Stockton Liberal Democrats

Dear Friends, Catherine Bearder MEP has launched her Euromyth Buster campaign and needs you to get involved. The aim is help split fact from fantasy on reporting the European Union in the British Media. With a European election around the corner, as well as a potential referendum on the UK's relationship with the EU, an honest debate is vital. So, here is how you can find out more: 1) Log on at www.facebook.com/EuromythBuster where we have called for links to be posted on headlines and stories about the EU. Are they true? False? Do they Exaggerate or veil any facts? The page has been well used in its first few months, but we need even more people to offer their thoughts. 2) If you are heading to Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton, then why not come along to Catherine's fringe event 'The EU and the British Press' in Room One on Saturday, March 9, from 1pm? We will have a debate on the impact of EU press coverage in the UK. Panellists will include representatives from Hacked Off, Get Britain Out and the European Movement. There will also be a Euromyths quiz and opportunity to find out more about the EU in your area. Spread the word, and help fight the Euromyths! Kind regards, Tim Tim Hobden Communications Officer Office of Catherine Bearder MEP 27 Park End Street Oxford OX1 1HU Office: +44 1865 249838 Mobile: 07817888097 www.bearder.eu Follow Catherine on Twitter Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

By George Lyon MEP | Wed 13th February 2013 - 11:56 am Last week the European Council agreed a new European budget that will, for the first time, see a cut in the amount of money that the EU spends. Liberal Democrats at Westminster and in the European Parliament have made clear that the EU needs to live within its means. We are in favour of a sensible and realistic deal that reflects the tough economic times that ordinary people are facing. Some MEPs see things differently and oppose the idea of a degree of fiscal restraint in Europe. People who oppose the cuts in the EU budget that have been put forward are perfectly entitled to their views. To be clear, there are legitimate debates to be had over the terms of the deal that was announced last week. We need, for example, to ensure that the money we are spending is delivering for the UK, helping us to create the stronger economy and fairer society that we all want to see. We also need to look at how we can give the European Parliament the flexibility to manage a smaller budget more effectively. What is wholly illegitimate is the idea that these debates - and subsequent votes in the European Parliament - should be conducted in secret. Voting on the next EU budget is one of the most important decisions MEPs will take in this mandate. Scrutinising the terms of the deal that has been put forward is a key part of our work. It is vital that we are open and transparent in our decision making. Politics is all about debate. The European Parliament accommodates MEPs who hold a diverse range of opinions on a wide range of issues. What is critical is that MEPs have the courage of their convictions. As elected representatives we have to take responsibility and account for the decisions we are taking and the votes we are casting. It has been reported that that MEPs of the European Peoples Party, which is one of the largest centre-right groupings in Brussels, could seek to force a secret ballot using procedural rules. This is an idea that Martin Schulz, the socialist President of the EU Parliament, has also backed. As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on Monday, the idea of a secret ballot is an extraordinary concept. Transparency is something that is absolutely central to our democracy. It is absolutely wrong that MEPs who are elected to represent the views of their constituents should seek to hide their votes in the manner that is being advocated by some in Brussels. Since this first came to light, Liberal Democrat MEPs have made our views clear. We do not support a secret vote and will be working hard to persuade others that this approach is fundamentally wrong headed. For a secret vote to go ahead, 151 MEPs would need to sign up. No Liberal Democrat MEPs will be in that number and we will resist this anti-democratic measure. * George Lyon is Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland and Vice President of the European Budget Committee. Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Malcolm Levitt Friday, 25 January 2013 Those who want the UK to leave the EU claim that if it did it would benefit from untold-of export opportunities in the rest of the world. They cannot explain why those opportunities do not currently exist anyway, when the UK is a EU member. But, more importantly, they do not face up to the problem that leaving the EU would make exporting more difficult, not easier. And even more important still, they are cavalier about the threat to Britain's most important export market: the EU itself. The barriers to export opportunities while remaining a EU member are and often explicitly attributed by europhobes to the burden of EU regulation, especially social and employment laws. But Germany bears those burdens too in its highly regulated social market economy and is the world's second biggest exporter. So their underlying but covert rationale must be that they have so little confidence in Britain's export potential on a regulatory level playing field with competitors from the rest of Europe that they want to undermine employment regulation - reducing it towards Third World levels ("a race to the bottom".) But they would never explain that to the readers of tabloids supporting the europhobic cause. As for the export opportunities in the world's fastest growing countries such as Brazil, China, India and South Korea, not to mention those in the USA, Canada and Japan, the europhobes fail to confront the problem that if the UK were to quit the EU these would shrink. Trade with countries outside Europe is subject to agreements negotiated by the EU, not the UK, under the Common Commercial Policy. On leaving the EU the UK would cease to benefit from those agreements, the ones currently under negotiation and those likely to start shortly. For example, agreements currently in force embrace Mexico, Singapore and South Korea. The agreement with