News from the European Union with a focus on the South West UK and Gibraltar region and its MEPs
BIG NEWS: Conservative Giles Chichester confirms he is to stand down as South West MEP after 20 years in office
Monday, 3 June 2013
Giles Chichester, an MEP for the region since 1994, has confirmed he is to stand down at the next European elections in May 2014, completing 20 years of service to the region in Europe.
Mr Chichester was elected as an MEP for Devon and East Plymouth in 1994 and then re-elected as an MEP for the newly-formed South West UK constituency in 1999. During his time at the Parliament he served as chair of the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee and even had a stint as a Vice-President of the European Parliament and showed promise in his hour-long debut in the Strasbourg hot seat.
He also served as leader of the Conservative MEPs in the Parliament but resigned from this position in June 2008 after it was alleged that since 1996 he had wrongly sent European parliamentary funds for secretarial and office services through his family business. Mr Chichester insisted the contract was accepted by the Parliament but his decision to stand down was welcomed by party leader David Cameron after he had admitting a "whoops-a-daisy" moment and breaking European Parliament rules by channelling £445,000 of allowances through a family company of which he was a paid director.
Writing in his May newsletter to constituents, Mr Chichester says the Conservative Party has "lost the plot", writing "it seems to me that too many colleagues in Westminster have allowed their obsession with Europe to cloud their judgement and make them lose their political feel. Divided parties lose elections and history has plenty of precedents to underline that statement." He then makes his announcement within a strong attack on UKIP:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Chichester for his work for the region in Europe over the course of his two decades years in office.
His colleagues and fellow incumbent Conservative MEPs Julie Girling and Ashley Fox have both been reselected by the party. A full postal ballot of party members will be conducted to choose the order in which the other candidates will be ranked.
Click here to see list of list of declared MEP candidates in the region.
Mr Chichester was elected as an MEP for Devon and East Plymouth in 1994 and then re-elected as an MEP for the newly-formed South West UK constituency in 1999. During his time at the Parliament he served as chair of the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee and even had a stint as a Vice-President of the European Parliament and showed promise in his hour-long debut in the Strasbourg hot seat. He also served as leader of the Conservative MEPs in the Parliament but resigned from this position in June 2008 after it was alleged that since 1996 he had wrongly sent European parliamentary funds for secretarial and office services through his family business. Mr Chichester insisted the contract was accepted by the Parliament but his decision to stand down was welcomed by party leader David Cameron after he had admitting a "whoops-a-daisy" moment and breaking European Parliament rules by channelling £445,000 of allowances through a family company of which he was a paid director.
Writing in his May newsletter to constituents, Mr Chichester says the Conservative Party has "lost the plot", writing "it seems to me that too many colleagues in Westminster have allowed their obsession with Europe to cloud their judgement and make them lose their political feel. Divided parties lose elections and history has plenty of precedents to underline that statement." He then makes his announcement within a strong attack on UKIP:
“This fourth party, this protest movement, is a one man band with a single issue desperately trying to big itself into a grown up party with a range of aspirations. Many of them are attractive but their numbers don’t add up. I think we should wait for our press and media to take them seriously and then take them apart. We should try to avoid mentioning them, certainly by name, and concentrate on being positive about what we do in Europe.”
“This is easier said than done and it is easy for me to say because I will not be standing at the next election. 20 years is quite enough and it is time for me to make way for new blood. But it is what I think we should try to do.”
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Chichester for his work for the region in Europe over the course of his two decades years in office.
His colleagues and fellow incumbent Conservative MEPs Julie Girling and Ashley Fox have both been reselected by the party. A full postal ballot of party members will be conducted to choose the order in which the other candidates will be ranked.
Click here to see list of list of declared MEP candidates in the region.
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Bristol Mayor vows to swap signature red trousers for green ones… if city named EU Green Capital 2015
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
The Independent Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, has pledged to swap his signature red trousers for green ones… but only if Bristol is named European Green Capital 2015.
