FISHING QUOTAS WILL DESTROY JOBS
There are serious
breaches in the implementation of the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
and a recent report details 4,180 infringements of the 1999 code of
conduct for fishing. Widespread fishing by vessels without proper
authorisation, falsification of log books, use of unauthorised equipment
and non-submission of reports on infringements by Belgium, Italy,
Netherlands and Spain continue to undermine the CFP.
Illegal
fishing has devastated fish stocks. Substantial cuts in catches coupled
with severe penalties for infringement must be enforced to ensure the
livelihood of our fishermen. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for cod in the
Kattegat will be reduced by 58%, haddock caught in the Irish Sea by 52%,
sole in the North Sea by 25% and langoustines in the bay of Biscay by 45%.
Also, there will be limits on fishing shark, red seabream and blue ling.
OUR
FARMERS & COUNTRYSIDE
Many
of us living in the
countryside have noticed the
creeping abandonment of farmland – almost 270,000 hectares
abandoned to bracken encroachment. Almost 500,000 hectares are now lying
fallow as EU funded set-aside. 11% of the nation’s sheep and 7% of its
cattle have been slaughtered over the last 8 months. Their livestock would
have occupied about 900,000 hectares and until they restock to allow
appropriate grazing, vast areas of pasture will be covered in ragwort.
In
the last 10 years prior to the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the dairy herd in
England and Wales had declined by 20% and the sheep flock by 500,000.
Therefore, the area of England under production in the arable,
horticultural and livestock sector has shrunk significantly.
The Countryside
Stewardship Scheme needs more relaxed rules for entry. It must
substantially improve the rates of payment to offer real incentives to
farmers if they are to continue to be the guardians of the landscape.
Blair should ensure that care and cash is provided to preserve this green
and pleasant land we call England – it is just as important as helping
inner city areas where his votes might be!
BUSINESS IN EASTERN
REGION
“Guide
to European Funding”
leaflet is available from the Home Office Active Community Unit (ACU) Tel:
020 7217 8400 or: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/acu/acu.htm.
The
EU Research Programme FP6 (2002-6)
offers businesses (SMEs) in Eastern Region support schemes to stimulate
innovation, research and development in the field of technology. Priority
areas are:-
a)
Genomics and biotechnology
b)
IT initiatives
c)
Nanotechnologies & new production processes
d)
Aeronautics
e)
Food safety & health
f)
Sustainable and environmental development
Check the website www.cordis.lu/trd2002/
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EU
BUDGET FOR 2002
The
Council has approved a budget of about £60bn of which £28bn is allocated
for agricultural subsidies. About £20 billion is allocated for structural
measures; £4bn for internal policies; £3bn for external policies; £2bn
for pre-accession aid; £100m for the conversion of the Portuguese and
Spanish fishing fleets and £3.5bn for administration.
MISSING
MILLIONS
The
EU Court of Auditors Annual Report highlighted that about 5% of the 2000
budget was unaccounted for despite the recent reforms of the Commission!
Most of the accounting problems arose from Member States’ failure to
check expenditure in areas such as agricultural subsidies and the
Structural Funds which they administer themselves and which account for
some 85% of the EU budget! Finally, some £7bn allocated to Structural
Funds was not utilised owing to delays in starting the 2000-06 programmes.
MEDITERRANEAN
TRAVEL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The
2002-04 Euromed Youth II Programme is designed to encourage youth
exchanges, voluntary work and training in the EU as well as Algeria,
Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Syria,
Tunisia and Turkey.
The scheme aims to
develop mutual understanding between young people from different cultures
and encourage democratisation of civil society to help better
integratation into society.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth/
program/n_forms.html
connectyouth.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
FROM
LAEKEN TO IGC 2004
The Laeken Summit in
Belgium should have set out guidelines for reform of the EU institutions
to allow enlargement to go forward. European leaders including Blair
agreed that the EU should have, at some stage, an elected President. They
directed that a European Convention of 100 officers be established under
the chairmanship of past President of France, Mr. Giscard d’Estaing, to
advise on reform. This Convention would hand over to the Inter
Governmental Conference (IGC) finishing in 2004.
Mr. Giscard was rejected
by French voters 20 years ago and is “a personality of the European
past, not one of the future”! Surely the EU can identify someone who is
younger, innovative, successful in business, modest and “in touch”
with the Europe of today!
An elected president of
the EU would be a real supra-national “leader” with legitimacy and
electoral claim to override national will. How would this work without a
State? What would be the role of national leaders and national
parliaments? Does Europe need such a change to be an efficient trading
block? Has Blair consulted the British public? If not, why not?
ACTIVITIES
1. 23Nov
Eastern Region Media in Cambridge
2. 23Nov
S. Norfolk CA Annual Dinner:
3. 30Nov
Marshalls Workshop in Cambridge.
4. 30Nov
Farm in Thetford & Mtg in Diss.
5. 30Nov
Mid Norfolk CA Rendham branch
6. 07Dec
EUW Meeting, Huntingdon
7. 07Dec
Conservative Future, W.Chelmsford
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