Canada is nearing completion. Negotiations with Japan are expected to start shortly; negotiations with India are underway. Discussions with the USA are expected to be initiated soon, as are those with China. And there are numerous sector-specific agreements such as that which improved access of Scotch whisky to the Japanese market. Of course, the UK as a non-member would be able to negotiate its own trade agreements but with a fraction of the economic negotiating clout of the EU and with countries for which the priority would be negotiations with the EU. Moreover, given the Obama Administration's warnings to the UK about leaving the EU, no special favours should be expected from that quarter. In any event, it is difficult to see how the UK would even have the official skills and capacity to replicate the numerous bilateral trade agreements it would need in view of the decimation of the civil and diplomatic staff underway. Then there is Europe itself, or more specifically the EU and the EEA. Access to the single market would cease, with potentially dreadful impacts on virtually every economic sector of the UK. In theory that need not happen if the UK were able to negotiate membership of the EEA. Those negotiations would need to cover not only the scope of market access to the remaining EU following departure from the EU but, crucially, the obligations which the UK would need to accept in order to get that access. The remaining member states would be unlikely to give the UK a free ride on the benefits of the single market without seeking to extract significant obligations from the UK - not least, ironically, in the area of employment regulation. Moreover, any deal would require each EU member to agree separately, likely to be a prolonged process, especially bearing in mind that goodwill towards the UK would decline. NB, the Treaty imposes a two-year deadline for reaching agreement between a departing country and the rest after which all the provisions of the single market would cease to apply to the departing country until and unless agreement is reached. Two sectors in particular would be in the firing line: banking, where major EU banks base their global business in the City under the freedoms of the single banking market and where global banks base much of their European business; and car manufacture, where Japanese-badged car exports, for instance, would face a tariff, probably 10 per cent. So, the promised boost to British exports following exit from the EU looks more like those claims that one has won a vast prize that dupe the vulnerable. Links Imminent EU-USA trade talks? euractiv.com (The EU-US trade relationship is the biggest in the world, with more than €1.8 billion of goods and services traded every day between the European Union and the United States.) Cameron's G8 priority is just that guardian.co.uk cnbc.com HVR on EU-Brazil (trade) relations consilium.europa.eu Uncomfortable facts The likes of India and China now account for about 10% of German exports. We (UK) only sell 5% of our exports to these economies, and France doesn't do much better at 6%. (Consolation prize: the Netherlands, Spain and the Republic of Ireland do even worse.) Stefanie Flanders Jim O'Neill from Goldman Sachs predicts that Germany will be exporting twice as much to China as to France in 2020. Its trade with the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) was 3.9% of German trade in 2000, is just under 12% this year and is forecast to be more than 24% in 2020 Robert Preston Quote of the Day "We are not seeing as many UK applicants as we would expect to see from a major trading nation. The UK really needs more and more people who understand China. Germany is way ahead of the UK ... the UK was slow to get on the China train." John Quelch, formerly vice-chancellor of London Business School and now Dean of China Europe International Business School Poll of the Day electionista @electionista Germany Emnid/N24: 75% want Germany to stay in EU, 22% to leave; 59% say UK exit would harm EU, 19% good if UK lefthttp://www.presseportal.de/pm/13399/2403894/n24-umfrage-zur-britischen-europa-feindlichkeit-deutsche-sehen-eu-auf-falschem-weg-grossbritannien ... Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

24/01/2013 Today the Parliament's Employment committee unanimously adopted the report drafted by Nadja Hirsch (Germany, FDP) on the integration of migrants, its effects on the labour markets and the external dimension of social security coordination. Eurobarometer surveys (1 ) show that 70% of EU citizens think that immigrants are necessary for the European economy. Indeed, given the demographic situation, the EU needs to make itself an attractive place for skilled migrants to remain competitive in a globalized world. Therefore Hirsch calls for an active migration policy on EU level. Hirsch: "I have asked the European Commission to draw up and introduce a common, criteria-based European entry-system for skilled labour. Such a system should be in line with the European Qualification Framework approach of accumulating and transferring credits. Member States would be able to join the scheme on a voluntary basis. " Hundreds of thousands of people without papers are living and working in the EU. Hirsch asks for a route into legality for those who can earn their living through employment. It is of the utmost importance that migrants have access to education and training and be allowed to work, to the benefit of both their own social integration and the host economy. Employment remains the key to successful integration. Also, migrants are increasingly opting for 'self-employment', thereby creating jobs which should be further facilitated. The plenary vote on the report is scheduled for March 2013. 1) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201108/20110829ATT25420/20110829ATT25420EN.pdf Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The EP's special committee on organised crime looked at a range of options on Monday aimed at tackling organised crime across the EU. They included a Union-wide definition of mafia-related crimes, the possibility of seizing criminal assets and using them to benefit the community, new rules on public procurement and the creation of an EU prosecutor. "There is not one [EU] country that does not have to deal with mafias. There is not a single significant business area that is waterproof, where there is not any concrete sign of this phenomenon. This is a constant threat to the internal market and citizens", said Salvatore Iacolino (EPP, IT), during the debate. He is drafting a set of proposals for the special committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering. EU should act together against organised crime Different legal definitions of organised crime in different EU countries hamper efforts to coordinate the fight against mafia-type activities at EU level. While Italy has a specific criminal code for them, Denmark and Sweden lack any specific legal provisions and Spain and the UK, among others, follow different policing and criminal-justice approaches. A single legal definition of mafia-type criminal activity that fully covers the phenomenon is therefore essential, says the committee document. An EU prosecutor should be established, as is already provided for by the EU treaties. His or her office would be in charge of coordinating efforts to defend member states' financial interests and giving input to national authorities, for instance in tackling fraud in accessing EU funds. Hitting the financial interests of mafia networks It should be possible to seize criminal property as a preventive measure, before any conviction is handed down, as is the case in Italy, the UK and Ireland, to preclude mafia organisations from having any havens for their assets. Drawing from the Italian and Spanish legal systems, Mr Iacolino also suggests allowing confiscated assets, such as buildings or vehicles, to be allocated for social uses benefitting the community. Measures adopted in one EU country to exclude firms from public tenders should also be applicable immediately in the whole of the Union in order to cut off one of the most lucrative sources of finance for organised crime, says Mr Iacolino's working document. Exclusion should be enforced in case of any serious offence against a public administration and take place before the final judgment is made. These are some of the many suggestions in the document. MEPs also discussed four separate papers on asset confiscation, drug cartels, trafficking in human beings and cybercrime. For more information, go to the links below. Background The special committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering was set up to assess the impact of mafia-type activities on the EU economy and society and to recommend legislation and other measures to equip the EU to respond to these threats at international, European and national levels. Special committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering In the chair: Rui Tavares (Greens/EFA, PT) Working document by Salvatore IACOLINO link Thematic paper on cybercrime by Emma McCLARKIN (ECR, UK) link Thematic paper on drug cartels by Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA (EPP, ES) link Thematic paper on asset confiscation by Gay MITCHELL (EPP, IE) link Thematic paper on trafficking in human beings by Inés AYALA SENDER (S&D, ES) link For more info on the CRIM committee, its mandate and membership which includes Bill Newton Dunn - Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands, please go here. Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

As the Westminster debate on the EU budget delivered a defeat for the PM and a display of political brinkmanship from the opposition that might prove a double edged sword, the European Movement has put together some facts and figures that have been mostly missing from discussions around the EU budget. The budget of the European Union is an instrument that can help member states achieve economies of scale and reduce spending at home, on areas where better results can be achieved by spending at the EU level. It is an instrument of stability, with a 7 year long perspective and a long-term focus that often is not available to national budgets. Instead of self-defeating arguments on how to reduce a budget that represents just a bit over 1% of public expenditure, the debate should be focused on how to make the most of EU spending to deliver added value and more benefits for citizens across the EU in general and in Britain in particular. Everything you wanted to know about the EU budget but were afraid to ask. The proposed EU budget for 2014-2020 is just 1.05% of EU GDP, whereas Member States' budgets account for 44% of GDP on average. Member State budgets are also increasing: In 2012, 24 national budgets out of 27 are due to increase according to the latest estimates. More than 94% of EU budget goes back to EU citizens, overwhelmingly more than is the case for national budgets. 48% of new EU budget will go to measures promoting growth. Only 6% will be allocated to administrative expenditure. Administrative reform, which already started a few years ago, has already saved EU taxpayers €3 billion, and it is expected to generate another €5 billion in savings by 2020. Spending at the EU level can help Member States achieve economies of scale and reduce spending at the national level. €50 billion will be spend to fund transport, energy, and ICT priority infrastructures of pan-European interest, through the Connecting Europe Facility. In 1985 70% of the EU budget was spent on agriculture. In 2011, direct aid to farmers and market-related expenditure were just 30% of the EU budget. CAP reform has moved support away from production and towards income-support for farmers and projects to stimulate economic activity in rural areas. The average EU farmer receives less than half of what the average US farmer receives in public support. Estimates for 2009 are that the number employed was 5.6 million higher as a result of EU spending through cohesion policy in 2000-2006. GDP in the EU-25 has been 0.7% higher in 2009 due to EU cohesion policy investments during 2000-2006. This is estimated to rise to 4% by 2020. Growth in poorer regions and Member States thanks to EU spending leads to purchase of goods and services from another, richer region or member state. EU spending can increase demand at one part of the EU, creating more jobs at another. EU Cohesion funding helped to revitalize Merseyside, and continues to invest in the Liverpool City Region. £300 million are spend to improve electronic interconnectivity between the UK and Ireland. Satellites for the EU funded Galileo