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Parliamentary Highlights This is for people who want more information on actual reports/legislation going through the Parliament. Summary of Strasbourg Session (10 - 13 January 2005) Main Events of the Week: Report on the EU Constitution The European Parliament adopted the Corbett / Mιndez de Vigo Report on the EU Constitution - 500 MEPs voted in favour, 147 - including British Conservative MEPs - voted against. Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs all voted for the Constitution in the face of overwhelming evidence that their constituents oppose the proposals. Timothy Kirkhope, Leader of the Delegation, said: "I and my British Conservative Colleagues have voted against the Parliament's Report on the EU Constitution because we believe that it centralises more powers, makes the institutions more remote, reduces the powers of nation states and leads us inexorably to a European 'Superstate'." "The UK Labour Government has deceived the public in stating that this Constitution is merely 'a tidying up exercise'. By contrast, the Belgian Prime Minister has more honestly called it 'the capstone of a European Federal State'." "In order to be successful, Europe must develop as an equal partnership of nation states. When the British people and probably others reject this Constitution, they will not be rejecting membership of the Union. But they will be signalling very clearly their opposition to any European integration process." "Of course, the Constitution is of such far-reaching significance that its rejection in one or more of the Member States will render it null and void, both politically and morally. Should this be the outcome of the ratification process, Europe would then have a fresh opportunity to establish a modern Union that respects and celebrates its diversity, rather than one which demands conformity and this opportunity is one that we would welcome." Tsunami Resolution Conservative MEPs were heavily involved in the drafting of the resolution on the recent tsunami disaster in Asia. This was adopted by the Parliament and received overwhelming support from all sides of the political spectrum. The exception however, was UKIP. Of those UKIP Members that bothered to vote, Batten, Booth, Clarke, Nattrass, Whittaker, Wise and their non-attached allies, Kilroy-Silk and Mote - all abstained. Nirj Deva, Development Spokesman, said: "I am utterly flabbergasted by the response of UKIP to an exceptional resolution with no federalist ambition whatsoever, but rather one which genuinely attempts to alleviate the suffering of those who have already lost so much. It is sickening to think that any individual, whatever their political colours, can abstain on measures which aim to prevent the further exploitation of vulnerable orphans and export the much needed technology for early warning systems to prevent the repeat of such a disaster. Perhaps they simply did not want to join the rest of the Parliamentarians who committed themselves to donate a days wage to help the victims." 5th Motor Insurance Directive Conservatives have been at the forefront in striving to secure a package that will help those unfortunate enough to be involved in road accidents outside their home Member States. It will also help motorists who exercise their rights to live and work in other Member States to deal with car insurance formalities. Following Parliament's adoption, Malcolm Harbour, Internal Market Spokesman, said: "Taking into account the growing mobility of EU citizens, the improvement of motor insurance conditions is of major benefit. The Directive's approach in compensating non-resident car-drivers as quickly and simply as resident ones, is a substantial improvement for UK citizens driving abroad for private or professional reasons." Ukraine Resolution Parliament adopted a resolution supporting Ukraine following its recent Presidential elections. Charles Tannock, Foreign Affairs Spokesman and the Parliament's Representative for monitoring the Ukraine elections and co-author of the resolution, said: "We congratulate the European Parliament for supporting, with such a large majority, the fledgling democracy of Ukraine and Viktor Yuschenko's intentions to join the European Union. We can be proud as Conservatives, following Michael Ancram's recent announcement, that we are among the first major European parties to endorse Ukraine's entry into the EU. It is therefore deplorable that UKIP, who having expressed their intentions to withdraw the UK from the EU, now wish to remove the right for any country to have aspirations to join. It is worth noting that only 19 Members voted against, made up of UKIP and Communists - including Batten, Booth, Clarke, Nattrass, Whittaker, Wise and their non-attached allies, Kilroy-Silk and Mote." Votes this week Nicholson - PEACE Programme Adopted - Conservatives in favour Election of the European Ombudsman Mr. Diamandouros was elected Medina Ortega - Civil Liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (2nd Reading) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Corbett / Mιndez de Vigo - Constitution for Europe Adopted - Conservatives against Resolution - United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution - EU aid for tidal wave victims in Asia Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution - Transatlantic relations Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution - Debt Relief for developing countries Adopted - Conservatives in favour Motion for a Resolution - ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution - Results of Ukraine elections Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution (Rule 115) - Tibet: Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution (Rule 115) - Torture in Iran Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution (Rule 115) - Trafficking in women and children in Cambodia Adopted - Conservatives in favour Party Watch - where different from Conservatives Labour (+) Corbett / Mιndez de Vigo - Constitution for Europe (A6-0070/2004) Liberal Democrats (+) Corbett / Mιndez de Vigo - Constitution for Europe (A6-0070/2004) UKIP (-) Nicholson - PEACE Programme (A6-001/2005) (0) Resolution - UN Framework convention on Climate Change (Kilroy-Silk & Mote (-)) (B6-0032/2005) (0) Resolution - EU aid for tidal wave victims in Asia (RC B6-0034/2005) (-) Resolution - Transatlantic relations (RC B6-0021/2005) (-) Resolution - Debt Relief for developing countries (RC B6-0023/2004) (-) Resolution - Results of Ukraine elections (RC B6-0038/2005) |