Monthly Archives: June 2012

Verhofstadt: Council buys time on Eurozone crisis but must not waste it again

In reacting to the European Council meeting, Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE group said:

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Verhofstadt: Council buys time on Eurozone crisis but must not waste it again

MEP Gallagher negotiates a far reaching agreement to impose sanctions against countries engaged in unsustainable fishing

Measures adopted in response to the massive overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on MEP Gallagher negotiates a far reaching agreement to impose sanctions against countries engaged in unsustainable fishing

Energy and Jobs in Yorkshire

Last week, a public consultation began on a proposed project to build the UK’s first power station using carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Yorkshire. Local residents and other interested parties are invited to give their views on the building of the new £3 billion Don Valley Power Project in Hatfield.
The week before, I met with a representative of the project who explained that while the project is still in development, it looks to be on its way to receiving sufficient investment for 2013/14. This investment includes funding from the EU research programme ‘The European Energy Programme for Recovery‘.
The power station in Hatfield will capture millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide which would then be stored on North Sea oil fields. In a recently published report by the National Grid, it was predicted that at least 90% of the carbon dioxide emitted by the coal-fired plant will be captured. 
Following recent innovations in the US, the project also involves plans to extract the remaining oil from the North Sea using carbon dioxide which will be stored in those fields. Traditionally large oil firms have abandoned fields shortly after they have reached peak production levels. This new technology will enable extraction of any remaining reserves.
The development is also aimed at becoming the ‘hub’ of a cluster of other CCS projects in the region.  The Yorkshire and Humber region is an ideal location for kick-starting a global CCS industry, due to its high concentration of power stations and large industrial plants that release a large amount of carbon dioxide.

The building of the Don Valley Power Project is potentially good news for our region, as not only will to decrease the region’s carbon footprint, it will also create employment. It is estimated that around 2800 temporary jobs will be created to build the infrastructure needed and another 500 permanent roles to run the operations. 
A pipeline will have to be constructed to carry carbon dioxide from Hatfield, across the River Humber and over Hull through the HoldernessCoast. Local residents can put their views across during the consultation, and it goes without saying that all environmental factors must be considered.
Yorkshire is at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution.  Our region has topped the UK renewable investment league for the last year. I am proud that our region has invested almost two billion pounds in renewable energy projects, creating over 5,400 jobs in the process.  
Useful links
Media coverage

more …

Posted in Blog | Comments Off on Energy and Jobs in Yorkshire

ALDE regrets the cancellation of the EU / Japan Summit

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe regrets that no date has been fixed before the summer for the EU / Japan, summit, which was postponed indefinitely. Metin Kazak (Movement for Rights and Freedom, Bulgaria), ALDE coordinat…

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on ALDE regrets the cancellation of the EU / Japan Summit

Tackling tax fraud and evasion: the EU should be leading

Today the European Commission put forward a proposal to tackle tax fraud and evasion – estimated around 1 trillion euro – from every angle and level, from national to international. These ideas will serve as a working basis to publish at …

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Tackling tax fraud and evasion: the EU should be leading

Tackling tax fraud and evasion: the EU should be leading

Today the European Commission put forward a proposal to tackle tax fraud and evasion – estimated around 1 trillion euro – from every angle and level, from national to international. These ideas will serve as a working basis to publish at …

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Tackling tax fraud and evasion: the EU should be leading

Towards a Democratic Foundation of Europe’s New Economic and Financial Constitution

[WEB-STREAMED EVENT]

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Towards a Democratic Foundation of Europe’s New Economic and Financial Constitution

EU single patent court to have three seats

Commenting on news that this week’s summit will be asked to endorse a deal to split the new EU patent court between London, Munich and Paris, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader) commented:

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on EU single patent court to have three seats

Verhofstadt welcomes draft plan for EU fiscal union

Commenting today on proposals drawn up by Messrs van Rompuy, Barroso, Draghi and Juncker to submit to EU leaders at the end of the week, Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal and Democrat group leader, said:

“Not before time, concrete plans are final…

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Verhofstadt welcomes draft plan for EU fiscal union

Human Rights package: a strong signal of EU commitment

ALDE has welcomed today’s adoption of a strategic framework on human rights and the appointment of an EU Special Representative on Human Rights which the group has specifically requested in a letter to Baroness Ashton in May. For th…

more …

Posted in ALDE | Tagged | Comments Off on Human Rights package: a strong signal of EU commitment