project are built in Britain, creating high-paid jobs. The UK received the second largest share of Research and Development funding, €2,282m, equal to 14.4% of the total EU spending on R&D. According to the Court of Auditors, 95% of payments at EU level are correct. Out of the 5% error rate only 0.2% represents fraud. When EU funds are judged to be spend inappropriately, they are clawed back and returned to the EU budget. The EU budget has never run a deficit. For further details please contact Lena Donner in the European Movement press team at press@euromove.org.uk or 07920 840003. Notes for Editors: The European Movement is a cross-party organisation campaigning to inform the debate on European integration and promote understanding of what the EU does and how the UK benefits from EU membership. Its President is Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP and its Chairman is Petros Fassoulas. European Movement, emoffice@euromove.org.uk, www.euromove.org.uk Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The European Issue 34 The European is the European Movement's monthly journal, published jointly with the Institute of Contemporary European Studies. The European View by Petros Fassoulas, European Movement UK As the debate about how to amend the eurozone's governance architecture and at the same time deal with the sovereign debt problems of some eurozone and non-eurozone member states rages, the issue of growth and how to re-engineer the EU economy has not received the attention it deserves. With austerity and spending cuts being the main focus in the effort to consolidate public finances, investment as a growth-inducing instrument has been ignored. Read more The EU needs more, not less investment, to get out of its current economic predicament by Mariana Mazzucato, Professor of Economics and RM Phillips Chair in Science and Technology Policy, University of Sussex When the financial crisis hit in 2007, European countries were struck by it in different ways and to different degrees. Those that had failed to invest, for decades, in key areas that increase economic growth - such as human capital formation, adaptation to new technologies, and Research and Development (R&D) - experienced the hardest knock. And as the financial crisis has become a full-blown economic crisis, it is these countries that are experiencing the worst sovereign debt crisis. Read more Is there any faith left in the eurozone leaders? by Vicky Pryce, City Economist and former senior UK Government economic adviser We just witnessed an inconclusive EU summit in mid October. So what's new? Time and time again we have seen the disagreements that have generally meant that the EU is not moving in unison towards solving the problems of the eurozone. Read more Trade is the best way out for the EU economy by Dr Rebecca Harding, CEO, Delta Economics When President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, the world collectively raised its eyebrows. Here was a man who had been in office for too short a time to have had much impact being recognised by one of the most illustrious awarding bodies in the world, in effect, for not being his predecessor. Similarly, when the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October this year, there was a ripple of collective bafflement that went around the chattering classes: can an institution be awarded the price and, given that the answer was clearly yes, what has it done to deserve it? Read more European Movement e-mail emoffice@euromove.org.uk website www.euromove.org.uk European Movement of the UK Ltd Registered Office 7 Graphite Square Vauxhall Walk London SE11 5EE Registered in England Number 551817 Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Hague): I wish to inform the House that, further to my oral statement at the launch of the Balance of Competences Review in July, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is today publishing the timetable for the review including departmental responsibility for the reports into each individual area of competence. The review will complete its work during 2014 and will look at the scope of the EU's competences (the power to act in particular areas conferred on it by the EU Treaties) as they affect the UK, how they are used, and what that means for Britain and our national interests. The review will be divided into four semesters, each containing six to ten reports. This will allow reports on related topics to be grouped together. The reports from each semester will be published at the end of that semester. If necessary, changes to this timetable will be made in order to take account of any events which could impact upon the timing of a report. The Semesters are: Semester One: Autumn 2012 - Summer 2013 Semester Two: Spring 2013 - Winter 2013 Semester Three: Autumn 2013 - Summer 2014 Semester Four: Spring 2014 - Autumn 2014 The first semester reviews will be: - an overview on the Single Market; - taxation; - animal health and welfare and food safety; - health; - development; and - foreign policy. The Single Market encompasses such a broad area of competence that it is being split, with further reports on the four freedoms - goods, persons, services and capital - in semesters two and three. Departments will take a rigorous approach to the collection and analysis of evidence. The government department leading each review will, at the appropriate time, publish a Call for Evidence which will set out the scope of their report and include a series of broad questions on which they would like contributors to focus. The Calls for Evidence for first semester reports will be published shortly and will be available through the FCO website and through the website of the department leading each review. The reports into the first six competences will be published in the summer of 2013, along with the evidence received (subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act). Government departments will consult widely, including Parliament and its committees, business, the Devolved Administrations, and civil society in order to obtain evidence to contribute to their analysis of the issues. Our EU partners and the EU institutions will also be invited to contribute evidence to the review. The result will be a comprehensive, thorough and detailed analysis of where competence lies and what it means