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Parliamentary Highlights This is for people who want more information on actual reports/legislation going through the Parliament. For further details visit the Press Service section of the European Parliament website Review of Strasbourg Session (11 - 14 December 2006) Conservatives trump Labour as Blair goes soft on the environment Labour's failure to water down a major piece of environment legislation means the government has lost credibility on the green agenda. In the key vote this week in the European Parliament on the REACH chemicals directive, Conservatives supported in full the principle of substitution which the Labour government tried to scupper. John Bowis, Conservative Spokesman on the Environment in the European Parliament, welcomed REACH and condemned Labour's tactics. John Bowis MEP said: "David Cameron's aim has been to strengthen the protection for the environment and human health through the control of chemicals. We Conservatives fought for the substitution of chemicals which are hazardous to human health with safe alternatives where they exist. Labour wanted to allow the authorisation of many dangerous chemicals even when safer alternatives are known. "We could have achieved much more if the Labour Government had not tried to pull the rug from under the feet of the Finnish Presidency's efforts, by watering down these requirements on substitution. "However, in spite of Labour's spoiling tactics, we succeeded in securing mandatory substitution plans to phase out dangerous chemicals where safer alternatives are known. "A balance has been found to provide businesses with legal certainty, confidentiality and protection of intellectual property, to minimise the need for animal testing and promote alternatives to animal testing, and to lead the world in a regulatory regime for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of all chemicals, while having a lighter touch regime for small firms." Conservatives Save Our Commercial Breaks Kettles will continue to boil during commercial breaks across the country thanks to Conservative MEPs. The "TV Without Frontiers" Directive, which aims to establish common rules for television broadcasts, would have required television companies to have advert breaks during programmes once every 45 minutes instead of once every 30 minutes as now, a proposal which would have halved advertising revenue. The millions who reach for the teabags during breaks in films, news bulletins and children's programmes had faced a change to their armchair habits if Conservative MEPs had not voted to reject the proposal in the European Parliament this week. There was just one vote on the decision that would have had a knock-on effect throughout the advertising and television industry through to every lounge in the UK Christopher Beazley MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Culture and Education in the European Parliament, fought to reintroduce the 30 minute gap we are used to in the UK and won. Christopher Beazley MEP said: "The 45 minute rule would have seen the end of the half way break in programmes like news bulletins and children's television. The proposal would have created havoc with UK commercial stations, cut their revenue, messed up their scheduling and skewed the 30 minute programmes we are used to." British Bikers Driven Round the Bend by Europe Motorcycling has been backed into a corner by the ignorance of Europe, say biking enthusiasts who joined the Conservatives' call to drop plans for "draconian" new licence legislation. This week the European Parliament voted on the EU Third Driving Licence Directive. Philip Bradbourn MEP, Conservative Transport Spokesman in the European Parliament, labelled the directive as "pointless and over-prescriptive", and called for a complete rejection of the proposals. However, Labour and Liberal Democrat MEPs gave the green light to burdening UK motorists and bike riders with further bureaucracy and red-tape. The EU legislation, on which Governments will have their say in the final vote next year, introduces new tests to bike riders advancing to more powerful motorbikes, wiping out the current UK system which is based on experience. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) last month handed a 2,500-strong petition to Philip Bradbourn. Philip Bradbourn MEP said: "This pointless and bureaucratic legislation will cause real problems for motorcycle enthusiasts in the UK." Tory Leader Calls for Real Reform Agenda in Europe During the key debate this week in Strasbourg on the preparations for the December European Council, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Leader of the Conservatives in Europe, urged the EU to start implementing a serious reform agenda, to abandon any plans to resurrect the EU Constitution and said that justice and home affairs policy should remain intergovernmental. Timothy Kirkhope MEP said: "The EU should now move on from the Constituion and start focusing on a real reform agenda, one that genuinely makes the European Union more outward-looking, flexible and competitive. I believe that is the way to restore confidence in Europe. "The Council will discuss ideas on the future of justice and home affairs. I have consistently opposed any moves to harmonise policy in this very sensitive area. It is clear that we have not sufficiently explored ways of improving intergovernmental cooperation in JHA matters. We should now get on with this and seek innovative ways of making that route work better. "With regard to reform in Europe, I hope that the Council will take on board the remarks of Mr Barroso this week who said he wanted to see a speeding-up of structural economic reforms in Europe. He is right on this issue. This is the kind of practical initiative that will improve Europe's standing in the eyes of the people." Conservatives welcome the 2007 Budget Richard Ashworth MEP, Conservative Budget Spokesman in the