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EURO OR THE POUND?
Denmark has its
referendum on the Euro on the 28th September. The Danish people will
decide whether they wish to abandon their national currency in favour of
the Euro.
When will Blair’s New Labour offer the British public the same
democratic choice? Why should our industries and businesses be subject
to uncertainty in their wish to invest in Britain over this issue? Will
Blair panic into action against threats from foreign investors or currency
speculators?
Blair
should offer us a Referendum on the Euro before the next General Election.
He must state his position now so that there is a public debate forcing
each political party to state clearly where they stand!
GERMANS BAN BRITISH DOG BREEDS
I have
challenged German State legislation that threatens a list of British dog
breeds such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff,
Old English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff and Rhodesian Ridgeback.
These dog breeds are well known, liked and
established in Britain and Europe. They are not considered as 'fighting
dogs' or a threat to public safety.
I am concerned
that unilateral action by certain German States (Landers) could persuade
the European Commission to propose a European Directive affecting the
right of British people to have these dogs as their pets. It would affect
British breeders from offering such breeds to the many Europeans
throughout the 15 Member States, including Germany, who would like these
dogs as their beloved pets!
CLONING TO SAVE LIFE!
Remember the
first heart transplant by Professor Bernard in South Africa in 1967? There
was public uproar, fear and concern. Today, organ transplants are saving
thousands of lives and giving joy and happiness to those affected.
Scientists in
Britain have been given strict guidelines to use stem cell cloning in
their research to develop treatment for incurable killer diseases such as
Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Nobody
advocates or supports human cloning. However, we cannot logically deny
those who suffer from such incurable diseases the possibility of treatment
based on science that neither threatens our morality nor our religious
conviction.
I
have urged the European Parliament to have a comprehensive debate on the
subject of cloning. Sadly, the European Parliament will discuss it under
the Urgency Debate where a small number of MEPs make 2 or 3 minute
speeches to catch national newspaper headlines or impress religious
lobbies.
HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS & MALARIA
In developing
countries, these three diseases severely limit human development. World
wide, they cause deaths of more than 5 million people each year depriving
poor nations of their skilled workers.
I have consistently advocated that prevention and
treatment of malaria should be as important as the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The European Commission, the UN and WHO have finally accepted this view.
The European
Commission, collaborating with WHO and the UN, has invited me to an
International Conference of 130 experts to formulate a new policy to:-
a)
maximise access & use of existing interventions
b)
increase affordability of pharmaceuticals through a comprehensive
global approach
c)
invest in research & development to produce affordable vaccines
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DUMPING YOUR CAR?
Should the last owner pay for disposal or should the
manufacturer be responsible for recycling including the treatment of heavy
metals in the scrapped car? The EU
will propose that the final owners have a right to deliver the vehicle to
a treatment facility without cost. Manufacturers will, in future, be
required to take on a significant part of the cost of dismantling and
recycling end of life vehicles. This regulation will apply to all
vehicles placed on the market after 1st July 2002. For existing
vehicles the regulations will apply from 1st January 2007.Cars
put on the market after 1st July 2003 will not contain heavy
metals such as cadmium and lead. Vintage cars are exempt from the scope of this directive
AUDIO-VISUAL IN THE DIGITAL AGE
European audio-visual industry in the digital age
must compete globally. It should
guarantee pluralism, linguistic and cultural diversity. Consumers must
have free choice and easy access to networks and content. Regulations for
“television without frontiers” must incorporate protection for minors
by application of programme filtering technology allowing parental
control.
EUROPEAN FUNDING
NORFOLK
1. The Norfolk
Wage Subsidy Scheme helped businesses that could not otherwise afford to
take on new employees.
2. Learning
centres have been funded in Fakenham, Watton, Downham Market and Weeting
enabling local people to maximise learning and development opportunities.
3. The Fens
Access Project aimed to develop and promote a network of routes in the
Fens area for walking, cycling and horse riding supporting local
businesses and tourism.
SUFFOLK
1. Development
of four purpose-built local learning centres in the market towns of Eye,
Stradbroke, Framlingham & Bungay attracted £600,000 of European
Funding. This has provided opportunities for high quality learning and
business support to the rural communities.
2. The Lowestoft
Yacht Basin Marina Development attracted £1.2m of European Funding
benefiting the whole area.
3. The Suffolk Business Support Package,
attracting £1.5m, helped provide grants for SMEs for capital equipment,
research and development as well as professional advice and funding for
setting up co-operatives and hundreds of small community businesses.
JULIE KENT IN BRUSSELS
Julie organised
my Westminster and European election campaigns brilliantly. She is
visiting Brussels and has helped draft this Newsletter. Thanks Julie!
FREE PUBLICATIONS FROM EUROPE
1.Secure your
"Catalogue of Free Publications" by writing to Publications
Dispatch Centre, European Commission,London SE99 6TT, Tel: 020 7463 8177
or Fax 020 8694 0099 or Email:eec@sr-comms.co.uk.
2.Secure a list of free publications by writing
to: Publications Orders, European Parliament, 2 Queen Anne´s Gate, London
SW1H 9AA
3.Secure your Leaflet on European Funding
"5B NOW" Final Issue Summer 2000 from: Attn: Jonathan Pearsall,
Government Office For the East of England, Economic Development Division,
Building A, Westbrook Centre, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1YG
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