for the United Kingdom. It will aid our understanding of the nature of our EU membership; and it will provide a constructive and serious contribution to the wider European debate about modernizing, reforming and improving the EU. The review will not produce specific policy recommendations. I am placing the timetable in the Library of the House. It will also be published on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/european-union/balance-of-competences-review/ Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Lib Dem MEPs honoured in 2012 Parliament Magazine Awards Lib Dem MEP for Yorkshire & The Humber, Edward McMillan-Scott MEP and a Vice-President of the European Parliament, was last night presented with the "Outstanding Achievement" award in the MEP 2012 awards by theParliament magazine, primarily in recognition of in recognition of his achievements in highlighting the costs and difficulties of the European Parliament's treaty obligation to travel from Brussels to Strasbourg for plenary sessions. He said: "This is a great boost to the Single Seat campaign which has really taken off with a two-to-one majority of MEPs now voting that way. They are concerned about the extra costs of our monthly treks to Strasbourg, at least €180 million and 19,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. We know our constituents are suffering in the recession and this is indefensible now more than ever. Single Seat, chaired by myself and my colleague Alexander Alvaro MEP (Germany FDP), is grateful to its cross-party steering group of MEPs and the pro bono support of international lawyers Sidley Austin LLP and communications experts Burson-Marsteller." Senior Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles was also honoured last night for her chairmanship of the powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs committee. She said: "Chairing the ECON Committee is a challenging and all-consuming job, but it is also extremely satisfying when you see what has been achieved in the area of financial regulation and macro-economic rules over the past few years. I would like to thank my fellow Members of the Committee for their dedication, and those who have put their confidence in me - not just for the award tonight, but for the good cooperation that has paid dividends in our legislative achievements." Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Passengers' rights should apply to ALL transport modes The European Parliament's Transport committee voted today on a report to contribute to the Commission's communication of 2011 aimed at investigating how to improve current EU legislations that guarantee passenger rights across all transport modes (air, rail, waterborne and road transport). By acknowledging the Commission's efforts and achievements in strengthening passenger's rights in the past decade, ALDE spokesperson on the dossier Vilja SAVISAAR-TOOMAST (Independent, Estonia) said: "Many obstacles preventing passengers from exercising their rights still need to be overcome. First of all, everyone should have equal access simple, clear information in every Member State ". Indeed the report criticises the persistent asymmetry between Member States in implementing and enforcing EU passenger rights legislation. Moreover, as proposed by Mrs Savisaar-Toomast, information should be accessible also in the absence of access to modern technologies, especially for elderly and for those with disabilities. "Misleading or deceiving passengers should be sanctioned" continued Mrs Savisaar-Toomast by welcoming the Committee's endorsement of her proposal that calls on the Commission to set a system of penalties to ensure that transport companies do not violate current EU laws on price transparency and unfair commercial practices. The report also asks the Commission to develop a specific standard EU-wide complaint form for each transport mode. By taking as example the recent case of Wind Jet, she continued: "Passengers' protection against airline companies' failure, bankruptcy, insolvency or operating licence removal still proves to be inadequate. Consumers should not pay for someone else's mismanagement". Indeed the report calls on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal to overcome this inadequacy by requiring, for instance, a compulsory insurance for airlines or the creation of a guarantee fund. Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

UCL EUROPEAN INSTITUTE View Online Dear Subscriber, The new academic year begins with an increase in the research and event collaborations that will be taking place under UCL's European Institute. They range from working papers on European integration, to workshops on water policy, to panel discussions on the democratic deficit. We are particularly interested in further advancing partnerships across departments & faculties, increasing the involvement of students, and promoting co-operation with policy stakeholders outside of UCL. One of our core objectives for this year will be increasing the multi-disciplinary nature of our work. Events are focused in addressing common questions through different scientific lenses. Our funds for research will give priority to multi-disciplinary proposals that bridge different departments and faculties. Finally, there is a small change in the organisation of the Institute. Until the end of March Alexander Katsaitis will be covering for Dr. Staiger, on maternity leave, as the Acting Deputy Director of the European Institute. We welcome your input through comments, proposals and active participation! Best Regards, European Institute Newsletter - Issue 19 September 2012 More upcoming events ISR Welcome Drinks October 15 The UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources warmly invites all UCL staff and students to join us at a drinks reception to introduce its new staff and students. For More Details > Belgian Salon on Bioethics October 24 2012 In the framework of the Belgian Salon series; this discussion/ debate between high level researchers will examine an increasing set of ethically controversial issues addressed by policy makers; GM crops, stem-cell research, animal cloning. Just a few of the topics to be addressed. Email us for more > Eurozone Crisis, Institutions & the Democratic Deficit 29 November 2012 The EI is bringing together a panel to discuss the