Monthly Archives: February 2013

ALDE Newsletter February 2013


8 February 2013 Headlines ALDE News Profiles of MEPs in the News ALDE News Verhofstadt on MFF: “Even the Soviet Union did not have seven year plans” Addressing a debate during the February plenary session of the European Parliament ahead of this week’s EU summit aiming to strike a political deal on the EU’s next seven year funding plans, Guy Verhofstadt outlined the essential elements of an acceptable deal for Parliament, without which the EP should be prepared to reject it. Read More ALDE supports a better future for the fishing industry A significant step was taken by the European Parliament during the February plenary session to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. These reforms will set legally binding measures to end discards and overfishing and rebuild Europe’s fish stocks. This move was welcomed by ALDE MEPs as the fishing industry faces not only an ecological disaster but also an economic and social one. Read More ALDE leads in demanding updated EU rules for a transparent pricing and reimbursement of medicines Members of the European Parliament on February 6th adopted a report on the European Commission´s legislative proposal on the “Price Transparency Directive” drafted by Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP Bulgaria), which calls for better transparency of measures regulating the pricing and reimbursement of medical products for human use. Read More European Semester: fiscal consolidation and investment are two sides of the same coin The European Parliament adopted on February 7 a report on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2013. The ALDE group takes the view that current efforts on fiscal consolidation and structural reforms should be maintained whilst simultaneously laying the foundations for future recovery and guaranteeing full democratic accountability of the European semester process. Read More Verhofstadt: France has the vocation and duty to push for renewed EU integration Addressing Francois Hollande, the President of France, in the February Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt stated: “60 years ago Jean Monnet said that ‘we are building a union amongst people, not a cooperation between states.’ Our union only makes sense if it becomes a genuine federation of peoples and nations, what Churchill called a ‘united states of Europe’ France was the first country along with Britain to have understood the benefits of uniting its territory, its economy and its public management. France thus has both the vocation and duty to push for closer integration of our continent.” Read More Companies, not legislators, should deal with CSR policies The group of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) supports and encourages companies in undertaking actions in the framework of corporate social responsibility and believes that such measures should, in general, be declared openly and transparently to avoid false and misleading claims. Read More SMEs: De Backer report calls for better access to finance The European Parliament confirmed on February 5th its report on improving access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) that responds to the 2011 Commission’s communication. Read More ALDE welcomes new proposals to tackle money laundering On February 5th the European Commission presented proposals to revise the current legislation that prevents the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering, including terrorist financing. Read More European Investment Bank’s contribution to ending the crisis is key The European Parliament during the February plenary session voted on the 2011 Annual report on the European Investment Bank. The report not only assesses what the EIB has done but it also addresses the future goals this institution should target to assist the European Union out of the crisis, based on the 10 billion euro capital increase granted by Member States and on the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative whose implementation was confided to the EIB by the European Commission. Read More EU bee population at risk unless action is taken to ban harmful pesticides On January 24th MEPs of Parliament´s environment committee held a debate on the dangers of pesticides to Europe’s bee population. They call on the European Commission for concerted action to restrict certain neonicotinoid pesticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) and other neurotoxins. Recent scientific evidence from the European Food Safety Authority and European Environment Agency has shown that the insecticides may pose risks to bees which play a key part in our food chain. Read More Verhofstadt: “Cameron is playing with fire over Europe issue” Responding to David Cameron’s January 23rd speech on Britain’s place in Europe, Guy Verhofstadt said: “By holding out the prospect of renegotiating the terms of Britain’s membership of the European Union and subjecting it to a referendum, David Cameron is playing with fire. He can control neither the timing nor the outcome of the negotiations and in so doing is raising false expectations that can never be met.” Read More Franco-German friendship needs the European framework On January 22nd Liberals in the European Parliament rejoiced at the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty sealing the reconciliation between Germany and France after centuries of intense rivalry. When Charles De Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Treaty at the Elysée Palace in Paris they