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EU GIVES £97m TO EAST OF ENGLAND
The East of England plan is intended to promote
sustainable economic growth, social cohesion and enhance the environment.
It covers Luton, Southend, Waveney & Great Yarmouth, Breckland
District, the North Norfolk Coast, the Fens, rural East Suffolk and part
of central rural Norfolk. Both Objective 2 programmes run for 2000-2006
and include themes of equal opportunities, sustainable development and the
Information Society. Website for more info.... http://www.inforegio.cec.eu.int
EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (ESF)
The ESF will invest £3.7bn in employment and human
resource programmes over the next six years. The policy focus will move
from training to a wider range of measures investing in people. Almost £11bn
(half of total ESF budget of £21bn) will support schemes to improve
employability across the EU whilst £5bn will target promotion of
entrepreneurship. A sum of £6.9bn is earmarked for adaptability of the
workforce - lifelong learning, IT skills and small businesses. Website for
further information: http://europa.eu.int/esf
LESS RED TAPE FOR SMALL FARMERS
Around 500,000 farmers in the EU should benefit from
a scheme to cut red tape as those receiving small amounts of direct aid
(up to £607) will apply once
when they enter the scheme rather than make a separate claim for each type
of premium each year. Form filling will be a one-off event for small
farmers with the scheme operating as a pilot during 2000-2005. This should
help many farmers in Eastern Region.
RESCUE PLAN FOR NORTH SEA COD
The EU has formulated a conservation strategy to help
cod stocks recover in the North Sea. The quantity of mature cod currently
present is at an historically low level and overfishing is depleting this
fast risking replenishment by natural reproduction. Mature cod were protected during last year´s spawning season to improve
the egg yield and therefore increase the young cod stocks. The EU
proposals will extend these measures to last through this year´s spawning
season as well as closing the spawning grounds for 10 weeks.
DOLPHINS &
PORPOISES
Environmentalists estimate that thousands of dolphins
and porpoises are killed each year in EU waters. Accidental entanglement
in fishing nets - or "bycatch" - is the greatest immediate
threat to small marine animals. Cetaceans entrapped in fishing nets will
remain concious until their oxygen reserves are depleted. In their
struggle to free themselves they suffer serious injury and many die. I
shall be signing a declaration in the Parliament to urge the EU to
incorporate adequate measure to deal with this in the revision of the
Common Fisheries Policy.
BSE & BEEF
CRISIS IN THE EU
The EU beef market needs immediately a
scientific-market based package that will help farmers and protect the
consumers. EU consumption has fallen by 27% and many third countries have
banned EU beef. A surplus of 800,000 tons is forecast for this year and
buying into intervention is not a solution, because of both the cost and
the limits on storage. EU beef production must be restricted with early
marketing premium for calves or payments to encourage more extensive
farming.
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The purchase-for-destruction scheme (for cattle over
30 months old) operating in UK has now started in France, Ireland,
Luxembourg and Spain. The Commission Report on implementation of BSE
control measures in the Member States can be accessed on Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/
library/press/press104_en.html
EU
FOOD AID TO RUSSIA WAS WASTED
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) confirmed that
the EU decision to provide £230m in emergency food aid to the Russian
Federation in 1999 was based on "political" considerations and
not genuine need..The Commission had studied the situation and concluded
that there was no food shortage in Russia at the time but it disregarded
its own findings and backed the plan in late 1998. The EU saw an
opportunity to offload its surpluses, especially beef. Such assistance
could have been given more cheaply and effectively by using export
refunds, which make up for low prices on external markets.
Food aid comprising cereals, beef, pigmeat and milk
powder only partially benefited the poorest as prices were still too high
for them. Implementation was delayed resulting in arrival at destination
after the harvest when demand was weakest but storage costs the highest!
Such assistance to Russia and East European countries have enriched a few
corrupt politicians and officials in these countries at the expense of the
European taxpayers. The Commission has learnt nothing from the "Flechard"
case that remains unresolved to this day. The EU must stop
political interference with the free market, reform the CAP and
improve the competence of the
Commission!
EU DIRECTIVE
ON FOOD SUPPLEMENTS
Millions of EU citizens take daily food supplements,
usually concentrated sources of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals,
amino acids, essential fatty acids, fibre, plant and herb extracts.
Consumer demand for these products has increased enormously with annual
sales of some £3bn in the UK and £2.5bn in Germany. The European
Commission is concerned that proliferation of these products will make it
harder to monitor their medical impact on the EU population. Further,
there are differences between Member States in formulation, dosage, purity
criteria, labelling and regulatory approval.
In my 30 years experience as a pharmacist I have seen
many people deriving substantial benefit from such products - products
that are assessed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain,
the British Medical Association and UK Government´s Ministry of Health. I
have confidence in the competence of such authorities.
The bureaucrats in Brussels should not interfere with Member States
in such matters.
HIV/AIDS,
TUBERCULOSIS & MALARIA
I have been appointed the European Parliament
Rapporteur for "Accelerated Action to Combat Communicable
Diseases". I shall be consulting the Governments of countries where
the diseases have impacted seriously, the International Agencies (WHO,
UNAIDS, Red Cross), the Pharmnaceutical Industry, NGOs and fellow MEPs to
seek concensus so that my Report can lead to a Programme of Action for
delivering access to treatment at an
affordable price, resources for prevention and appropriate incentives to
encourage research and development of new drugs and vaccines.
ACTIVITIES
1. Visited Palestine as a Member of the European
Parliament Delegation to Palestine.
2. Attended the NFU Suffolk Annual Meeting in
Stowmarket.
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