Eurozone Crisis, its Institutional implications and the issue of the democratic deficit. Speakers include Sir John Gieve (Bank of England), Baron Roger Liddle (Policy Network) and Dr. Colin Provost (UCL). Email us for more > Public Debate: Tell Us What You Think! An elected Commission president is what José Manuel Barroso, the current post holder, called for in his State of the Union speech in plenary on 12 September.How in tune with citizens is the current president? Tell us what you think via email, facebook or twitter. For more details > Announcements Follow us on twitter: @UCL_EI The European Institute has a brand new twitter account follow us! UCL has been ranked fourth in the QS World University Rankings, 11 September 2012 Read: BBC News More: Guardian I Guardian IIIndependent Scotsman PAThe Australian Email us for more > Small Grants/ Junior Researchers Scheme October 2012 The EI's call for Small Grants and Junior Researchers' Scheme will be out in October. Time to startbrainstorming, preparing ideas for proposals and networking. Tip: functional multi-disciplinary ideas will be given priority; proposals should also produce written output (e.g. working paper/ article). Email us for more > Contact UCL European Institute 16 Taviton Street London WC1H 0BW Tel: +44 (0) 207 679 8737 european.institute@ucl.ac.uk View Website > UCLU European Society The European Society is home to everyone with an interest in the political and cultural landscape of Europe. We are a vibrant society organising academic and social activities relating to all aspects of modern European life. As such, we seek to foster a global perspective through cultural exchange and engagement with European and international affairs, and we aspire to contribute to an exchange of ideas by bringing together students, scholars and experts from the field in academic talks and debates. Come and join us for our exciting events, including this year's European Focus Week on Europe's standing in the world. For more information please visitwww.eurosoc.co.uk. Details and registration >> New Publication! Interdisciplinary Views on Political Representation in the EU This working paper edited by Dr. Sandra Kröger (Marie Curie Fellow, Exeter University), packs an incredible line-up of well known researchers, academics and policy makers from all over Europe that provide their views on the current debate over whether decisions should be made at national or European level. Should decisions be be made by democratic representatives or experts? At the time of writing, much suggests that the future of the EU and its Member States may look like Italy or Greece - Member States governed by technocrats. Our November Eurocrisis event will address some of the core questions in the paper. Check it out >> Upcoming Events [register now to avoid disappointment!] Legacies of slave-ownership in Europe: a workshop When 17 September 2012 Where Room G09 26 Gordon Square University College London Workshop This one-day workshop looks to explore slave-ownership and its legacies through a European lens. Beginning with a presentation of the LBS project and its historiographical context, scholars of other European empires will then survey the history and historiography of slave-ownership in their own fields. Each contribution will be followed by a group discussion. There is a limited number of extra spaces for interested members of the UCL community or public. The workshop is funded under the European Institute's Small Grants Scheme 2011-12. Details and registration>> Macmillan, Heath, Wilson and Europe: What did they do for us? Or did they just do for us? When 4 October 2012, 6.00pm Where Roberts G08 LT University College London Speaker Sir Stephen's latest research, as successor to Alan Milward in the position of Britain's official historian of UK-EU relations, follows his first book, published in 2008, on later EC/EU-UK relations, A Stranger in Europe: Britain and the EU from Thatcher to Blair. Combining both scholarly insight and his first-hand experience of working with British leaders as they shaped Britain's European policy, this evening talk will give an informed and nuanced view of this politically sensitive area. Discussant: Gill Bennett, former chief Historian at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Details and registration>> Falling Walls Lab and Conference When 8-9 Nov 2011, 9-7.30pm Where Radialsystem, Berlin, Germany Conference The Falling Walls Lab is a new challenging, inspiring and interdisciplinary format for young bright minds. It offers the opportunity to excellent young academics and professionals to present their outstanding ideas, research projects and initiatives in 3 minutes. A prestigious jury (in 2011 headed by Professor Ernst T. Rietschel, former President of the Leibniz Society and Martin Sonnenschein, Managing Director A.T. Kearney Central Europe) awards the best participants. Thanks to the huge success of the Falling Walls Lab 2011, the Falling Walls Foundation and A.T. Kearney is rolling out the format on a global scale in 2012. Details and registration>> More Information This is the newsletter of the UCL European Institute. For further information on the Institute, its structure, activities and objectives, please see www.ucl.ac.uk/european-institute Subscription To subscribe - please click this link Comments For comments - please email us at european.institute@ucl.ac.uk find us on faceboook: UCL European Institute follow us on twitter: @UCL_EI Sent to ian@bearder.com - why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences UCL European Institute · 16 Taviton Street · London, Eng WC1H 0BW Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

