News Releases
Showing: February 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.
Better protection for minors on social networking sites
Posted,2/10/2009 4:00:00 PM
Conservatives welcome self-regulation
Anti-protectionism summit must deliver action, not words
Posted,2/10/2009 1:00:00 PM
Test of leadership for the EU Brussels, 10th February 2009 -- The proposed anti-protectionism summit due to be held later this month must deliver positive action as well as sentiment to reject a protectionist response to the economic crisis, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative leader in Brussels, said today. Chancellor Alistair Darling has today called on the EU and US to reject protectionism, as finance ministers meet to resolve recent differences. Mr Kirkhope said: "This is a real test of leadership in the EU. Of course, we can understand why there will be calls for EU countries to erect barriers to each other and to the rest of the world, but our leaders must stand firm. "A summit that sends out an anti-protectionist message to the rest of the world is a first step, but words and rhetoric must be backed up with action. If the EU and the USA give up on free trade and open markets, the rest of the world will follow and a downward spiral of economic nationalism will result."
Pesticides ban: impact of European Parliament's vote becoming clearer
Posted,2/9/2009 5:00:00 PM
Pesticides Safety Directorate outlines some substances facing the axe
US farm bill sets a bad example to the EU
Posted,2/6/2009 11:00:00 AM
Agricultural reform going the wrong way and could lead to WTO dispute
Time for a Fresh start in Sri Lanka - Tamil Tigers should lay down their arms
Posted,2/5/2009 2:00:00 PM
As Sri Lankan government forces intensify their military operations to root out the last remnants of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) holed up in a small area near Mullaitivu, the European Parliament has called on the insurgents to lay down their arms and participate in the democratic political process. The Parliament will today pass its sixth resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka with the support of all major political groups with the exception of the socialists.
EU Action Plan for sharks - more action is necessary!
Posted,2/5/2009 12:00:00 PM
Brussels, 5th February 2009 - The EU's sharks action plan, adopted today by the European Commission, is an important step in the right direction for the conservation and management of these vulnerable species, Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative fisheries spokesman in the European Parliament, said.
Harbour: stimulate demand for new cars
Posted,2/4/2009 4:00:00 PM
Government support is not dragging consumers to the showroom The British government and the EU should focus on measures that boost demand and clear some of the unsold cars on dealers' forecourts, Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative internal market spokesman in Europe, said today in response to a European Commission statement about the EU's car industry. Mr Harbour has said that the UK's assistance package - announced last week - might have been sufficient last Summer, but now fails to target the real cause of the problem: plummeting car sales. He said the UK could learn from some other EU countries that are attempting to stimulate demand by providing financial incentives to trade in old cars for new. Mr Harbour, a former director at Rover, said: "The British government's support package might have been sufficient several months ago but it now fails to hit the target and address the low demand for new vehicles. "We need measures that free up consumer credit, create incentives to replace old models and encourage businesses to buy new commercial vehicles. "We seem to have forgotten the thousands of car dealerships across the UK which are struggling and will be relatively unaided by the government's package. Rather than bailing out our car industry with yet more taxpayers' money, EU governments should be helping to make those vehicles already on the forecourts look more attractive to hesitant consumers."
MEPs adopt tough stance on climate change
Posted,2/4/2009 2:00:00 PM
Better public procurement will provide more opportunities to small businesses
Posted,2/4/2009 12:00:00 PM
European general aviation enters the 21st century
Posted,2/3/2009 2:00:00 PM
Strasbourg, 3rd February 2009 -- Flying enthusiasts and businesses will benefit from a report adopted by the European Parliament today, which will boost aircraft manufacturing and give small planes better access to regional airports.