Were on our way home from another week in Strasbourg... a good time to reflect on a busy and historic week! Monday: often Monday evening debates seem focused on less important issues, but not so this week... We started the week off with a historic debate on the proposed vote of censure against Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed by the extreme Right in the European Parliament. The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament have led the EP in the fight for action against tax havens, tax avoidance and evasion (see more here: labour4ne.org.uk/call_for_europe_to_support_tax_justice & watch out for Pauls column in The Journal on Monday for more) Tuesday: started early with Italian PM Matteo Renzi addressing the S&D group - he gave a green light to the TTIP talks arguing its importance for jobs and growth. Off I went from there to our S&D coordination meeting of the Petitions Committee - the next committee is next week and its going to be another historic moment as the GMBs Eddie Marnell will be appealing for support and redress for the Cammel Laird workers so unjustly treated by the UK government in 1984: gmb.org.uk/newsroom/cammell-laird-strike-eu-hearing. The main event of the day was the address from the Pope to MEPs. He was very impressive and I encourage you to listen to his speech and strong call for respect of human rights here: europarltv.europa.eu/en/player.aspx?pid=6a85772c-33c9-473c-b3c7-a3ea00b918e4 I caught up with the mornings Westminster BIS select committee hearing on TTIP with the TUC, CBI, WDM and 38Degrees (parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=16584)... Through the wonders of modern technology I virtually joined the UKs Clean Coal Taskforce (made up of unions and industry pushing CCS) to discuss with them and Tom Greatrex MPs team on UK energy policy... very interesting! Gave a couple of interviews about the threat to North-East EU funds from a delay in their agreement (see here: labour4ne.org.uk/uk_government_puts_millions_of_pounds_at_risk). And following the announcement of more transparency about #TTIP from the Commission, I joined an informal dinner with new Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström... phew! I was happy to see my bed after that day :-) Wednesday: I started the day discussing EU-Taiwan relations with the Taiwanese Ambassador Tung. The event of the week for me and my most emotionally charged moment yet in the EP came later in the morning with the award ceremony for the Sakharov Prize to Congolese Dr Denis Mukwege who has dedicated his life to healing women and girls raped as a weapon of war. It was totally overwhelming - worth your time and attention: europarltv.europa.eu/en/player.aspx?pid=164fc024-2183-4383-aea0-a3ea00b9176d We had to debrief with each other afterwards because his words and actions spoke so powerfully. But the day ploughed on and with it a meeting on the extension of trade preferences for the Philippines (where my little brother Dunc is working rebuilding schools and houses destroyed in Typhon Haiyan #proudsister) and a really good S&D debate on international trade questions. Thursday: this morning Paul and I had a chat on film about tax justice ahead of the vote of censure on Juncker. We had a good meeting with the ETUC on what the EUs €300bn investment plan should look like and focus on... After the votes, I spoke on those concerns about EU funds for the North-East - see it here: https://youtube/watch?v=FqLslmhl53o Weve had a cup of tea and Paul & I are waiting for the flight to Newcastle... tomorrow brings another set of adventures - we are having our NE office away-day to do some forward planning... what could we do better/extra? Let us know :-)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 18:04:41 +0000
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