. Liz Lynne MEP described the support the Liberal Democrats received from political rivals as "remarkable", and congratulated them for taking political risks in signing the joint declaration. "It shows the European Parliament at it best," she said. "Instead of point-scoring against opponents MEPs frequently bridge party differences when we share common cause, although rarely to this extent." Liz Lynne MEP commented: "We are agreed that it is quite wrong for ministers to continue debating new EU laws behind closed doors in Brussels. If MPs in national parliaments are to do their job of holding ministers to account they have to know what is being said in their country's name. The MEP said that Labour's Gary Titley had shown independence by taking a position that may embarrass the government. The Conservative's Timothy Kirkhope had put the public interest first by calling for the change even though the proposal was included in the EU constitutional treaty and has not been put to a referendum. "Even UKIP's Nigel Farage may take some flack from within his party for backing this move. It would be a sensible reform but it hardly amounts to "wrecking" the EU." ENDS
Bookmark this story at:
Related News Stories:Tue 2nd Feb 2010: West Midlands Euro-MP is "kingmaker" says independent report. Wed 16th Dec 2009: New EU Commissioner should visit West Midlands to see obstacles to recovery - MEP. Wed 11th Nov 2009: Mon 5th Oct 2009: EU carbon capture plan points to a green future for West Midlands' coal industry, says MEP. Mon 25th May 2009: BNP to target West Midlands warns Local MEP at Coventry Against Racism Rally. . Tue 19th May 2009: Government throws away £84.4 million for the West Midlands in EU funds. Fri 19th Sep 2008: Government's regional funding cuts barely surprising says West Midlands Euro-MP. Tue 10th Jul 2007: LIZ LYNNE MEP WELCOMES WEST MIDLANDS BUSINESS LEADERS TO BRUSSELS. Mon 4th Jun 2007: EURO-BOOST FOR WEST MIDLANDS TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. Tue 22nd May 2007: LIZ LYNNE WELCOMES CHILD RESCUE ALERT SYSTEM FOR WEST MIDLANDS . Tue 15th May 2007: BATTERY RECYCLING MUST BECOME A REALITY IN THE WEST MIDLANDS. Wed 2nd May 2007: DANGEROUS TOYS BANNED FROM WEST MIDLANDS SHOPS. Tue 24th Apr 2007: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR WEST MIDLANDS ELECTRICAL WASTE. Fri 16th Mar 2007: DODGY CIGARETTE LIGHTERS BANNED IN WEST MIDLANDS. Wed 30th Aug 2006: Recycling Rates in West Midlands need to be better says MEP. Fri 21st Jul 2006: "Speak up for the West Midlands" say MEP. Tue 4th Jul 2006: West Midlands Sugar Factory set for closure. Wed 31st May 2006: "Time For West Midlands To Support Alternative Energy Sources"- MEP. Fri 24th Mar 2006: Eurosceptics fail to silence West Midlands organs. Mon 20th Feb 2006: Liz Lynne tours West Midlands with Lib Dem leadership favourite. Wed 25th Jan 2006: Liz Lynne: Ban would help 72,000 West Midlands smokers quit. Thu 10th Nov 2005: WEST MIDLANDS EURO-MP PLEDGES SUPPORT TO END ANIMAL CRUELTY. Mon 6th Jun 2005: EU CONSTITUTION: "IMPLEMENT PARTS NOW", SAYS WEST MIDLANDS EURO-MP. Fri 3rd Jun 2005: WEST MIDLANDS MEP SLAMS 'CRAZY' AIRPORT SAFETY RULES. Fri 15th Apr 2005: OLD CARS IN THE WEST MIDLANDS GET PUT TO USE. Mon 11th Apr 2005: WEST MIDLANDS NEEDS WARMER HOMES. Thu 25th Nov 2004: West Midlands Euro-MP on Any Questions . Tue 9th Nov 2004: WEST MIDLANDS COMPANIES OPEN TO INSPECTION. Tue 11th May 2004: West Midlands Liberal Democrat European Election Launch . Tue 27th Apr 2004: Euro-MP Welcomes extra funding for West Midlands. Tue 20th Apr 2004: Battery Boxes for West Midlands . Wed 7th Apr 2004: Major recycling investment for West Midlands. Tue 30th Mar 2004: 1in 4 West Midlands Children not taking up free school meal . Wed 10th Dec 2003: West Midlands poverty rise shows government neglect. Fri 21st Nov 2003: Council tax: West Midlands poor pay more . Thu 13th Nov 2003: Oxfam and West Midlands MEP call coffee time. Wed 5th Nov 2003: West Midlands Business failure up 40%. Tue 2nd Sep 2003: West Midlands MEP joins Oxfam global petition to make trade fair. Mon 2nd Jun 2003: Ban cluster bombs – West Midlands Euro-MP. Tue 13th May 2003: Cash for safety available to West Midlands enterprises. Fri 9th May 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP calls for ban on cat and dog fur. Wed 7th May 2003: Birmingham toll road: all stick and no carrot, says West Midlands Euro-MP. Fri 2nd May 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP welcomes India-Pakistan dialogue. Thu 24th Apr 2003: Lib Dems reveal emergency doctor shortage in West Midlands. Tue 1st Apr 2003: No nasty nappies for West Midlands babies. Tue 18th Mar 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP calls for DVT safety precautions. West Midlands Euro-MP gets United Nations disability role. Mon 10th Mar 2003: Belt up on coaches, says West Midlands Euro-MP. Thu 13th Feb 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP hails tobacco advertising ban. Wed 12th Feb 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP calls for more cautious approach to EU law making. Mon 10th Feb 2003: West Midlands Euro-MP welcomes Kennedy decision to march. Internet reconnects West Midlands farmers with public – Euro-MP. Wed 29th Jan 2003: New blow to West Midlands rail network. Thu 19th Dec 2002: West Midlands MEP hails education through sport initiative. Mon 11th Nov 2002: Published and promoted by Liz Lynne MEP, 55 Ely Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6LN. The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider. |