Peter Skinner MEP Winter 2007 Newsletter from Brussels

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Revised treaty and the charter of Fundamental Human Rights

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The signing of the treaty in Lisbon was the culmination of much political friction at EU and national levels but it was also recognition of the pragmatic steps necessary to move forward. Arguments between countries as to how to proceed with the very function of operating the EU were more than mechanical but this Treaty is far less political in content for example than the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1992, by John Major. That this should be the case lends itself very well to addressing the concerns of many whom have called this a turning point of a "federal style of Europe" it is not a referendum issue just as the Maastricht Treaty was never put to a referendum. Furthermore, there is in the Treaty much that attends to the so called "democratic deficit" - in particular the reference to the Yellow-Card, where national Parliaments will have to approve the Commissions up-stream proposals before the other Institutions get to amend them and make them laws. This is of genuine importance for the creation of a higher threshold of scrutiny by member states national representative bodies, a kind of return of sovereignty. Of course it is the same national bodies whom care to consider themselves both scrutinizers of public policy making and government as well as legislators whom can decide to take a country to war who should rightly have the central role of deciding to agree this treaty.

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Tory Hooligan Behaviour in Strasbourg

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December Plenary saw some of the most disgraceful antics observed in the European Parliament in a long time. It is against the decorum of the house and against common courtesy for such behaviour to have taken place with the chanting of football style comments to the P.M. of Portugal. The Tories were joined by Eurosceptic from the non-attached group in the Parliament (a group made up the Fascists and "non-mainstream" parties and individuals!).

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Labour MEPs lead ban on decommissioned guns

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With more and more complaints from Police forces across Europe of the "decommissioning" of supposedly decommissioned guns and their growing use in street related crime, especially among the young, the European parliament has acted to prohibit the sale of such guns. They will be treated the same as guns which are fully functional and available le only under licence and with prior approval by regulation. This is aimed at dealing with the growing number of violent incidents which have occurred in the EU and particularly countries like the UK in recent times where it has become all too easy and cheap to alter decommissioned guns.

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Malthusian Trap's and the "Modern" day Green

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Being "Green" is often used as a reference to environmental attitudes; however the agenda of the Green movement as the political party goes way beyond what perhaps many would automatically sign up to, yet people are often unaware to a large degree as to what the "The Greens" really stand for. I was recently accused on T.V. of "mocking" a Green MEP for her views on controlling population growth by a restriction on the size of families. Holding a view which is directly opposite as I do (our population is actually shrinking and ageing in real terms) you might not find it strange that I would disagree with her view as I believe it to be unstainable in real economic terms. Perhaps she is after all just being consistent with the likes of the 18th century Economist Reverend Thomas Malthus who believed that population growth would lead to the outstripping of the supply of food and therefore mass starvation. It is true that the Greens believe that it is not desirable to rely on techn

ology and science for answers in food production (something Malthus was ignorant of) nor are they in favour of the distribution of such production through outlets such as super-markets which have led to lower prices affordable by those on low incomes such as pensioners. I hope that reliance on a primary colour as a title for a political party does not continue to effect people views as to importance of ecology whilst at the same time this mainstream issue allows serious political debate to occur inside the current scial economy and not one virtually unmnetioned by the Greens in their political spin.

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Regional Activity

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It is a very busy quarter of the year visits to Milton Keynes, Reading, Woking, Aldershot and many others have occupied myself and my team in bringing Europe closer to citizens to the South East.

The trip to Brussels recently, went very well with good feedback from participants. Future trips will be announced in the New Year.

Sadly, Margaret Stock, a good friend who used to help organize these trips with her husband Vic who died early this year also tragically passed away just this month.

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Seasons Greetings

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May I take this opportunity to wish all newsletter readers a very peaceful time over the period of the festive season and a happy and successful new year.