Graham's blog Thursday 22 April 2010 (Forest of Dean Liberal Democrats)

Forest of Dean Liberal Democrats <hdalziel@cix.co.uk>

Graham's blog Thursday 22 April 2010

April 22, 2010 10:30 AM
Originally published by Sir Graham Watson MEP

Parliament met in Strasbourg this week and has been very quiet indeed. No votes, an agenda which finishes formally on Wednesday evening, and the only MEPs present being those who live within easy car or train distance or those (like me) who were unable to get home at the end of last week.

There is a row going on between Parliament and the Council of Ministers, the two 'houses' of the EU's legislature, about the setting up of the new European External Action Service. This is the EU's diplomatic service, agreed by the 27 heads of state and government in the Treaty of Lisbon. It centres around the responsibility for the appointment of deputies to the EU's foreign minister, Cathy Ashton, and what the role of those deputies should be. I've no doubt it will ne resolved, but Parliament will want to make sure we vet any appointees.

The main business this week was the presentation by Commission President Barroso of the European Commission's work programme for 2010. This is the equivalent of the Queen's Speech at Westminster but without the frippery of Black Rod having to knock three times on our door and all the other druidic nonsense which passes for a British Constitution. As you might expect, the emphasis is on getting the economy back on track, regulating the banks more effectively and endeavouring to prevent any future near defaults such as that we are seeing with Greece. There is also a fair amount on energy policy; and I got a good reply from Barroso when I asked him at Question Time on Tuesday his view of the European Climate Foundation's decarbonisation road map (see last week's newsletter or go to www.roadmap2050.eu).

The item which dominated other business (many debates were more important but less urgent) was the travel chaos caused by the cloud of volcanic ash. People ask why "Europe" does not have its act together. Answer: because air traffic control is a matter in which the member states have never wanted to give the EU any legal powers, linked as it is to defence and "national sovereignty". That is why a strike of air traffic controllers in any one country can cause misery just as easily as an Icelandic volcano. Nonetheless, transport ministers 'met' by videoconference on Monday and agreed to ease the restrictions and life seems gradually to be returning to normal, though the question few seem to ask is why we allow 28,000 flights on an average weekday. More investment in high speed rail and broadband connectivity is urgently needed.

I hope to get back to the UK today and to be campaigning tomorrow in Gloucester (morning) and North Devon (afternoon). On Saturday I'll be in Chippenham: if you want to help us elect a Liberal Democrat government, come and join me there. We've a good chance of winning our first seat in Wiltshire. Come along to the Chippenham LibDem office.