European Parliament, welcomed the adoption of next year's budget which includes a number of Conservative priorities. Conservatives were especially pleased to note that, while total EU expenditure has been cut to €115.5 billion (0.987% EU GNI), funding for job creation, competitiveness, Research and Development and education has been significantly increased. Richard Ashworth MEP said: "We are pleased to support the programme for economic reform and we welcome the increased funding for the new Member States. However, we stress that further reform to the budget is still needed and, in particular, CAP reform which is in the Budget review to be carried out in 2008. "I especially welcome the fact that this budget will complement the new Inter Institutional Agreement (IIA), and the new set of financial regulations to deliver better value for money to the European taxpayer. These provisions are designed to ensure that the EU will deliver better quality of expenditure and that there will, in future, be increased accountability from the spending authorities within the 27 Member States. This budget has the potential to be a significant and encouraging milestone along the way towards achieving a positive DAS from the Court of Auditors in future years." Blair Snubbed on Nuclear Energy by Labour MEPs over Key Energy Proposal Labour MEPs this week have once again voted against Tony Blair. They voted against a proposal to generate 60% of electricity in Europe from ultra-low or non-carbon emitting technologies. Labour MEPs voted against an amendment to the report on a European strategy for sustainable energy, which called "on the Commission to set ambitious but realistic targets for ultra-low or non CO2 emitting and CO2 neutral energy technologies to supply 60 % of EU electricity demand by 2020, in support of European climate and security of supply objectives". Tony Blair has backed the construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants to safeguard future energy needs and meet emission targets. Without nuclear power, he argues, Britain will be dependent on natural gas for 55 percent of its energy needs by 2020, compared with 38 percent at present. Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Industry in the European Parliament, said: "Labour MEPs have voted against renewable and nuclear energy. This was a veritable double whammy against sustainability and security of supply. My sympathies go to Tony Blair who once again has been let down by his representatives in Europe." Conservatives support further EU enlargement but warn that a new constitution is not needed Faced with the welcome admission of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU in January, Charles Tannock MEP, Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman in the European Parliament, warned against linking further enlargement with the EU Constitution. British Conservatives said that in spite of warnings that the EU would be paralysed without a Constitution, it is obvious that amending the Nice Treaty would be solution enough to address the deficiencies of the existing treaties. Charles Tannock MEP said: "We need to look seriously at the top heavy Commission which should not rotate equally amongst Member States but must preserve the semi-permanent presence of the big 6 member states. "The new Member States have, broadly speaking, been more Atlanticist. They believe in free markets and competitive rates of low taxation which is an approach I welcome. I believe that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria (which is really the fifth-and-a-half wave as initially they were supposed to join at the same time as the other 10 new Member States in 2004) will also prove to be a great success." Results of the votes: Resolution - Appointment of the Bulgarian commissioner Adopted - Conservatives in favour Resolution - Appointment of the Romanian commissioner Adopted - Conservatives in favour Pulmez Ruiz - Nomination of the Bulgarian Member of the Court of Auditors Adopted - Conservatives in favour Fazakas - Nomination of the Romanian Member of the Court of Auditors Adopted - Conservatives against Cavada - Modalities of Iceland and Norway's participation in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member states of the European Union Adopted - Conservatives in favour Thyssen - Community action programme in the field of consumer policy Adopted - Conservatives in favour Roth-Behrendt - Prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies Adopted - Conservatives in favour Morillon - Statistical data on landings of fishery products Spokesman: Struan Stevenson MEP Adopted - Conservatives in favour De Sarnez - Protection of minors and human dignity and the right of reply Adopted - Conservatives in favour Fourtou - Customs 2013 programme Adopted - Conservatives in favour Heaton-Harris - A paperless environment for customs and trade Adopted - Conservatives in favour Lewandowski - Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings Adopted - Conservatives in favour Brejc - Cooperation between Asset Recovery Offices Adopted - Conservatives in favour Figueiredo - Expenditure in the veterinary field Adopted - Conservatives in favour Klass - Protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration Adopted - Conservatives in favour Mitchell - Financing instrument for development cooperation Adopted - Conservatives in favour Fourtou - Community Customs Code Adopted - Conservatives in favour Graefe Zu Baringdorf - Expenditure in the veterinary field Adopted - Conservatives in favour Klinz - Statistics on foreign affiliates Adopted - Conservatives in favour Flautre/McMillan-Scott - Financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide Adopted - Conservatives against Sinnott - Prevention of injury and the promotion of safety Adopted - Conservatives in favour Martin - A financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories Adopted - Conservatives in favour Sacconi - European