also set in concrete rules for mutual political consultations at various levels and established the Franco-German youth office. Read More ALDE supports Commission in enforcing social partner agreement on flag state responsibilities The group of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) supported the European Commission’s proposal on Flag State responsibilities (1) aimed at enforcing the social partners’ agreement on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in the EU. Read More EU needs to make itself an attractive place for skilled migrants, say Liberals and Democrats The Parliament’s Employment committee unanimously adopted on January 24th 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. Read More ALDE MEPs welcome deal on CAP reform proposals but reject double greening payments for farmers and inflexible market interventions The European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee (AGRI) on January 22nd voted on reform proposals to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). ALDE MEPs welcomed the votes in general as a major step towards a more sustainable European agricultural model. However, ALDE condemns the possible double payment for greening and agri-environmental measures and rejects a possible return to failed past policies of heavy market interventions. Read More ALDELAT and EuroLat meetings in Santiago de Chile (23-25 January 2013) A nine member ALDE delegation participated in the EuroLat Plenary and standing committees meetings that took place on 24-25 January 2013 in Santiago de Chile. The delegation was chaired by ALDE Latin American issues coordinator Renate Weber and with the participation of LI President Hans van Baalen, Andean community delegation Vice president Izaskun Bilbao, and ALDEPAC co-President Niccolò Rinaldi. On the eve of the EuroLat meetings an ALDELAT meeting took place in cooperation with FNF and Fundación para el Progreso of Chile in which we had the opportunity to talk about the Chilean reform model and the public debt crisis in the EU. ALDE Boost SME Campaign Update Reporting back…Read More Profiles of MEPs in the News Pat the Cope Gallagher ( FF, Ireland) Pat the Cope Gallagher’s involvement in politics began back in 1979 when he was elected to Donegal County Council. Since then he has been successful in over 13 elections to the County Council, the Irish Parliament and to the European Parliament. His success and lengthy career as a politician can be attributed to consistently making time for people and abiding by the rule that no issue is too big or too small.For Pat the Cope Gallagher all politics are local and he has always worked tirelessly both locally and nationally, while also effectively balancing his work as a member of the European Parliament, to such an extent that he is one of the few MEPs still with a 100% attendance record during the current mandate.As an MEP now for over 12 years in total, one of his main interests in European affairs is fisheries. A full member of the Fisheries Committee, his interest and immense work on the committee will come as no surprise to those who know him. Pat the Cope was born and raised in County Donegal, a county highly dependent on the fishing industry and he has previously worked as a fish processor and exporter, therefore the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is high on his agenda. Donegal is also a border county and has benefited from numerous cross border initiatives supported by Pat the Cope including the International Fund for Ireland. The renewal of the PEACE programme in 2014 is something he firmly believes is a necessity to ensure further stability and peace for the North and border county regions. He is also endeavouring to secure additional funding under the structural fund regulation for the border, midland and western regions in Ireland which is a peripheral area most affected by the current crisis.Pat the Cope is the chairman for the delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Furthermore, by virtue of his chairmanship he is also a member of the Arctic, Baltic Sea and Nordic parliament bodies. Away from politics, Pat the Cope is a avid follower of Donegal GAA and his native county are holders of the famous Sam Maguire Cup after winning the All Ireland Gaelic Football Championship in 2012. He is also a keen follower of the Celtic football team and he is looking forward to the next round of the Champions League when Celtic take on Italian giants Juventus. For more information, please contact:ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unitneil.corlett@europarl.europa.euwillem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.euALDEUnsubscribeJoin ALDE on FacebookFollow ALDE on TwitterEventsVideos Jorgo Chatzimarkakis on Improving access to finance for SMEs . Cristian Silviu Buşoi on the prices of medicinal products for human use . Pat the Cope Gallagher on Common fisheries policy .ALDE ADLE· 7,398 videos Guy Verhofstadt on the Statement by François Hollande, President of the French Republic . Sylvie Goulard on European Semester for economic policy coordination . Rebecca Taylor on Corporate social responsibility . Guy Verhofstadt on Preparations for the European Council meeting (7-8/2/2013) Antonyia Parvanova on Elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls LinksAlliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe – ALDE Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party – ALDE Party European Democratic Party – EDP Liberal International Friedrich Naumann Stiftung LYMEC European Parliament

