Strasbourg Commentary
Plenary session 14th – 17th
April 2014
This week was the busiest week for many
a long year or five. They packed extra voting sessions into this, the
last Strasbourg week of this legislature, as they so grandly like to
describe it. But never votes on Monday as business does not start
until 5.00pm, it being so difficult to get to there. Ditto getting
home, so votes on Thursday always very thin as lots of MEPs leave on
Weds evening or Thursday morning. I always stay until late afternoon
since I think I am paid to do so. It also keeps my attendance up in
the 80% mark and you have all seen the newspaper comments this week.
Nigel is an exception. You all know how
hard he works at home, you are supporting him on May 1st
in Derby, aren’t you? Not even he can be in two places at once.
Easy for any UK MP to criticise when all they have to do is catch a
train, direct to London from practically anywhere in the UK. Let them
try Strasbourg, two flights (or two trains for twice as long) and the
change over times do not match well. My visit this week was via
Brussels with a 3 hour stop over between flights on way out, 2 and a
half on return. Each leg an hour plus and no, this is not a moan,
just a fact of my life for the last ten years!
Regarding Nigel please watch the video
of his speech on Wednesday, before he dashed off needed by his
family, via this link,-
Really you should also see the other
group leaders’ collective ramble, claptrap, nonsense and wishful
thinking. They really do believe that the EU can solve everything,
like the Ukraine!!
So to voting. Two sessions on
each of Tuesday and Wednesday, one at about mid-day (as usual), about
1hour, the second at 6.00pm, (very unusual), about 45 minutes.
Thursday the usual 45 minutes only. Totals,-
Tues 1st = 38
reports with 1004 amendments. 2nd = 45 reports with 2216
amendments
Weds 1st = 35
reports with 875 amendments 2nd =14 reports with 186
amendments
Thurs = 15 reports with
189 amendments.
TOTALS = 147 reports with 4470
amendments,- all done in about 4 and a half hours, all of which
conducted with a scrupulous sense of honesty and seriousness, all
votes prepared beforehand with care and dedication! Do you still want
to know why some MEPs pike off early on Thursday? And then we get
the odd email demanding why we/I voted “For” or “Against” on
a certain Amendment in a particular report! (Yes, I can always
answer that because I always bring the voting lists home with me.
There’s a considerable set of files in the office. Happy to
bequeath them!)
Details
Fidanza report, passed by 622 – 29
pushing all kinds of non-combustion systems to produce electricity,
target of only 60% of current levels of greenhouse gas emissions by
2050.
De Backer report, passed by 620 – 20,
fitting of new cars with the e-call system mentioned in previous
commentary. Means that a crash is known to police immediately,
rescuers sent out even if occupants are unconscious, also means that
police will know where you are at any given time.
Thein report, passed by 590 – 79, ECJ
to have 28 judges, plus 12 from new member states, max 2 from each.
Does not say they have to be actual judges (several of them are not).
Jazlowiecka report, posting of workers
(to which I spoke in the House) The rapporteur opposed all 75
amendments but only 7 of them were defeated and the whole report
passed by 474 – 158.
Auken report, to reduce use of plastic
carrier bags, most of the 54 amendments passed, as was the whole
report by 539 – 51
Zalewski report, “Investors disputes
international settlement courts” Passed easily, even ‘though
there was a proposal to refer it back to Cttee.
Giannakou report, Statute and Funding
of political parties. Passed easily. NB the Commissioner was allowed
to speak to support it BEFORE the vote was taken.
Resolution on, ”Russian pressure on
Eastern Partnership countries, particularly the destabilisation of
Eastern Ukraine”. There was no named rapporteur, draw your own
conclusions, it was adopted. We abstained all the way through, not
our business, which is more than Mr Griffin, he of the BNP, did. He
called a ‘point of order’ which is reserved for comments about
the way votes are being taken. He used it as a tirade against
Communism so his microphone was cut off, which did not stop him
shouting his message across the chamber!
For your information it is prohibited
to display in the debating chamber any political placards or
messages. We tried 7 years ago to display placards objecting to the
proposed European Constitution and, when we refused to take them
down, the Ushers were sent in! We cooperated with them, reluctantly,
because they are neutral servants and we are not hooligans. In
passing it should be noted that we are on good terms with that body.
You should know that I treat them, and all other EU functionaries
courteously and receive their response accordingly. I do not make war
on the servants of this rotten empire; the institutions yes,
employees no.
Incidentally Jane came over with me
this last time and fell foul of their regulations. She was in the
visitor’s gallery to hear me speak on “Posted Workers”, see
this link,-
Jane applauded my effort and was
promptly told off by an official in no uncertain terms, for applause
in the public gallery is forbidden. But, just before, a whole visitor
group in the gallery had warmly applauded a speech by their man and
were not corrected. So Jane responded,- “those people there
applauded, you did not stop them, and you don’t stop me!”
However, since that early episode of
ours there have been a small number of outbreaks of other MEPs
wearing “T” shirts with messages relevant to the business of the
day. I remember one time when the communists all stood up proudly
showing their message, whatever it was. Nothing was said or done. A
few months ago, when the internal politics of the Ukraine started to
make the news, when president Tymoshenko (hope I’ve got that right)
was released from jail, there was a demo in the Parliament. About 50
or 60 MEPs of the left rose, draped in the Ukrainian flag. Much
applause!! (but not from us). Nothing was done then and there were
one or two Ukrainian Flags on show this week in the chamber. These
breaches in the rules went entirely unremarked and without reprimand,
still less forcible removal.
So if you wonder why the situation in
the Ukraine is getting out of hand and why mixed messages are coming
through from the EU there, perhaps, is the answer. I do not like
Putin, he is an unreconstructed communist, but he is a smart operator
and is playing the EU along. Every reason to keep out. Every reason
for our own Parliament to repeat its vote on the appalling Cameron
suggestion to bomb Syria.
A personal note to end with.
Attendance records were mentioned in the press and I commented on
mine above. You have a right to know why I am less than 90%. I missed
the whole of a Strasbourg week on two occasions, each time in the
early part of the year due to bronchitis. Gardening wearing
insufficient warm clothing and forgetting that I was not as young as
I used to be! Missed two days of another Strasbourg, returning early
so as to get to “Defra” and argue the case for Lincolnshire
sausages.
Last year I missed the whole of a
Strasbourg week due to a family funeral. Thursday in Exeter for my
brother-in-law, ex Parachute Regiment, who was on the beach on D-Day.
Start early on Wednesday so as to stay over with remaining sister in
Bristol and take her down as well.
Cttee meetings are usually on the
afternoon of one day and the morning of the next, making a sensible
two day visit. Several times this year they have been just a morning
session and I have not attended. Waste of time and of taxpayers
money.
Last week I cleared my Brussels
office, stacking all the EU literature outside the door for
clearance. Yesterday I did the same in Strasbourg. Keys to both
offices handed in. I am writing this on Good Friday, there being no
time yesterday in Strasbourg, and will be doing nothing until Tuesday
morning, when I am due to speak at a school in Louth.
Thanks to all my readers and the best
of good luck to those of UKIP who take my place.
Derek Clark MEP
Strasbourg April18th 2014
