June 14th-17th 2010 - Strasbourg Commentary - Plenary Session

14 June 2010

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Strasbourg Commentary Plenary Session 14th - 17th June 2010 Monday.

I'm sure you would all wish to know that Nigel is here this week, taking it in small chunks and well enough to take a stroll along the riverside one evening, where he chanced upon me indulging in a quiet beer. Surprise, surprise, he joined me. He is looking forward to Thursday where, in Brussels, there is to be a summit; Cameron's first. As a group leader Nigel is invited to attend, ask questions and to have a talk with von Rumpoy. That's a sound justification for us being in a group, and as the biggest delegation, for only as group leader does that fall to him and therefore, us.

Tuesday You will have received my speech on independent truck drivers by now. It will be voted on tomorrow, Weds. This item has been debated and voted on in Employment Committee. The first time it went our way by 25 - 24 votes but, lo and behold, it came back for a second vote (where have you heard that before?), hence my flying visit on April 28th, when the socialists rallied their members, "spoke" to others and carried the day against us.

In voting today two reports begin to clarify the EU stance more clearly. As you know almost all reports originate with the commission but these two were "own initiative" reports, i.e. from an individual MEP. Normally we tend to ignore these as of little weight but these two are different. Without doubt the Commission will have observed the outcome with an eye to using them to introduce their own, much nastier, versions later. Nothing like having the ground prepared for them The Wagner report was "Internet Government: the next steps", adopted by a large majority. That means what it says, the beginnings of state control, and then, EU control.

The Cutchet report (adopted by 606 - 18) sounds quaint, innocent even, "Internet of Things". Here "Things" means everything, specifically, micro chips in everything; domestic pets, animals generally, telegraph poles, roadside furniture, shop fronts, vehicles, your front door, etc, etc. All of which are then capable of being read, monitored or surveyed by satellite, all in the name of Control. Wednesday A marathon voting sessions of two hours. That's not a whinge, it's a matter of, even though we are well prepared by the assistants, do we get every single vote right in 19 reports, many of them with umpteen amendments, all needing a vote. One of these was the report on Food Labelling, over 350 amendments. Some 250 were bunched into one block vote:- Yes or No to the whole lot, never mind if you wanted to vote the other way on some. We voted No. You may read in the press that Parliament rejected this report, no it did not, it was adopted by 562 - 67 votes.

The amendments are another story, some adopted, some not, hence the misguided press. This brings me to the Bauer report, Independent Truck drivers, as above, Tuesday. The first amendment rejected the idea of not allowing the Commission to exclude these independent drivers from the Directive, even though, as I said in my speech, it is not a safety issue. Allow me to outline what happens in such a case. Having rejected it the Commission are asked to say if they will withdraw their proposal, but the EC spokesman declined to do so, saying they would think about it. The Chairman of the Employment Committee then proposed that the legislative resolution never-the-less be voted on.

This was accepted, by vote, and the legislative resolution was then passed by 383-263 votes, to great acclaim by the socialists! I chatted to the (socialist) president of the Employment committee afterwards, asking her where we went from here. She was in no doubt. The commission have to withdraw and include the independents in the directive, or she will take them to court! Now you know why this positive lady became chairman of my committee. As I remarked in my election address, the EU is getting ever tighter, but I wonder if my press release about today's oppressive actions will get an airing. It may be of interest to note at this point that I was lobbied by the Federation of Small Businesses to support the truck drivers, which I have done, but that the European Transport Federation was against; they want the independent drivers included in the directive.

Now watch out for even more European trucks on our motorways. Thursday. Votes today brought the total of reports dealt with this week to 50. That's just the reports, I can't begin to count the total number of amendments. Looking through today's list it seems boring, until the second last of today's 15 reports. Remember this is Thursday when quite a few members have already gone home and more depart during voting as soon as they have done enough to confirm their attendance. This report? only one vote, no amendments,-"Judicial Training". It gives life to the "Stockholm Programme", which is all about EU control over the Judiciary, including ours. As I said, boring. Or, to put it another way, in my hustings for the election I was very aware that the EU was rated as having nothing to do with life in Northampton. You see, there's no crime in Northampton, the law is just not needed, so this will have no impact. Come and join me on Saturday afternoon, when, on entering Franklins Gardens to support the Saints, you will be greeted by 4 PCs, complete with dog!

I've written to the paper saying they are not needed, there is never any trouble at the ground (No, never) but there is plenty of potential in the town centre, which is devoid of officers of the law at that time because the only 4 available are at the rugby match!

Derek Clark MEP Strasbourg 17th June 2010