News Releases
Showing: November 2008
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.
The plight of the bumblebee - EU takes action
Posted,11/19/2008 2:00:00 PM
The plight of the bumblebee - EU takes action
Timothy Kirkhope elected Leader of Conservatives in the European Parliament
Posted,11/18/2008 5:00:00 PM
Strasbourg, 18th November 2008 -- Timothy Kirkhope MEP has today been elected to lead British Conservative MEPs - the largest British delegation in the European Parliament.
CAP health check is a missed opportunity
Posted,11/18/2008 2:00:00 PM
MEPs likely to water down an already timid proposal, Parish warns
Wonky fruit and veg rules re-peeled
Posted,11/12/2008 2:00:00 PM
Brussels, 12th November 2008 -- Rules which dictate the size and shape of fruit and veg sold in our stores have been scrapped by the EU's management committee, Neil Parish MEP, Conservative chairman of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, said today.
Multilateral trade deal may not be dead as a Doha
Posted,11/12/2008 10:00:00 AM
Conservatives say last push would send powerful signal against economic nationalism
Court of Auditors report: Time for national governments to live up to their commitments
Posted,11/10/2008 4:00:00 PM
Conservative budgetary control spokesman in Brussels, James Elles MEP, has said the ongoing inability for national governments to take urgent and rigorous action to achieve a clean opinion from the Court of Auditors is unacceptable, and the European Commission should now 'name and shame' those countries failing to live up to their commitments.This year, for the first time, the court has been able to provide an unqualified (clean) opinion of the consolidated accounts, saying that they give a fair representation of the financial position of the EC. The court also gives a clear opinion on the legality and regularity of the EU's administration. However, around 80 percent of all EU monies are spent by national governments and agencies, where the auditors are unable to account for it. National governments entered into an agreement with the European Commission and MEPs during negotiations over the 2007-13 budget round, pledging to introduce a system of self-certification for the EU monies they spend. So far, only five countries have done so - including the UK. Mr Elles has said the commission should name and shame the others, and even hold back on monies until those governments have fulfilled their pledge. Last month, Conservatives supported an unsuccessful effort to withhold five percent of the 2009 budget until the remaining countries met the requirements of the Court of Auditors. Mr Elles said: "The European Commission has put in place many of the foundations for finally ending this annual embarrassment, such as a new accounting system and a growing recognition that whistleblowers are to be encouraged; but there is a distinct lack of urgency from an unacceptably large number of national governments. "This annual debacle is unacceptable and while EU governments know the action they must take to help end it, only a few have done so. "Those governments failing to take responsibility for EU funds should be named and shamed. Should this lack of importance in the Council of Ministers continue, we must get a grip and withhold monies they need such as for Common Foreign and Security Policy actions."
Commission proposes more swingeing fisheries cuts
Posted,11/10/2008 4:00:00 PM
Brussels, 10th November 2008 -- The European Commission has once again proposed swingeing cuts to whitefish and herring quotas, in a misguided attempt to save dwindling stocks, Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative fisheries spokesman, warned today.
New standards for toys can't spoil Xmas
Posted,11/6/2008 2:00:00 PM
Brussels, 6th November 2008 -- Toys sold in the EU will have to meet enhanced safety standards if a report on Toy safety, adopted unanimously by the Internal Market Committee today, is supported by the Parliament. The report has been welcomed by Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative internal market spokesman, as it successfully balances child safety and new test requirements, while ensuring that responsible producers are encouraged to make interesting new toys.
MEPs demand action on small business scams
Posted,11/6/2008 2:00:00 PM
Business directory mis-selling causes misery Brussels, 6th November 2008 -- The European Parliament's petitions committee has demanded tighter national laws and more action from the European Commission to ensure small businesses are afforded greater protection from directory scams. Conservative MEP Sir Robert Atkins has campaigned for a crackdown on rogue directories for many years, but the petitions committee decided to write a report on the issue after receiving over 400 petitions from aggrieved businesses. The European City Guide and similar outfits advertise "free of charge" entries into business catalogues and then trick interested businesses into signing long-term agreements which foresee annual fees amounting to thousands of pounds. The scam forms have onerous contract terms in very small print, which are overlooked by businesses convinced they are merely getting a free listing. Although there is no evidence that these fraudsters have taken anyone to court to recover their fees, many small businesses have succumbed to the pressure of threats and parted with substantial sums of money. The parliamentary committee has today called for greater awareness amongst business owners of the potential scam, tighter national laws on unfair commercial practices and for the European Commission to ensure national laws already in place comply strictly with current European law. Sir Robert said: "Small businesses can ill-afford to fall victim to scammers at the best of times, but in the current climate these extortionate bills would send some over the edge. "It is imperative we do all within our power to ensure businesses are aware of these scams, and to encourage national governments to crack down on rogue directories. The European City Guide has made many business-owners' lives a misery and we will continue to act to shut it down for good."
Stronger animal testing laws 'not before time'
Posted,11/5/2008 3:00:00 PM
Animal experiments should become less frequent and more humane