Conservatives in the European Parliment - News Feed

Agreement reached to bring stability and transparency to derivatives markets

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:00 GMT

The European Parliament and EU governments have tonight reached agreement on proposals for a new regulation which aims to increase stability and improve transparency in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives markets - without overburdening businesses and pension funds.

Stevenson: Auditors' damning report confirms 40 years of CFP failure

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

A damning report by auditors on the EU's management of fish stocks is further proof of the catastrophic failure of the Common Fisheries Policy, Conservative MEP and Senior Vice-President of the parliament's Fisheries Committee Struan Stevenson said today.

Job-vacancies collapse demonstrates damaging impact of agency-work directive

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Conservative MEPs have highlighted the European Commission's own figures on job vacancies as powerful evidence that the controversial Temporary Agency Workers Directive is having a damaging effect on job prospects. Employment spokesman Anthea McIntyre seized on the publication of the Commission's latest European Vacancy Monitor, which showed a sudden and dramatic collapse in temporary posts at the time the directive was being implemented by member states across Europe last autumn. France, Germany and the Netherlands had previously all seen substantial growth in temporary vacancies, but from a peak in August the numbers suddenly fell by up to one-fifth. In the UK, where the directive's impact is softened by an agreement between employers and unions that individual companies can effectively opt out if management and staff agree, the fall was less severe. The biggest impact was in France where the number job vacancies held by leading temporary-work agency Randstad fell by more than 20 per cent in two months. The Commission report seeks to link the collapse to the poor economic climate and companies performing badly. However, Miss McIntyre said: "They seem to be in denial about the harmful impact of their own policy. They try to blame the economy, but that has been bad since 2008. When you look at the graph of temporary job vacancies, the sharp downturn comes exactly at the point during last autumn when countries were putting the directive into effect. "The evidence is staring them in the face." "The Commission thought the directive would lead to the creation of more permanent jobs, but of course that hasn't happened either. "They have shackled growth in the name of social engineering - and in the process destroyed job opportunities for thousands of workers across Europe. "It is the perfect example of why the right to determine social legislation of this kind needs to be repatriated to the UK at the earliest opportunity."

Deep concern over football corruption revelations

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin has noted with grave concern a report which lifts the lid on corruption and match-fixing in football. The report, published today by the global union for professional players FIFPro, suggests that match-fixing is rife in Europe - especially in the south and east of the continent - while racism remains a major scourge. Miss McClarkin, Conservative spokesman on sport and culture in the European Parliament, said: "This report should be a wake-up call for European football. "If the game's administrators thought that match-fixing and corruption from betting syndicates was a rare and insubstantial problem in the game, here is the evidence of its real threat. The East Midlands MEP went on: "This shows that we have to be vigilant and work together to stamp this out. Integrity is vital to maintain the appeal of professional sport and the faith and trust of its supporters. "This report concentrates on Europe, but in fact we are facing a global problem because the tentacles of the gaming syndicates are spread right around the world."More on the report:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16923742

EU must overhaul fisheries eco-labelling, CFP rapporteur will say

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 GMT

A key report on the future of European fisheries markets will call on the European Commission to establish a new higher standard for eco-labelling across all fisheries products sold in the EU.

Deep concern over football corruption revelations

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

EU Commission massages its figures on Financial Transaction Tax

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The European Commission's decision to rewrite its own damning impact assessment on proposals for a Financial Transaction Tax - so that it is more favourable towards the proposal - is a clear indication it is putting its political agenda above jobs and growth, Dr Kay Swinburne MEP, European Conservatives and Reformists group economics spokesman, warned today.

Battle lines drawn on Arctic oil

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 GMT

MEPs are set for a fight over drilling for Arctic oil as new regulations for the offshore industry come before the European Parliament in the spring.

MEP pleased by court's support for sports broadcasters

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Conservative sports spokesman in the European Parliament, Emma McClarkin MEP, has welcomed the ruling of a High Court judge which will allow the Premier League and satellite broadcasters to enforce their screening rights to live games.Last autumn, the European Court of Justice ruled on whether it is within EU law for establishments such as pubs in one EU country to transmit Premier League football matches using the decoder card from another EU country, where the cost of the broadcast will be significantly cheaper. It followed the case of a UK pub owner who acquired a Greek decoder to show UK football matches broadcast on Greek TV.The court ruled that national legislation banning the use of overseas decoders was not justified. However, it added that surrounding media - such as anthems, graphics and pre-recorded films - could be protected by copyright. It is the latter point that is prominent in the UK High Court's interpretation.

"EU flag on sports shirts" report adopted by parliament amid angry scenes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

An EU report calling on national sports teams to wear the EU flag on their shirts received its final backing from the European Parliament today - with the support of Socialist and Liberal MEPs.