The Mayor led the Bristol delegation as they delivered their pitch before the competition judges in Brussels on Friday. He hopes thousands of new jobs would be created in the city if named European Green Capital at its third attempt.
Speaking after the bid presentation, Mr Ferguson said: “it went really well, we worked really well together as a team and we've got a variety of interests and expertise here. I think we engaged and amused the panel, and they said so. So somebody else has got to win it because we certainly did not lose it.”
“[If we win] I’ll be changing the colour of my trousers from red to green – at least for a day or two!”
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol faces off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on 14 June 2013 in Nantes, France, the current European Green Capital.
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
The Mayor led the Bristol delegation as they delivered their pitch before the competition judges in Brussels on Friday. He hopes thousands of new jobs would be created in the city if named European Green Capital at its third attempt. Speaking after the bid presentation, Mr Ferguson said: “it went really well, we worked really well together as a team and we've got a variety of interests and expertise here. I think we engaged and amused the panel, and they said so. So somebody else has got to win it because we certainly did not lose it.”
“We are the UK’s greenest city and I think we’ve got absolute determination and commitment to this in a way that very few other cities could possibly have. I will be seeing this right through to 2016 and I am prepared to fight the battles to make quite sure that we do become the green city that we aspire to be.”
“[If we win] I’ll be changing the colour of my trousers from red to green – at least for a day or two!”
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol faces off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on 14 June 2013 in Nantes, France, the current European Green Capital.
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
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Bristol has 'overwhelming' case for being named European Green Capital 2015 - MEP
South West Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson has said Bristol’s “slick” performance before the competition judges on Friday and its ever growing green credentials means the case for the regional capital to be named the 2015 European Green Capital is now “overwhelming”.
Sir Graham, who was part of the bid team pitching before judges on Friday, took part in the presentation for last year’s competition in which Bristol was pipped into second place by the Danish capital Copenhagen. He said: “The bid is much better prepared this year than it has been in the past and I think we’ve learned from experience.”
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol will face off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on 14 June 2013 in Nantes, France, the current European Green Capital.
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
Sir Graham, who was part of the bid team pitching before judges on Friday, took part in the presentation for last year’s competition in which Bristol was pipped into second place by the Danish capital Copenhagen. He said: “The bid is much better prepared this year than it has been in the past and I think we’ve learned from experience.” “The competition is fairly stiff and we shouldn’t underestimate what has been achieved in Brussels in recent years or indeed what has been achieved in Glasgow [and Ljubljana], but the case for Bristol gets stronger by the year. Every action that is taken, every pound that is invested, every community group that does something to make this city greener adds to our case and I think it is now overwhelming.”
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol will face off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on 14 June 2013 in Nantes, France, the current European Green Capital.
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
Labels: Graham Watson
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South West MEP makes final shortlist for an MEP Award for the second year running
In 2012 she was nominated by EU policy stakeholders for making an excellent contribution in the domain of animal welfare, this year she has been recognised for her work on the Environment.
Mrs Girling is a member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee and in the nominations was praised for her "calm, measured and insightful contributions" to debates and her efforts to subject legislation to "the highest level of scrutiny and analysis".
The other two MEPs in contention for this award are French Green MEP Sandrine Bélier and Bulgarian Liberal MEP Vladko Panayotov.
The MEP Awards are organised annually by the Parliament Magazine and the shortlist is produced after stakeholders nominate MEPs in each policy area. With the shortlists now announced, voting is open solely to MEPs with the winners to be announced at the MEP Awards ceremony to be held in Brussels on 25 June.
Labels: Julie Girling
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BIG NEWS - After a long 14-year battle, Gibraltar finally admitted as a full member of UEFA, Europe's football governing body
Friday, 24 May 2013
After a long 14-year battle prolongued due to Spanish claims over sovereignty of the Rock, the Gibraltar Football Association has been admitted as a full member of European Football's governing body, UEFA. The UEFA President Michel Platini made the announcement following the vote by hand of delegates during the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress in London.
