Liberal democrat Members of the European Parliament


Chris Davies Andrew Duff Sharon Bowles Sarah Ludford Liz Lynne Bill Newton Dunn Emma Nicholson Fiona Hall Diana Wallis Elspeth Attwooll Graham Watson Foreign Affairs and Human Rights International Trade and Development Economic and Budgetary Affairs Employment and Social Affairs Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Industry, Research and Energy Internal Market and Consumer Protection Transport and Tourism Agriculture and Fisheries Culture and Education Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Constitutional and Legal Affairs

Activities of lobbyists must be open and transparent

Diana Wallis, 8 May 2008

The European Parliament is set to adopt a report on setting up a mandatory public register for lobbyists common to the Council, Commission and Parliament. Under the proposed measures, lobbyists would also have to comply with a code of conduct and face sanctions if they infringed it.

Diana Wallis MEP, who drafted an opinion on the report in the Legal Affairs Committee and is the European Parliament Vice-President responsible for transparency, said: “Lobbying has an important role in the policy process but there needs to be a more structured and vigorous framework as to disclosure than currently exists. I have my doubts as to the effectiveness of a voluntary registration system but it is a first step and, in any case, there will be a review of the register after a year.

"Lawyers acting as lobbyists should submit to the same level of transparency as any other lobbyist - the institutions must work together to develop a simple test to ensure there are no loopholes in this regard."

Statute of the Ombudsman: EPP and PSE shy away from transparency

Andrew Duff, 9 April 2008

The ALDE Group denounces the attitude the two main groups, EPP and PSE who have shown their reluctance to greater transparency. The report is set to review the provisions by which the Ombudsman exercises his duties, in particular those allowing him access to classified documents if need be.
"The Constitutional Affairs Committee had reached a unanimous compromise according to which the Ombudsman would have been authorised to consult classified documents following the same rules of confidentiality as those set up for MEPs", Ms Jäätteenmäki recalled. Her report has been postponed until the next plenary session.
"It is very regrettable, and quite extraordinary, that EPP and PSE show so little enthusiasm on matters of transparency. They are dragging their feet while the Treaty leaves the initiative to us to modify the statute of the Ombudsman. This delay is irresponsible since the Slovenian Presidency has explicitly asked us to deal with this matter rapidly", Andrew Duff (LibDem, UK), ALDE Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Committee, stated.

Link to the report of Anneli Jäätteenmäki

Liberals and Democrats welcome Polish ratification to Lisbon Treaty

Andrew Duff, 1st April 2008

Welcoming the decision of the Sejm today to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, Andrew Duff (LibDem, UK), ALDE spokeperson for constitutionnal affairs, said:

"Poland has done well to overcome its internal doubts and divisions in order to ratify the Treaty. This is a turning point in Poland's relations with the European Union. Logic and common sense have prevailed over prejudice and distortions. The Polish parliament has decided to reflect the pro-European majority of public opinion, and to put its weight behind the common effort to build a strong Europe. Other countries should now follow the Polish example."

To read further

Lobbying of the institutions should be subject to full transparency

1st April 2008

The European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs committee today voted on a report addressing the framework for the activities of interest group representation in the EU institutions. It will be Parliament's formal response to the Commission's Green Paper on a European Transparency Initiative.

Liberals and Democrats advocate maximum disclosure of lobbying activity as an essential element in regaining the trust and legitimacy amongst the public. There is widespread consensus on the merits of a common register with the other institutions - a one-stop-shop.

To read further

Kosovo on the right path to stability
Graham Watson, 26 March 2008

An ad hoc delegation of the Liberal and Democrat group (ALDE) is in Kosovo today for a series of high level meetings with officials and elected representatives in the region including the President and Prime Minister. The delegation has expressed its continuing support for full Kosovan independence and a roadmap for future membership of international organisations such as the EU.

Commenting, ADLE Group Leader Graham Watson MEP (UK, Lib Dem), who is leading the delegation, said: "Kosovo is takings its first steps on its path towards greater European integration.

To read further

European Parliament explores link between citizenship and electoral procedures

Andrew Duff, 25 March 2008

Today the European Parliament began the first step in an ambitious plan to reform the electoral procedure of the European Parliament. In a workshop, organised by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, experts were invited to give their views on questions concerning the relationship between EU citizenship and nationality, the possibility of creating a trans-national constituency, and other matters aimed at boosting the popular legitimacy of the European Parliament after successive falls in voter turn-out.

To read further

Commission Copyright Announcement: Make it a Package
Sharon Bowles, 14 February 2008
Further to the EU Commissioner McCreevy's surprise annoucements that he will extend the performing artists' copyright term from 50 to 95 years and launch copyright levies, Sharon Bowles MEP said: "I raised the matter of levies with the Commissioner again in December so I am delighted he is launching a new consultation. It is interesting that at the same time he announced extending the copyright term. This makes a much more attractive package if the two are eventually put together."

To read further

Lib Dems insist on Parliamentary and Court Control of Europol

Andrew Duff, 16 January 2008

British Liberal Democrat MEPs are leading the battle in the European Parliament to ensure full parliamentary control and judicial supervision of the work of Europol, the EU's police agency.

To read further

Brown's behaviour typifies Bristish ambivalence on Europe
Graham Watson, 14 December 2007

Speaking to party workers in his constituency tonight, South West MEP and Liberal and Democrat Parliamentary Leader Graham Watson will say: "Gordon Brown's snub to the other EU Prime Ministers has done the UK untold damage. Poor David Miliband was cheered by the other Heads of State and Government as he signed on Britain's behalf."

To read further

Brown running scared over Treaty
Andrew Duff, 6 December 2007
Commenting on Downing Street 's admission that Gordon Brown may miss the signing of the Lisbon Treaty next week, Andrew Duff MEP, Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary party and a representative of the European Parliament at the Inter Governmental Conference, said:
To read further

Action must be taken on UN convention for disabled people
Press release, Liz Lynne, 13 November 2007

A marked slowdown in the number of countries signing and ratifying the UN’s Disabilities Convention and its optional convention since it was launched earlier this year has prompted a Liberal Democrat MEP to launch a Written Declaration in the European Parliament today to attract attention to the issue and prompt more EU Member States and other countries to sign and ratify it.
To read more

A cool response to Sarkozy’s EU agenda
Article by Andrew Duff, 20 November 2007

French president Nicolas Sarkozy descended on the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week to give a formal address in his capacity as a new head of state. The occasion did not allow for a proper debate on the floor of the House, but MEPs showed their usual dexterity in fine-tuning their cheers and jeers. It was an important speech for him and for us, not least because France takes over the presidency of the European Union in July next year.
To read the rest of the article
For more articles by this author