News Releases
Showing: March 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.
Recreational anglers wriggle out of EU quotas plans
Posted,3/31/2009 6:00:00 PM
Conservative pressure and amendments pay off Brussels, 31st March 2009 -- Plans to bring recreational anglers into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) have been watered down significantly by the European Parliament's fisheries committee in a vote this afternoon. Article 47 of the proposed regulation would have required recreational fishermen to register their boats and whatever they catch would be counted against the fisheries quota for that country. Each country will also be required to allocate what share of its quota for each fish species will be available for commercial and recreational fisheries use. Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative fisheries spokesman in the European Parliament, has led opposition to Article 47 in Brussels and while his amendment to delete it altogether was rejected, he was able to reword the proposal so that national governments could decide whether they would include recreational fishermen in the regulation. Earlier today, in an answer to a written question posed to the commission by Mr Stevenson, EU Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg, confirmed: "The normal hobby angler who catches an insignificant number of fish when he goes out fishing and uses it exclusively for his private consumption will not be covered by the control regulation, even if he catches fish like cod which is under a recovery plan." After the vote, Mr Stevenson said: "I am sorry that my amendment to delete article 47 was defeated in the Fisheries Committee. However, the fallback amendment which won majority support, together with the written answer I have received from Commissioner Borg, reassures me that recreational anglers have nothing to fear from the revised article 47. "Only fishermen who target recovery stocks such as cod, hake, eel and bluefin tuna and seek to sell their catch, will come under the jurisdiction of the CFP. Recreational anglers who are simply catching fish, even cod or other recovery stock fish, for their own consumption, will not be affected."
Tory MEP denounces £11,000 a day of EU aid misspent by north-east officials - and still nobody takes the blame
Posted,3/31/2009 12:00:00 PM
Heads should roll in Government Office North East, says Martin Callanan
EU Pins its Flag to British Bases around the World
Posted,3/31/2009 11:00:00 AM
Brussels, 31st March 2009 -- The European Parliament has begun discussing how British military bases around the world might be put under EU control.
Cross border healthcare closer to reality
Posted,3/31/2009 11:00:00 AM
Brussels, 31st March 2009 -- Patients will have a clear and accessible system for which to seek hospital treatment in other EU countries, said John Bowis MEP, Conservative health spokesman and the European Parliament's draftsman on the cross border healthcare report, after MEPs in the environment and public health committee adopted his proposals today.
New animal health body is a cover for cost sharing
Posted,3/30/2009 12:00:00 PM
New animal health body is a cover for cost sharing
Fairer animal testing law set to be approved by MEPs
Posted,3/30/2009 12:00:00 PM
Parish report better protects animals without risking human health
Free trade deal with India backed by European Parliament
Posted,3/30/2009 10:00:00 AM
MEPs send powerful signal that liberalising trade is in all our interests
Victory for Valencian land grab victims
Posted,3/30/2009 10:00:00 AM
Victory for Valencian land grab victims MEPs adopt critical report calling for expropriation to end Strasbourg, 26th March 2009 -- The European Parliament's adoption of a highly critical report into so-called 'Valencian land grabs' will send a powerful signal to the Spanish authorities to end this scandal, Sir Robert Atkins MEP, Conservative petitions spokesman in Strasbourg, said today. Sir Robert has led the call for MEPs to speak out against the demolition of thousands of properties in Spain - many of them belonging to British expatriates - without compensation. In some cases, the authorities have even charged the property owners for the installation of local infrastructure, even after they have lost their property A number of Conservative MEPs including Neil Parish and Roger Helmer have been active in the campaign to end the scandal, which led to the parliament adopting the report drafted by Margrete Auken, a Danish Green MEP, this morning. Sir Robert said: "We have heard from so many British citizens who were frankly victims of a scandal sanctioned by the Spanish authorities. "The emotional and financial trauma so many home owners have suffered must be put right. Over the years we have been beset by British expatriates who have presented hundreds of petitions representing thousands of residents. We simply could not turn a blind eye and allow this to go on. "The adoption of the parliament's report is an important step in securing some justice for land grab victims but our campaign will not rest until this unjust law has been overturned."
Cheaper, shorter and greener flights after MEPs adopt Single European Sky
Posted,3/25/2009 5:00:00 PM
Kirkhope welcomes better coordination of air traffic network Flights could become shorter, cheaper and greener after MEPs adopted proposals for a more efficient European air traffic control network, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative transport spokesman, said today. The new regulations adopted today make up the 'Single European Sky' package which aims to bring Europe's air traffic network in line with the increase in air traffic in recent years.
Sheep tagging - not all over Baa the shouting
Posted,3/23/2009 4:00:00 PM
Possible reprieve for Sheep farmers facing crippling costs