MEPs in the Legal Affairs Committee today voted in favour of tough amendments to European Commission's proposals requiring oil, mining and logging companies to disclose payments to governments of countries in which they operate on a project by project basis. MEPs also succeeded in extending the scope of the legislation to cover the banking, construction and telecommunications sector. Rebecca Taylor MEP, the Liberal Democrat European spokesperson on legal affairs, said: "Liberal Democrat proposals to strengthen new EU financial disclosure rules to combat corruption abroad received a very timely boost by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which led the way with tough transparency requirements this summer. "We must now strive to achieve a global standard for all sectors, not just the industry sectors agreed today. Local communities must be able to find out how much a company has paid their governments and fight for a fair share of profits and taxes" Fiona Hall MEP, who drafted changes to the proposals in the Development Committee, commented: "It is a tragic paradox that many developing countries that are rich in natural resources often suffer from high levels of poverty and are most prone to corruption and dependent on aid. "MEPs will push EU Member States to accept that all projects over € 80,000 have to be fully disclosed and audited without exemptions." Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles, Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, pushed for not only an extension to other sectors but also to ensure that the payments to governments report is legally binding. Sharon said: "The current status quo is simply not acceptable. International aid last year was approximately $133.5 billion* but tax owed to countries in the developing world is said to be at least $160 billion ** - imagine what could be achieved if multinationals simply paid their fair share of tax." "I am pleased that the Legal Affairs committee took on board our liberal amendments and agreed to extend the scope of the reporting requirements to more sectors, bolster project definition and payments and ensure someone is culpable if the report is wrong" "The fight is not over though, and in the negotiations with the Member States, we must continue to push for all sectors to be covered in this as well as the disclosures to be audited" Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso today delivered his annual 'State of the Union' address to the European Parliament. UK Liberal Democrat MEP and President of the European Liberal Democrat (ELDR) party Sir Graham Watson spoke in the debate that followed. Sir Graham commented: "In a rebuke to Eurosceptics who decry the loss of national sovereignty, Barroso has rightly pointed out that pooling power in Europe gives us more control over our fate in an interdependent world, not less." "Does Mr. Barroso know that he is the latest convert to an age-old Liberal demand?" "Indeed, it is not just a federation of nation states that we need, but also a federation of citizens. The way to create both would be through direct election of the next President of the European Commission by universal suffrage." "In the USA, the world is watching a truly federal election. The only message from American politicians to the EU is 'get your act together'. European leaders would be wise to heed that advice." Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Liberal Democrat European Group will take place during the Autumn Federal Conference in Brighton commencing at 9 a.m. on Wednesday 26th September, Napoleon Room, Grand Hotel. The meeting is open to LDEG members only. Please note anyone who wants to STAND for election or VOTE at the meeting will need to check their current membership status. To do this, please check with the LDEG Membership Secretary Adrian Trett. Email: membership@ldeg.org Draft Agenda. LDEG AGM 2012; DRAFT AGENDA 1) Apologies 2) Minutes of the Previous Meeting 3) Chair's Report 4) Treasurers Report and Accounts 5) Appointment of Auditors 6) Membership Report 7) Presidential Address 8) Resolutions (if any have been duly notified) 9) Elections to the Executive Committee for 2013/14 a) each post in turn; call for nominations from the floor, announcement of names of duly nominated candidates, election of unopposed candidates. b) announcement of contested posts and election schedule. 10) Any Other Business Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Winning Votes for Europe Sunday 23 September in the Durham Gallery, Hilton Metropole at 8pm. This LDEG fringe event is open to all Liberal Democrat party members and concentrates on the 2014 European Parliament elections. We are lucky to have attracted speakers Lord Chris Rennard (legendary election guru), Sir Graham Watson MEP (ELDR President), George Lyon MEP (chief whip and 2014 election campaign national chair) and Antony Hook (LDEG vice-chair and ELDR/FNF rapporteur for 'How Liberal Parties succeed at the local level'). The event will be chaired by George Dunk (LDEG vice-chair), and given the restriction of members only, participants will be free to discuss any concerns in an open way. It will take place on Sunday 23 September in the Durham Gallery, Hilton Metropole at 8pm. Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The UK's Place in Europe, Europe's Place in the World Tuesday 25 September in the Hilton Metropole 106 Bar at 8pm As the balance of power shifts in both the global and the European contexts what is the place of the UK in Europe, and what is the place of the European Union in the world? This fringe event will focus on important issues affecting our country, our region, and our globe such as the UK's place at the heart of Europe, Europe's place in the world as a force for good, and the decline of US hegemony. Current events within the EU especially those related to the UK, as well as global events including those around the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the South Caucasus will be discussed. Our speakers are Catherine Bearder MEP, Jonathan Fryer (journalist and academic), new MEP Rebecca Taylor and Dr Carol Weaver (academic specialist on the EU and its eastern neighbourhood). This fringe event is open to all and will take place on Tuesday 25 September in the Hilton Metropole 106 Bar at 8pm and will be chaired by Phil Bennion MEP. Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Commenting on the ECB announcements today following the Governing Council meeting, UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, welcomed the reconfirmation that the ECB would do 'whatever it takes' to preserve the Euro as a stable currency. She said: "I do not think the remarks made last week in London by chance, but Mario Draghi has made it quite clear that the ECB is not taking unilateral action, and that is as it should be. "As ever with European and Euro matters we are looking at combinations to provide solutions. The ECB will look at a combination of unconventional measures, including open market operations of sufficient size, but they will do this in combination with the EFSF/ESM in order to bring in conditionality. "These combinations of measures are also backstopped by the political commitment that continues to be shown for reforming economic governance and putting in place a road map for greater fiscal integration. Markets should not underestimate the steps already taken: recently speaking in the US Congress there was amazement and respect when I explained that Eurozone governments had signed up to having their budgets approved by the EU before they went to national Parliaments. And more discipline is yet to come. "However it takes time for these measures to prove themselves, so the ECB is right to keep up its insistence on conditionality and not be seen as a soft option no matter how strong the demands of the markets which have their eye on today more than the long term. "On 3rd September my committee will be debating progress on this and moves towards a banking union with Mario Draghi, EU commissioners and other top officials." Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

This will be the first of a series of posts exploding some of the myths the anti-EU brigade like to talk about to paint an untrue image of the European Union. Half of annual EU spending is done by Brussels. The other half is transferred by the EU to the 27 national governments. Every year,the EU auditors examine the spending by Brussels and point out errors. But all 27national governments, including London, refuse to open their books to the EU auditors. The British government and media fail to tell the truth about their refusal and pour the blame on Brussels. Six years ago, every member state, including the UK, promised MEPs to provide an annual summary of how it spent money which the EU gave it for infrastructure and regional development.. But 13 of the 27 member states refuse to let MEPs see their summaries. MEPs insist that "summaries" are inadequate anyway. In addition, the Council of Ministers (the chamber for the 27 national governments) refuses to answer questions about its own spending. We British need to be careful about being over-critical. The accounts of the UK's own Department of Work & Pensions have not been approved by its British auditors for more than fifteen years in succession. Thanks to our Lib Dem MEP, Bill Newton Dunn for this short article. I hope that it will help counter some of the lies & half-truths that are put about by those who want us to leave the EU Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

A senior UK Liberal Democrat MEP has welcomed today's adoption of a strategic framework on human rights and democracy by the EU's 27 Foreign Ministers as an overdue step towards enhancing the effectiveness and visibility of the EU's human rights policy. Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, a Vice President of the European Parliament responsible for the promotion of human rights and democracy, commented: "The Arab Spring is only the latest of developments to highlight the importance of a coherent human rights and democracy promotion policy. "As the world's biggest aid donor, the EU has so many tools at its disposal actively to promote human rights and democracy. It is an overdue step in the right direction to increase their effectiveness and visibility through better coordination and a coherent implementation of our policies." Mr McMillan-Scott, who founded the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights with a budget of €1.104bn between 2007 and 2013, added: "I particularly welcome the imminent appointment of an EU Special Representative on Human Rights who will have the opportunity to further put human rights in the public spotlight." Notes: On Friday, the last candidate for the role of EU Special representative (EUSR) on Human Rights will be interviewed. FACTSHEET: EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131169.pdf Council conclusions on Human Rights and Democracy: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131171.pdf EU adopts Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131173.pdf Angelika Schneider Press Officer Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

To mark the International Day against Torture [today, Tuesday 26 June],Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Democracy and Human Rights, released a video statement by one of his Chinese contacts, Zhang Lianying, who was tortured to the point of coma while in Beijing Women's Prison from 2008 until her release in November 2010. After her release Zhang, a Beijing accountant who was imprisoned for her religious beliefs, sent the MEP a list of 50 escalating torture steps used to persuade her to recant. Zhang Lianying and her husband Niu Jinping, another ex-prisoner whom Edward met in Beijing during his last visit in May 2006, now live in the USA. Another former prisoner of conscience whom McMillan-Scott met, Cao Dong, was then imprisoned and tortured until his release in November 2011. However, on June 8 2012 he was re-arrested and McMillan-Scott fears that he is again being tortured somewhere. These people are among hundreds of thousands of practitioners of Falun Gong, a Buddha-school Qigong practice which has been persecuted by the Beijing regime because of its popularity since 1999. The former UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Austrian jurist Dr Manfred Nowak, believed that some two-thirds of the estimated 7-8 million undergoing Re-education Through Labour in China are Falun Gong practitioners. McMillan-Scott said from Brussels today: "China continues to be the worst perpetrator of torture of its own people. Most of the victims are entirely innocent and are punished for their religious or political beliefs." In her video statement, released on YouTube, Zhang Lianying praises McMillan-Scott for his commitment to Human Rights and reform in China. Note to editors: Zhang Lianying video statement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1BFuI9EBnI&feature=youtu.be Letter to Edward McMillan-Scott MEP detailing Zhang's torture: http://www.emcmillanscott.com/resources/50+torture+steps.pdf Angelika Schneider Press Officer Published and promoted by Liberal Democrat European Group (LDEG), Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Tamworth Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY