Strasbourg
Commentary Plenary session Feb 4th - 7th 2013
Tuesday The
famous reform of the Common Fisheries Policy was up for vote. Did not
lack for advice, must have received over 1000 emails asking for
support. Counter productive of course, can't reply to them all even
when they are all the same. At the end of 15 pages of over 300
amendments I abstained in the final vote. This was because, while I
deplore the CFP, especially discards, Am 63 was passed because that
includes the Sea Bed in the definition of EU waters. Think about the
range of minerals therein.
Also Tuesday the
vote on "Corporate and Social responsibility" with my short
notice speech on the website already, to go with that on "Employment
Policy" of earlier in the day.
Thursday
was notable for Ms Lope Fontagne throwing a wobbler and, after a
prolonged intervention in the voting session withdrawing her name
from her own report on, "Economic Policy Coordination,
employment and social aspects." , because of interference in her
work and lack of support.
Highlight of
the Week The speech by Francois
Hollande, French Premier. 48 minutes of the most boring address yet.
Basically he wants to "Harmonise "everything as an answer
to the "people's" wishlist of peace, security,
prosperity..... and how to revive the European Budget problem, not
sure what his answer was. But young people need qualifications,
expenditure must match income, the budget must promote innovation and
support the poorest, must manage our resources.
The EU is not
just a market economy, nor must it be an accumulation of European
nations each fighting their own corner, then had the nerve to defend
the CAP, saying that French farmers were greatly in need of it!
For the EFD
Phillppe de Villiers responded as our prime speaker, remember that he
had delivered the first real blow to the EU; the French "Non"
to the European Constitution in 2007. He remarked that everything
Hollande said has had the opposite effect, which is why the people of
Europe had been melting away in support for the EU. Hollande has only
just begun!
Nigel's response
in the second round of lead speakers is on the party web.
Swaboda, the
socialist leader, actually said that the EU had been a political
construct from the word "Go", it never was just a Common
Market. Now that's a nice line for your letters to the papers. He
went on to say that under privileged youngsters in Nottingham (he'd
just been there) were being helped with EU money!
Verhofstadt even
compared the EU to the Soviet Union which had 5 year plans, we have 7
year plans!
Odd isn't it. As
they get further and further into the mire, and as people all over
the EU begin to question it, they start to admit the true origins and
purpose of the EU: they are beginning to abandon pretence.
Desperation or arrogance?!!
One fact picked
up in the debate. The EU deficit now stands at 60 Billion Euros.
Derek Clark
MEP Strasbourg Feb
7th 2013
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