News Releases
Showing: December 2009
Here you can find an archive of all the news items that have been on this website as well as any comments, polls or surveys.
British sheep farmers braced for 'nonsensical' EU tagging rules
Posted,12/28/2009 12:00:00 AM
As of 1st January, British sheep farmers will face substantial new costs in complying with a redundant new EU requirement to electronically tag their flocks, Conservative MEPs have warned.
EU shoe tariffs decision is lamentable
Posted,12/22/2009 12:00:00 AM
The EU's decision today to extend tariffs on shoe imports from China and Vietnam has been slammed by Robert Sturdy MEP, Conservative international trade spokesman in the European Parliament. Ministers today overturned a decision by the EU's Anti-Dumping committee and extended a 16.5 percent and a 10 percent tariff on shoes from China and Vietnam respectively for another 15 months. The duties were introduced by Lord Mandelson in 2006 when he was trade commissioner. Retailers have not taken a shine to the plans, which Clarks says have cost it around €800m in import costs since 2006. Mr Sturdy said: "Not a single European manufacturing job will be saved in the long run by these duties. "This is a tax that will affect consumers and retailers in their pockets at a time when necessities such as shoes should be as cheap as possible. "We cannot shut out cheap imports from Asia but we can reap the benefits from cheaper production thanks to outsourcing. Countries like Britain who have embraced outsourcing of basic production have found their fashion industries thrive as more design and finishing jobs are created at home. "It seems ludicrous that the EU would want to artificially inflate the prices of shoes at a time when we are trying to encourage high street spending."
European money for electricity interconnector welcomed
Posted,12/18/2009 12:00:00 AM
European money for electricity interconnector welcomed
EU money for Carbon Capture and Storage welcomed by local MEP
Posted,12/18/2009 12:00:00 AM
Hatfield to get €180 million
NATO's Afghan mission must not fail and Pakistan must ensure that aid from European countries is used to fight terrorists
Posted,12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM
NATO's mission in Afghanistan will defeat the Taliban if there is sufficient political will and troops, Charles Tannock MEP, foreign affairs coordinator for the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, said today in a debate on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
WE MUST GET BALANCE ON STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME RIGHT KIRKHOPE TELLS PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT
Posted,12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM
Strasbourg 16 December 2009. Conservative Leader in Brussels Timothy Kirkhope MEP told the President of the European Parliament that parts of the Stockholm Programme impinge on areas that lie at the heart of national sovereignty.
International Leaders Summit 8-9 december
Posted,12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM
The sixth annual International Leaders Summit will be held in the European Parliament the 8. - 9. December. The summit is a unique gathering on public policy issues that brings business, media communications, think tank and political leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss principled solutions that increase economic growth and prosperity. This year, some of the prominent conservative MEPs including the ECR Chairman Michal Kaminski will join the Summit as well as renowned journalists and economists: Dr. Daniel Mitchell (The Cato Institute), Edward Luca (The Economist), Marc Champion (The Wall Street Journal) or Dr. Kim Holmes (The Heritage Foundation).
CONSERVATIVE LEADER IN BRUSSELS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LADY ASHTON
Posted,12/2/2009 12:00:00 AM
CONSERVATIVE LEADER IN BRUSSELS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LADY ASHTON
Ill-judged maternity leave extension back on the agenda
Posted,12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Ill-judged maternity leave extension back on the agenda
DE-CENTRALISE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY SAYS STEVENSON AFTER MAJOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HEARING
Posted,12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
DE-CENTRALISE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY SAYS STEVENSON AFTER MAJOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HEARING