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ALDE Newsletter February 2013


8 February 2013 Headlines ALDE News Profiles of MEPs in the News ALDE News Verhofstadt on MFF: “Even the Soviet Union did not have seven year plans” Addressing a debate during the February plenary session of the European Parliament ahead of this week’s EU summit aiming to strike a political deal on the EU’s next seven year funding plans, Guy Verhofstadt outlined the essential elements of an acceptable deal for Parliament, without which the EP should be prepared to reject it. Read More ALDE supports a better future for the fishing industry A significant step was taken by the European Parliament during the February plenary session to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. These reforms will set legally binding measures to end discards and overfishing and rebuild Europe’s fish stocks. This move was welcomed by ALDE MEPs as the fishing industry faces not only an ecological disaster but also an economic and social one. Read More ALDE leads in demanding updated EU rules for a transparent pricing and reimbursement of medicines Members of the European Parliament on February 6th adopted a report on the European Commission´s legislative proposal on the “Price Transparency Directive” drafted by Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP Bulgaria), which calls for better transparency of measures regulating the pricing and reimbursement of medical products for human use. Read More European Semester: fiscal consolidation and investment are two sides of the same coin The European Parliament adopted on February 7 a report on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2013. The ALDE group takes the view that current efforts on fiscal consolidation and structural reforms should be maintained whilst simultaneously laying the foundations for future recovery and guaranteeing full democratic accountability of the European semester process. Read More Verhofstadt: France has the vocation and duty to push for renewed EU integration Addressing Francois Hollande, the President of France, in the February Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt stated: “60 years ago Jean Monnet said that ‘we are building a union amongst people, not a cooperation between states.’ Our union only makes sense if it becomes a genuine federation of peoples and nations, what Churchill called a ‘united states of Europe’ France was the first country along with Britain to have understood the benefits of uniting its territory, its economy and its public management. France thus has both the vocation and duty to push for closer integration of our continent.” Read More Companies, not legislators, should deal with CSR policies The group of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) supports and encourages companies in undertaking actions in the framework of corporate social responsibility and believes that such measures should, in general, be declared openly and transparently to avoid false and misleading claims. Read More SMEs: De Backer report calls for better access to finance The European Parliament confirmed on February 5th its report on improving access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) that responds to the 2011 Commission’s communication. Read More ALDE welcomes new proposals to tackle money laundering On February 5th the European Commission presented proposals to revise the current legislation that prevents the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering, including terrorist financing. Read More European Investment Bank’s contribution to ending the crisis is key The European Parliament during the February plenary session voted on the 2011 Annual report on the European Investment Bank. The report not only assesses what the EIB has done but it also addresses the future goals this institution should target to assist the European Union out of the crisis, based on the 10 billion euro capital increase granted by Member States and on the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative whose implementation was confided to the EIB by the European Commission. Read More EU bee population at risk unless action is taken to ban harmful pesticides On January 24th MEPs of Parliament´s environment committee held a debate on the dangers of pesticides to Europe’s bee population. They call on the European Commission for concerted action to restrict certain neonicotinoid pesticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) and other neurotoxins. Recent scientific evidence from the European Food Safety Authority and European Environment Agency has shown that the insecticides may pose risks to bees which play a key part in our food chain. Read More Verhofstadt: “Cameron is playing with fire over Europe issue” Responding to David Cameron’s January 23rd speech on Britain’s place in Europe, Guy Verhofstadt said: “By holding out the prospect of renegotiating the terms of Britain’s membership of the European Union and subjecting it to a referendum, David Cameron is playing with fire. He can control neither the timing nor the outcome of the negotiations and in so doing is raising false expectations that can never be met.” Read More Franco-German friendship needs the European framework On January 22nd Liberals in the European Parliament rejoiced at the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty sealing the reconciliation between Germany and France after centuries of intense rivalry. When Charles De Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Treaty at the Elysée Palace in Paris they also set in concrete rules for mutual political consultations at various levels and established the Franco-German youth office. Read More ALDE supports Commission in enforcing social partner agreement on flag state responsibilities The group of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) supported the European Commission’s proposal on Flag State responsibilities (1) aimed at enforcing the social partners’ agreement on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in the EU. Read More EU needs to make itself an attractive place for skilled migrants, say Liberals and Democrats The Parliament’s Employment committee unanimously adopted on January 24th 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. Read More ALDE MEPs welcome deal on CAP reform proposals but reject double greening payments for farmers and inflexible market interventions The European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee (AGRI) on January 22nd voted on reform proposals to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). ALDE MEPs welcomed the votes in general as a major step towards a more sustainable European agricultural model. However, ALDE condemns the possible double payment for greening and agri-environmental measures and rejects a possible return to failed past policies of heavy market interventions. Read More ALDELAT and EuroLat meetings in Santiago de Chile (23-25 January 2013) A nine member ALDE delegation participated in the EuroLat Plenary and standing committees meetings that took place on 24-25 January 2013 in Santiago de Chile. The delegation was chaired by ALDE Latin American issues coordinator Renate Weber and with the participation of LI President Hans van Baalen, Andean community delegation Vice president Izaskun Bilbao, and ALDEPAC co-President Niccolò Rinaldi. On the eve of the EuroLat meetings an ALDELAT meeting took place in cooperation with FNF and Fundación para el Progreso of Chile in which we had the opportunity to talk about the Chilean reform model and the public debt crisis in the EU. ALDE Boost SME Campaign Update Reporting back…Read More Profiles of MEPs in the News Pat the Cope Gallagher ( FF, Ireland) Pat the Cope Gallagher’s involvement in politics began back in 1979 when he was elected to Donegal County Council. Since then he has been successful in over 13 elections to the County Council, the Irish Parliament and to the European Parliament. His success and lengthy career as a politician can be attributed to consistently making time for people and abiding by the rule that no issue is too big or too small.For Pat the Cope Gallagher all politics are local and he has always worked tirelessly both locally and nationally, while also effectively balancing his work as a member of the European Parliament, to such an extent that he is one of the few MEPs still with a 100% attendance record during the current mandate.As an MEP now for over 12 years in total, one of his main interests in European affairs is fisheries. A full member of the Fisheries Committee, his interest and immense work on the committee will come as no surprise to those who know him. Pat the Cope was born and raised in County Donegal, a county highly dependent on the fishing industry and he has previously worked as a fish processor and exporter, therefore the proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is high on his agenda. Donegal is also a border county and has benefited from numerous cross border initiatives supported by Pat the Cope including the International Fund for Ireland. The renewal of the PEACE programme in 2014 is something he firmly believes is a necessity to ensure further stability and peace for the North and border county regions. He is also endeavouring to secure additional funding under the structural fund regulation for the border, midland and western regions in Ireland which is a peripheral area most affected by the current crisis.Pat the Cope is the chairman for the delegation for relations with Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Furthermore, by virtue of his chairmanship he is also a member of the Arctic, Baltic Sea and Nordic parliament bodies. Away from politics, Pat the Cope is a avid follower of Donegal GAA and his native county are holders of the famous Sam Maguire Cup after winning the All Ireland Gaelic Football Championship in 2012. He is also a keen follower of the Celtic football team and he is looking forward to the next round of the Champions League when Celtic take on Italian giants Juventus. For more information, please contact:ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unitneil.corlett@europarl.europa.euwillem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.euALDEUnsubscribeJoin ALDE on FacebookFollow ALDE on TwitterEventsVideos Jorgo Chatzimarkakis on Improving access to finance for SMEs . Cristian Silviu Buşoi on the prices of medicinal products for human use . Pat the Cope Gallagher on Common fisheries policy .ALDE ADLE· 7,398 videos Guy Verhofstadt on the Statement by François Hollande, President of the French Republic . Sylvie Goulard on European Semester for economic policy coordination . Rebecca Taylor on Corporate social responsibility . Guy Verhofstadt on Preparations for the European Council meeting (7-8/2/2013) Antonyia Parvanova on Elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls LinksAlliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe – ALDE Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party – ALDE Party European Democratic Party – EDP Liberal International Friedrich Naumann Stiftung LYMEC European Parliament

