Davies: Irish Presidency accused of deceiving MEPs

Posted on April 17, 2013 by angelikaschneider

Picture shows Matthias Groote MEP, Chair of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament (left) with Chris Davies MEP (right) and Bill the Cod.

The Irish Presidency will this evening be accused of deceiving MEPs over an issue key to reform Europe’s Common Fisheries Policy.

The preparation of long term management plans for every fishery is seen as crucial to the rebuilding of depleted fish stocks.

But since 2009, EU governments have blocked negotiations on their preparation in an argument with the European Parliament over the terms of the Lisbon Treaty.

Ministers say that governments have the right to set annual quotas, but MEPs say the treaty gives them the power to set guidelines.

MEPs argue that the Ministers have in the past been responsible for allowing over-fishing and the decline in stocks.

Chris Davies, a British MEP who founded the cross-party Fish for the Future group, has been amongst those pressing for negotiations. Continue reading “Davies: Irish Presidency accused of deceiving MEPs” »

Lyon: New test results underline need for EU-wide action on horsemeat scandal

Posted on April 16, 2013 by angelikaschneider

UK Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon has today warned that addressing the horse meat scandal will require an EU-wide solution.

Mr Lyon, a member of the EU Agriculture Committee, was commenting after the EU Commission published the result of testing which found the presence of horse DNA in almost 5% of beef samples taken from across the continent. He said:

‘What these test results underline clearly is that this is an EU-wide problem that demands an EU-wide solution. Continue reading “Lyon: New test results underline need for EU-wide action on horsemeat scandal” »

BEARDER: Ban pesticides which could harm bees

Posted on April 8, 2013 by angelikaschneider

The Government has been branded “beyond complacent” after it stalled on banning chemicals which could damage bees.

Catherine Bearder, a Lib Dem MEP for the South East of England, is backing calls to suspend the use of neonicotinoids amid fears of the impact on the bee population.

Members of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee have demanded a moratorium on use of the chemicals.

However, the UK Government is still unconvinced and is asking the European Commission to launch a major study to settle the debate.

But Catherine said: “This is beyond complacent. Britain cannot continue to flap around on the issue. We all know how important bees are to our biodiversity. Continue reading “BEARDER: Ban pesticides which could harm bees” »

Davies: EU fishing deal – not ambitious enough

Posted on June 13, 2012 by angelikaschneider

Senior UK Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, founder and secretary of the cross-party ‘Fish for the Future’ group in the European Parliament, described last night’s deal between fisheries ministers as progress only of the most limited kind. He warned that governments would seek to backslide even on the arrangements that had been agreed.

Commenting on the Council conclusions after last night’s negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, Chris Davies said:

“We are half way through the process of trying to reform the Common Fisheries Policy, and judging from what has been announced by the ministers there is a great deal still to be done.

“For governments to say that we should stop overfishing but not for another eight years is little short of madness. Continue reading “Davies: EU fishing deal – not ambitious enough” »

Lyon – New threat over ATV use

Posted on May 31, 2012 by angelikaschneider

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has warned that European Council and Parliament negotiations which threaten to limit the top speed of functional All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to 40kmph will dramatically reduce their effectiveness when used for daily stock work on farms.

George has been campaigning against proposals that would have forced manufacturers to build farm ATVS to an on-road specification leading to a significant increase in costs and severely limiting their effectiveness for farmers. Continue reading “Lyon – New threat over ATV use” »

Bennion: to patent or not to patent biological processes?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by angelikaschneider

Phil Bennion MEP explains why Lib Dems in the Parliament today voted against a resolution on the patenting of essential biological processes. He stressed that the resolution did not strike the right balance between the right of breeders and the need to patent innovative techniques. He explained that Lib Dems are not in favour of patenting plants or natural processes in themselves, but instead support the need to patent breeding techniques in order to stimulate innovation.

Lyon: Member States promise no illegal eggs by year end

Posted on May 9, 2012 by angelikaschneider

At a meeting of the European Agriculture Committee, Commissioner John Dalli announced that all Member States had promised that they would be compliant with the ban on battery cages by the end of this year.

He also said that 16 Member States now expected to be compliant with the sow stall ban by the end of this year.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland George Lyon said: Continue reading “Lyon: Member States promise no illegal eggs by year end” »

Davies: MEPs overwhelmingly back Commission on fisheries reform

Posted on May 8, 2012 by angelikaschneider

The Environment Committee today unanimously endorsed the Commission’s key proposals for Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform. MEPs adopted 550 amendments drafted by UK Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies calling for measures to stop overfishing and rebuild fish stocks. Commenting after the vote, Chris Davies said:

“Today’s vote sends a strong signal that a huge number of MEPs in all political groups recognise the need to stop overfishing and rebuild fish stocks

“If we want a long term future for Europe’s fishing industry, we need to Continue reading “Davies: MEPs overwhelmingly back Commission on fisheries reform” »

LYON: End of trade war on hormon-treated beef imports

Posted on March 13, 2012 by angelikaschneider

The European Parliament voted today to end the 14-year old transatlantic beef wars.

Condemned by the WTO for its refusal to import hormone-treated beef originating in the United States and Canada, and being subject to retaliatory trade measures costing millions of Euros each year, the EU has always refused to budge on its principles and ensured that European consumers have guarantees on the quality of imported meat. Continue reading “LYON: End of trade war on hormon-treated beef imports” »

LYON: Pig welfare standards must be implemented and enforced right across Europe

Posted on March 12, 2012 by angelikaschneider

George Lyon MEP launches pig welfare campaign in the European Parliament to ensure that an EU ban on sow stalls, due to come into force at the beginning of 2013, is enforced right across Europe.

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