The positive vote by delegates was overwhelming so there was no need for a formal count. Of course Spain, long term objectors, voted to reject the application, although they declined to make the vote an electronic one thus enabling a vote by hand.
Gibraltar's football teams can now compete in European competitions and the national team can begin thinking about participating in the forthcoming qualification rounds for the next European Championship.
The UEFA President Michel Platini confirmed that Gibraltar would be kept apart from Spain in qualifying for Euro 2016, saying: "Gibraltar will not play qualifying matches with Spain - we also have this situation with Armenia and Azerbaijan".
Gibraltar first tried to join UEFA in 2007 but the bid was rejected as only three countries supported the move (England, Scotland and Wales) and Spain opposed it rigorously and threatened to boycott both club and international competitions if it succeeded.
The Rock has now become the smallest UEFA member in terms of population, behind San Marino (just over 32,000), Liechtenstein (approximately 37,000) and the Faroe Islands (just under 50,000).
In reaction to the positive result, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo said: "Today is a historic day for sport in Gibraltar. All of Gibraltar will be filled with joy at the GFA's success. Most of us will remember forever where we were when we heard this decision come through."
The Minister for Sport Steven Linares added: “Gibraltar has waited for many years for the good news of our admission into UEFA. There is no doubt that membership of UEFA will provide a huge boost to football in Gibraltar and this will be seen among the younger generation of Gibraltarians who will now have the opportunity to pitch their skills against those of their European counterparts.”
Gibraltar MEP Sir Graham Watson tweeted:
The Minister for Europe, David Lidington, was 'delighted' by the news, tweeting: "Congratulations #Gibraltar on joining UEFA! Pleased UEFA agreed Gib FA’s full membership today #sportnotpolitics".
Gibraltar Football Association president Gareth Latin hailed the vote a "a momentous occasion for football in Gibraltar. UEFA membership means we can begin the next chapter of Gibraltarian football."
The Governor of Gibraltar, Sir Adrian Johns, said in a statement: "I welcome the fantastic news that the Gibraltar FA has finally been admitted to UEFA. It has been a monumental effort by Team 54 and their supporters. For 120 years football has been an important part of life in Gibraltar for young and old alike and this is a big step in promoting further sporting development. Visiting footballers and fans will receive the warmest of welcomes in Gibraltar and an opportunity to share in Gibraltar’s passion for the sport."
Congratulations to the GFA and all involved in the efforts over the years.
Some selected other tweets:
The positive vote by delegates was overwhelming so there was no need for a formal count. Of course Spain, long term objectors, voted to reject the application, although they declined to make the vote an electronic one thus enabling a vote by hand.
Gibraltar's football teams can now compete in European competitions and the national team can begin thinking about participating in the forthcoming qualification rounds for the next European Championship.
The UEFA President Michel Platini confirmed that Gibraltar would be kept apart from Spain in qualifying for Euro 2016, saying: "Gibraltar will not play qualifying matches with Spain - we also have this situation with Armenia and Azerbaijan".
Gibraltar first tried to join UEFA in 2007 but the bid was rejected as only three countries supported the move (England, Scotland and Wales) and Spain opposed it rigorously and threatened to boycott both club and international competitions if it succeeded.
The Rock has now become the smallest UEFA member in terms of population, behind San Marino (just over 32,000), Liechtenstein (approximately 37,000) and the Faroe Islands (just under 50,000).
In reaction to the positive result, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo said: "Today is a historic day for sport in Gibraltar. All of Gibraltar will be filled with joy at the GFA's success. Most of us will remember forever where we were when we heard this decision come through."
"The decision by UEFA members to admit Gibraltar into the European football family of nations is long overdue. When sports and politics are mixed they produce a toxic cocktail that should be avoided. And today UEFA have looked beyond those who would bring politics into European sport to reach the right conclusion for UEFA, for football, the GFA and for Gibraltar."
The Minister for Sport Steven Linares added: “Gibraltar has waited for many years for the good news of our admission into UEFA. There is no doubt that membership of UEFA will provide a huge boost to football in Gibraltar and this will be seen among the younger generation of Gibraltarians who will now have the opportunity to pitch their skills against those of their European counterparts.”
Gibraltar MEP Sir Graham Watson tweeted:
Fellow South West MEP Julie Girling later tweeted her congratulations and Ashley Fox expressed his delight on his Facebook profile.YES! #Gibraltar becomes the 54th member of #UEFA. I Look forward to seeing them take on the major players of Europe!
— Graham Watson MEP (@grahamwatsonmep) May 24, 2013
The Minister for Europe, David Lidington, was 'delighted' by the news, tweeting: "Congratulations #Gibraltar on joining UEFA! Pleased UEFA agreed Gib FA’s full membership today #sportnotpolitics".
Gibraltar Football Association president Gareth Latin hailed the vote a "a momentous occasion for football in Gibraltar. UEFA membership means we can begin the next chapter of Gibraltarian football."
The Governor of Gibraltar, Sir Adrian Johns, said in a statement: "I welcome the fantastic news that the Gibraltar FA has finally been admitted to UEFA. It has been a monumental effort by Team 54 and their supporters. For 120 years football has been an important part of life in Gibraltar for young and old alike and this is a big step in promoting further sporting development. Visiting footballers and fans will receive the warmest of welcomes in Gibraltar and an opportunity to share in Gibraltar’s passion for the sport."
Congratulations to the GFA and all involved in the efforts over the years.
Some selected other tweets:
They've done it! Gibraltar joins UEFA!
— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) May 24, 2013
Unsurprisingly Spain didn't vote in favour, but that had no bearing on clear result: a clear majority, v few didn't wave green card
— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) May 24, 2013
Only two nations voted against Gibraltar - Spain and Belarus. #team54
— Football Gibraltar (@FootballGib) May 24, 2013
As @blogdroed points out though, votes not for Gib weren't counted, so Belarus and/or Spain might have planned to abstain from voting.
— Football Gibraltar (@FootballGib) May 24, 2013
Allen Bula somewhat lost for words (for once) twitter.com/GBCNewsroom/st…
— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) May 24, 2013
Team 54 poses for photos twitter.com/JonScottGib/st…
— Jonathan Scott (@JonScottGib) May 24, 2013
Absolutely delighted for Gibraltar. 16 years in the making, but finally a fully-fledged Uefa state. They hope to be in qualifying for 2016.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) May 24, 2013
Triumphant GFA back on the Rock. gbc.gi/news/1785/triu… twitter.com/GBCNewsroom/st…
— GBC News (@GBCNewsroom) May 26, 2013
Labels: Ashley Fox, Graham Watson, Julie Girling
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SW MEP to join Bristol presentation team for Bristol's EU Green Capital 2015 bid
Thursday, 23 May 2013
South West Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson will tomorrow welcome a delegation from the city of Bristol to Brussels and participate in the city’s pitch before judges to decide who will be crowned European Green Capital 2015.Sir Graham was part of the bid's presentation last year following the city's shortlisting and is hoping to go one step better this year and take the prize. The bid team, led by Bristol’s Mayor George Ferguson, left for Brussels earlier this afternoon.
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol will face off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
“Once again it is a great pleasure to join the Bristol Green Capital team to make our pitch for the European Green Capital prize,” Sir Graham said.
“Bristol is making enormous progress in its green agenda, particularly in the areas of air pollution and waste management. The private and public sector partnership that has been formed in the city is an example that with enough will, adapting our economy and society to reducing our carbon footprint is possible. A win would be a testament to the hard work put in by private enterprises, the city council and environment campaigners.”
"Becoming a green capital will also put Bristol on the European stage as a place for economic investment when it comes to the ever expanding green industry."
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
Less than 48 hours away from presenting our bid to become EU Green Capital, wish us luck!#bristolgreenbid
— Green Capital (@bgreencapital) May 22, 2013
Labels: Graham Watson
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Bristol’s bid for European Green Capital award gets UK government backing #greenbristolbid
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Bristol's bid to be named 2015 European Green Capital, its third attempt, has got the full backing of the British government. Visiting the city on Wednesday, Liberal Democrat MP and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said to Bristol Insider:
"Bristol did very well last time, and it's a case of making sure that all the things it is doing well are maximised – hopefully the Green Deal can help with that, along with things like the Bristol Switch & Save scheme – this is a great example of getting a dialogue going at a community level."
"Bristol's a green city - local politicians support it and the businesses here innovate, so the number of ‘green jobs’ being created here. We're determined to create a more sustainable energy mix and reduce demand on coal in particular."
The capital of the West Country has made the final shortlist for the European Green Capital award for the second year running and in its third attempt. In the final shortlist for the 2015 award, Bristol will face off against two European Capital cities: Brussels and Ljubljana, as well as Scotland’s largest city Glasgow.
After sensationally reaching the final shortlist for the 2014 award and learning they had lost out for the second time last June, the bid team revealed last July they had submitted another application for the 2015 award and beat off competition from Bydgoszcz, Dublin and Kaunas to make the shortlist.
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South West MEP says enough is enough, urges seabird death chemical to be banned
South West Liberal Democrat MEP Sir Graham Watson has said enough is enough and is calling for Polyisobutylene, the chemical thought to be responsible for killing birds off the South West of England, to be banned.
The senior MEP is urging the government and the European Commission to take action on the source of major pollution that has led to the washing up of nearly 3,000 birds off the Devon, Dorset and Cornish coast this year.
The birds are believed to have been polluted by chemicals discharged from ships sailing through the English Channel. The substance is thought to be Polyisobutene (PIB), a sticky rubber like substance used in a variety of commercial products. Ships clean out their tanks after leaving port, dumping residue PIB into the sea. The chemical forms a sticky glue-like condition when in contact with water.
Currently, restrictions are placed on ships sailing up to 12 miles off the coast but it is legal in international law to dump substances outside this territory. Sir Graham believes that international agreements can be tightened to combat this practice and has written to the Department for Transport and submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission (E-005005/2013).
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
The senior MEP is urging the government and the European Commission to take action on the source of major pollution that has led to the washing up of nearly 3,000 birds off the Devon, Dorset and Cornish coast this year.
The birds are believed to have been polluted by chemicals discharged from ships sailing through the English Channel. The substance is thought to be Polyisobutene (PIB), a sticky rubber like substance used in a variety of commercial products. Ships clean out their tanks after leaving port, dumping residue PIB into the sea. The chemical forms a sticky glue-like condition when in contact with water.
Currently, restrictions are placed on ships sailing up to 12 miles off the coast but it is legal in international law to dump substances outside this territory. Sir Graham believes that international agreements can be tightened to combat this practice and has written to the Department for Transport and submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission (E-005005/2013).
Video: Quadrant/Europe&You
Labels: Graham Watson
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Tweets from @treiziemeetoile
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Giles CHICHESTER Conservative |
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Trevor COLMAN UKIP |
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Earl of DARTMOUTH UKIP |
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Ashley FOX Conservative |
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Julie GIRLING Conservative |
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Sir Graham WATSON Liberal Democrat |
Also in the constituency:
Andrew is a UK passport holder, European citizen, and a twice former stagiaire at the European Parliament.Hailing from the truly beautiful South West region of the UK, he finds himself represented in Europe by three eurosceptic Tory MEPs, two UKIPs, and one Liberal.
While the EU in its current form is far from perfect, he is nonetheless firmly of the belief that the UK's prosperity and place in the world is best served as a member state and not as an isolated bystander.
This blog seeks to document the work that our region's MEPs do for us in Brussels. As such, predictably, it rarely features UKIP.
Current holder of rotating presidency:
IRELAND
(January - June 2013)
Next three holders:
IRELAND
(January - June 2013)
Next three holders:
