Monthly Archives: October 2013

11 October 2013 Headlines ALDE News Profiles of MEPs in the News ALDE News EUROSUR: avoiding another Lampedusa tragedy The European Parliament on October 10 adopted a proposal establishing a European Surveillance system (EUROSUR), a new key EU instrument that will help prevent further human tragedies, like the latest in Lampedusa. Read More EU must launch three step strategy in response to the loss of human lives “What happened off the coast of Lampedusa last week is a tragedy, but one that could have been prevented. Over 235 lives have so far been lost and the figure is likely to rise in the coming days as more bodies are recovered from the wreck. According to the IMO, 25,000 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean over the past 20 years “, said Guy Verhofstadt during the October I plenary session as EU justice and home affairs ministers meet to discuss the matter in Luxembourg. “The issue of managing migration flows is complex but there can be no excuse for turning our backs on desperate asylum seekers at our borders.” Read More Dismay at human right violations in Russia ALDE has questioned the European Commission on the rule of law and Human Rights in Russia during a October 10th debate in the European Parliament. Since the adoption of several laws restricting freedom of expression, assembly and association, notably the ‘Foreign Agents’ law and federal and regional ‘anti-propaganda’ laws, numerous organisations have reported an increase in violent xenophobic and homophobic attacks. There is ample evidence of unfair trials in which organisations, like Side-by-Side LGBT Film Festival, were fined and forced to shut down. Read More Commission backs ALDE call for refugee conference ALDE Group President Guy Verhofstadt welcomes the commitment of the European Commission to organise a European humanitarian Conference on the Syrian refugee crisis, as the European Parliament called for in its resolutionduring the October I Strasbourg plenary session. Vice-President Michel Barnier gave a positive response during the debate in Strasbourg. Read More New tobacco directive discourages smoking Under legislation approved on October 8th by Members of the European Parliament, rules on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products were made tougher – despite intense lobbying from the industry. Read More Malala Yousafzai wins 25th Sakharov Prize ALDE Group nominee, Malala Yousafzai has won the 2013 European Parliament Sakharov Prize for freedom. This is an award for achievement in the field of human rights and democracy. Malala Yousafzai is a young Pakistani school girl who was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus in October 2012. Since the attempt on her life, and medical treatment in the UK, she has captured the attention of the world in her fight for access to education for young girls. Read More Limits on hazardous substances in batteries and accumulators Members of the European Parliament during the first October plenary session have adopted a report on the Commission’s legislative proposal for the amending of the Directive on batteries and accumulators containing hazardous substances which are used in electronic equipment and in professional tools. The long-awaited reform of EU rules governing the market in batteries and accumulators was finally agreed between the European Parliament and Council. Read More EU must fight caste-based discrimination The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU to step up its efforts to eliminate caste-based discrimination and in particular to protect Dalit women. The resolution calls on EU institutions to recognise and address caste-based discrimination on a par with other grounds for discrimination such as ethnicity, race, religion, gender and sexuality. Read More ALDE favorable to balanced trade relations with Taiwan as well as China The European Parliament voted during the October I Strasbourg plenary session for balanced trade relations between the EU, China and Taiwan. When the European Commission rightly claims a negotiating mandate for an investment treaty with China, MEPs, and particularly ALDE sought equal treatment for Taiwan which is also requesting a bilateral Treaty with the EU. Read More Easier movement for professionals within EU Millions of EU citizens consider working abroad. But many of them are worried about the recognition of their professional qualifications. Inside the European Union, many obstacles will soon be removed for them: The European Parliament on October 9th adopted the revised legislation on ‘Mutual recognition of professional qualifications’ after a successful trilogue negotiation on the issue, there will be a first reading agreement with the Council and a quick implementation. Read More Pilot flying and rest time: Commission proposal does not undermine safety The European Parliament adopted the European Commission’s proposal on new safety rules on flight and rest times for pilots and cabin crew, which had initially been rejected in Transport Committee. This technical review of EU Flight Time Limitations (FTL) rules were presented to the Parliament under a scrutiny procedure, whereby it could have only accepted it or rejected it. Read More Guy Verhofstadt on Egypt: without dialogue chaos will prevail October 6, was again a very bloody day in Egypt. Clashes between pro-Morsi protesters and the security forces resulted in more than 50 people killed, 300 wounded and more than 400 arrested whilst, on Tahrir square, celebrations marked the 40th anniversary of a military victory. As if nothing was happening, no-one uttered a word about the blood being spilled across the city. Read More Azerbaijan: Human rights violations continue in run-up to presidential elections On the eve of the October 9th presidential elections in Azerbaijan the human rights situation in the country is still deteriorating dramatically. Journalists, human rights defenders and other opponents of the authoritarian regime are imprisoned on political grounds and silenced. ALDE’s October 3rd conference on the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan, hosted by Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66, Netherlands), analyses the current political climate and Baku’s relations with the European Union with speakers from the opposition, EEAS, OSCE and civil society. Read More Verhofstadt lays out priorities for EU to complete before summer 2014 At a October 3rd meeting of Parliament’s political group leaders with Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, to discuss legislative priorities and coordination until the end of the mandate, Guy Verhofstadt underlined the urgency to complete three important files. Read More Verhofstadt congratulates NEOS on bringing Liberals back into Austrian politics Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, called Matthias Strolz, leader of NEOS, to congratulate him on September 9, and said, “We are delighted to see the breakthrough of a pro-European liberal force in Austria. Austria needed to break out of its duopoly of the two large parties. And NEOS is the only party that does not provide for simplistic and populist answers.” Read More Syria: UN resolution does not go far enough On September 27th the five permanent members of the UN security council reached an agreement on the wording of what they call a “binding and enforceable” resolution to eliminate Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons. Read More Sochi 2014 – Let’s not give Putin a political photo opportunity Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group was in Moscow September 27th speaking at a conference on EU and Russia in the global world today on the invitation of Mikhail Kasyanov, Co-chair of RPR-PARNAS. Mr. Verhofstadt used this opportunity to raise the issue of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Sochi. Read More EU, Member States and the Eastern Partnership countries against human trafficking issue On 24 September 2013 the conference “An agenda for better human rights in the Eastern Partnership countries” took place in the European Parliament in Brussels. It assembled MEPs, stakeholders and various experts in human rights. Read More Single seat for Parliament: ALDE welcomes the debate which has finally been launched ALDE welcomes the frank debate which has finally opened in the European Parliament on the question of the institution’s seat. By adopting the opinion of Alexander ALVAR0 (FDP, Germany), the Budget Committee puts particular emphasis on the financial aspect of this controversial issue. The cost spent on monthly trips for the plenary sessions is more than € 180 million, notwithstanding other substantial costs due to the dispersion, such as the loss of working hours, additional costs for staff, and additional travel expenses for members. MEPs therefore are asking for Parliament’s administration to conduct an analysis of the savings that could be achieved if Parliament had only one workplace or at least stopped the monthly move. Read More Judicial reform essential for successful EU accession negotiations ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt welcomed the beginning of the screening of Chapter 23 in the accession negotiations with Serbia. The screening is an analysis of the level of harmonization of Serbia’s laws with EU standards relating to reform of the judiciary, battle against corruption and rule of law. Read More ALDE wants clear and firm guidelines for the EU/China Investment Treaty The Parliamentary Committee on International Trade on September 17th adopted by a large majority a resolution on the European Commission’s mandate to negotiate an investment treaty with China. This treaty, which must secure European investment, is a long-standing request of ALDE’s, whose many amendments serve as guidelines for the treaty. Read More EU needs an agressive strategy against organised crime The European Parliament’s CRIM special committee on September 17th voted its final report, based on its first interim resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 11 June 2013. Read More EP Trade committee aims to strengthen the EU’s capacity to enforce its rights and interests under trade agreements By approving on September 17th by a large majority Niccolò Rinaldi’s (IdV, Italy) report, the committee urges the European Commission to strengthen its new proposal of regulation allowing the EU to enforce its trade rights and interests under the WTO and bilateral trade agreements. Today, in the absence of horizontal legislation on trade disputes, all litigation decisions are on a case by case basis; which is very slow and not an effective deterrent for trading partners who do not fulfil their contractual obligations. Read More Profiles of MEPs in the News Frédérique Ries (MR, Belgium) Frédérique Ries was born in Balen, Luxembourg in 1959. She earned a first degree in Economics in 1979 at the University of Liège, and then obtained her master’s degree in journalism from the same university in 1981.She began her career as a journalist working for Radio FM56 as Sales Director from 1981 to 1984. In 1987 she was recruited to the small screen where she worked for RTL, first in Luxembourg as a producer and presenter, and then in Brussels, where she handled the editing and presentation of the RTL – ITV News until 1998.In 1999, Frédérique Ries joined the Belgian liberal political party, the Reformer Movement (MR). She took on Belgian nationality and presented herself on the MR’s list for the European elections the same year. Since being elected to the European Parliament in 1999, she has shown a particular interest in health related matters.As a member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) Fédérique through the reports that she has brought forward or defended, has continually advocated for true European interests in the domain of health. Issues include: tobacco, pesticides, contaminants, obesity, microwave, innovative drugs, organs, rare diseases and medical devices donations.She was appointed shadow rapporteur for the Liberal group on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, a dossier which she fought on the front lines so that, among other elements, electronic cigarettes would not be considered as medicine that could only be sold in pharmacies.She won majority support for the ALDE amendment which was adopted by Parliament on October 8th.”When Fédérique is not dealing with Parliamentary issues, she spends as much time as possible with her family, especially with her young son. Passionate about television she enjoys watching documentaries and news debates. She’s also a poetry fan and recites Shakespeare in less time than it takes to explain it. Lastly, she is a great music lover, especially of French music. For more information, please contact:ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unitneil.corlett@europarl.europa.euwillem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.euJoin ALDE on FacebookFollow ALDE on TwitterEventsThe European Arrest Warrant: issues and solutions2013-10-17 Videos Frédérique RIES October 8 plenary speech on manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco Guy VERHOFSTADT October 9 plenary speech on EU and Member State measures to tackle the flow of refugees as a result of the conflict in Syria Chris DAVIES October 7 plenary speech on Oral question – European carbon market in 2012 Antonyia PARVANOVA October 8 plenary speech on Oral questions – Convention on preventing and combating violence against womenLinksAlliance 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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