Chemicals Agency There is no final vote at second reading Sacconi - Amendment of Directive 67/548/EEC on dangerous substances (REACH) There is no final vote at second reading. (Conservatives support REACH) Gargani - Inclusion of Bulgarian and Romanian among the languages of procedure for the Court of Justice Adopted - Conservatives in favour Gargani - Inclusion of Bulgarian and Romanian among the languages of procedure for the Court of First Instance Adopted - Conservatives in favour Hennicot-Schoepges - European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) There is no final vote at second reading. Grässle - Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities Adopted - Conservatives in favour Pittella - Draft amending budget No 6/2006 Adopted - Conservatives in favour Hieronymi - Coordination of certain of the Member States' provisions on television broadcasting Adopted - Conservatives in favour Bachelot-Narquin - Establishing the European Globalisation adjustment Fund Adopted - Conservatives abstained Groote - Type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions and access to vehicle repair information Adopted - Conservatives in favour Higgins - Financial contributions to the International Fund for Ireland Adopted - Conservatives in favour Fruteau - Banana sector Adopted - Conservatives against Becsey - VAT arrangements for radio and television broadcasting and other services Adopted - Conservatives in favour Motions for resolutions - Legislative and work programme of the Commission for 2007 Adopted - Conservatives abstained Motions for resolutions - Russia-EU Summit Adopted - Conservatives in favour Motion for a resolution - Implementation of Directive 85/611/EEC (undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Brok - Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006-2007 Adopted - Conservatives abstained Stubb - The institutional aspects of the European Union's capacity to integrate new Member States Adopted - Conservatives against Draft general budget of the European Union - 2007, amended by Council There is no final vote at second reading. Elles/Grech - Draft general budget for 2007, amended by the Council (all sections) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Wallis - Procedure for prior examination and consultation on respect of certain provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States (codified version) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Wallis - Elimination of controls at the frontiers of Member States (road and inland waterway transport) (codified version) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Wallis - Transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality (codified version) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Wallis - Submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (codified version) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Wallis - Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases (codified version) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Costa - Agreement between the EC and Paraguay on certain aspects of air services Adopted - Conservatives in favour Chichester - R & D activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems Adopted - Conservatives in favour Daul - Direct support schemes under CAP; the COM for sugars; restructuring of the sugar industry; owing to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU Adopted - Conservatives in favour Segelström - Drugs prevention and information (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Segelström - Civil justice (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives against Kudrycka - European Refugee Fund (2008-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Le Rachinel - Double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers Adopted - Conservatives in favour Kudrycka - European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives against La Russa - Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Motion for a Resolution - Numerical strength of committees Adopted - Conservatives in favour Gröner/Sartori - European Institute for Gender Equality There is no final vote at second reading. Grosch - Driving licences Conservatives in favour of amendment to reject Directive Corbett - Amendment of Rule 81 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, Implementing provisions Adopted - Conservatives in favour Leinen - Amendment of Rules 15 and 182(1) of Parliament's Rules of Procedures Adopted - Conservatives in favour Kudrycka - External Borders Fund (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Kudrycka - European Return Fund (2008-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Grossetête - Medicinal products for paediatric use Adopted - Conservatives in favour Mayer - European Small Claims Procedure Adopted - Conservatives in favour Segelström - Fundamental rights and citizenship (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives abstained Segelström - Criminal justice (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives against La Russa - Preventing and fighting crime (2007-2013) Adopted - Conservatives in favour Coelho - Development of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) Adopted - Conservatives abstained Seppänen - Nuclear Safety and Security Assistance Adopted - Conservatives in favour Varvitsiotis - Visas for crossing Member States' external borders Adopted - Conservatives abstained Joint motion for a resolution - Follow-up to the Sakharov Prize Adopted - Conservatives in favour Roure - Data protection within the framework of police cooperation in criminal matters Adopted - Conservatives abstained Morgan - A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy Adopted - Conservatives in favour Langen - Biomass and Biofuels Adopted - Conservatives in favour Party watch - where different from Conservatives in recorded final votes:
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