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Opening of EU-US FTA negotiations will be a milestone in evolution of world trade

Dutch Liberal Member of European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66) today expects the European Commission to swiftly present a negotiating mandate as the basis for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the United States following Presi…

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Opening of EU-US FTA negotiations will be a milestone in evolution of world trade

Dutch Liberal Member of European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66) today expects the European Commission to swiftly present a negotiating mandate as the basis for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the United States following Presi…

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The real negotiations will start now with the European Parliament

Joint Statement to the Press by Joseph Daul, on behalf of the EPP Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the S&D Group, and Guy Verhofstadt, on behalf of the ALDE Group and on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit


Commenting on the results of the EU summit, the leaders of the four largest political groups in the European Parliament issued the following joint statement:

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The real negotiations will start now with the European Parliament

Joint Statement to the Press by Joseph Daul, on behalf of the EPP Group, Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the S&D Group, and Guy Verhofstadt, on behalf of the ALDE Group and on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit


Commenting on the results of the EU summit, the leaders of the four largest political groups in the European Parliament issued the following joint statement:

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European Semester: fiscal consolidation and investment are two sides of the same coin

The European Parliament adopted today a report on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2013. The ALDE group takes the view that current efforts on fiscal consolidation and structural reforms should …

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European Semester: fiscal consolidation and investment are two sides of the same coin

The European Parliament adopted today a report on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2013. The ALDE group takes the view that current efforts on fiscal consolidation and structural reforms should …

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Yorkshire Lib Dem MEPs welcome move to end wasteful fish discards

Lib Dem MEPs for Yorkshire and the Humber, Edward McMillan-Scott and Rebecca Taylor, have welcomed the European Parliament vote in favour of measures to end fish discards and overfishing and rebuild Europe’s fish stocks. The European Parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the proposals, which Liberal Democrats …

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European Investment Bank’s contribution to ending the crisis is key

The European Parliament voted today on the 2011 Annual report on the European Investment Bank. The report not only assesses what the EIB has done but it also addresses the future goals this institution should target to assist the European…

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