News Releases
Showing: September 2011
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.
Barroso's war games
Posted,9/30/2011 12:00:00 PM
In his "State of the Union" address to the European Parliament today (28 September), Commission President Manuel Barroso focused mainly on the economic and financial crisis engulfing the Eurozone. But he also took the opportunity to call for further defence integration, "if we want to punch above our weight in the world". He also called for a "single defence market and a European defence industry".
EU ruling will expose Britain to benefits tourism
Posted,9/30/2011 11:00:00 AM
The EU has told the UK it has two months to start paying social security to non-UK nationals otherwise the Commission may decide to refer the UK to the EU's Court of Justice.
Condemnation for EU "tax on City of London"
Posted,9/28/2011 4:00:00 PM
A planned European Union tax on financial transactions could prompt a hugely-damaging exodus of business and jobs from London, Conservative MEPs warned today. The announcement of plans to create a European Financial Transactions Tax was a centrepiece of President Jose Manuel Barroso's State of Union speech to the European parliament. He claimed it was a necessary and fair way of addressing Europe's economic crisis. But Kay Swinburne, Conservative spokesman on economic and monetary affairs, said: "This is not an EU-wide tax but a tax on the City of London." She said that any European financial transaction tax (FTT) which included the United Kingdom but not the rest of the G-20 group of leading economic nations, would simply lead to a draining-away of business to other parts of the globe. She explained: "Transactions can easily be moved. It is not so difficult or complicated as moving a headquarters."
McClarkin condemns schools propaganda plan
Posted,9/28/2011 1:00:00 PM
Conservative MEPs spoke out today against a European Commission plan which they fear will lead to schoolchildren being force-fed pro-Brussels propaganda.
Research funding must reward excellence and merit
Posted,9/27/2011 11:00:00 AM
A successful EU Research and Innovation funding programme should always be based on excellence and scientific merit according to Dr Kay Swinburne, Welsh Conservative MEP.
Leading the way on river quality
Posted,9/27/2011 9:00:00 AM
In a speech to the European Parliament yesterday, London Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis told fellow MEPs about the UK government's efforts to improve water quality in Britain's rivers, especially the River Thames.
EU civil servants in rebellion over 40-hour week plan
Posted,9/22/2011 1:00:00 PM
The leader of Britain's Conservative MEPs has told the EU's army of civil servants to "get real" after they refused to negotiate over a proposal to increase their working week to 40 hours. Martin Callanan, MEP for North East England, said: "Public sector staff the world over are facing cutbacks and wage freezes. But here in Brussels they seem to think they live in an economic microclimate where money grows on trees and the world owes them a very comfortable living." He spoke after the parliament's joint trade union body, the Equipe d' Union Syndicale, sent a message to all staff scoffing at a suggestion in a package of cost-saving proposals that working hours should increase by a modest 2.5 hours to 40 per week. Under current arrangements, the vast majority of EU staff enjoy a luxuriously long weekend by finishing work on Friday lunchtime. The package aims to save EU taxpayers €1 billion a year by 2020. But in their the message, 10 named union officials told staff: "'The unions and staff associations replied to this proposal with a categorical 'Niet!'”. They claimed working a full 40 hour week would have a "very negative impact on reconciliation of working and home life". And they added: "The attractiveness (sic) of the European civil service would deteriorate." In fact the generous terms and conditions enjoyed by the civil servants mean job vacancies are heavily over-subscribed. Mr Callanan said: "The Brussels pen-pushers, just like many of the politicians here, just don't seem to get it when it comes to the economy. Austerity measures are being taken everywhere, but somehow they think the EU is immune. "They need to get real and start to talk to us about how they can help Europe out of this crisis."
Launch of EU-Congo chamber of commerce
Posted,9/22/2011 11:00:00 AM
Speaking at the Launch of the EU-Congo Chamber of Commerce, held in the European Parliament, Conservative MEP and Development Spokesman Nirj Deva, who co-chaired the meeting said:
Protecting children from sex abuse
Posted,9/21/2011 3:00:00 PM
Conservative MEP for London Marina Yannakoudakis hosted a public meeting today at the European Parliament in Brussels for child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
Harbour hails new Jaguar plant announcement
Posted,9/20/2011 9:00:00 AM
A Conservative MEP has welcomed Jaguar Land Rover’s announcement that it plans to create 750 jobs at a new engine plant near Wolverhampton.