NEWS FROM GLENIS WILLMOTT

The campaign starts here                                                                

The next European elections will be in June 2009.  I am delighted to have the chance to carry on the work I have started in the European Parliament.  Following the recent members’ ballot, we now have a full list of candidates:

1) Glenis Willmott
2) Roy Kennedy
3) Kathy Salt
4) David Morgan
5) Cate Taylor

Many congratulations to all my colleagues.  I know we will be a formidable team.

I want us to campaign on Labour’s positive agenda for Europe. I spoke recently at Labour’s Spring Conference about what Europe has done for women – parental leave, guaranteed minimum holidays, equal rights for part time workers, sex discrimination legislation.

And there are countless other examples – on the environment, on jobs, on health and safety.  We have a strong record in Europe and it frustrates me that so few people know about it.  We have to get past the sterile debate about treaties and process and focus on what Europe has delivered and can deliver in the future.

Best wishes

Glenis Willmott

Check out 100 Labour Achievements in Europe - see site contents list

Climate change

The fight against climate change is one of the major challenges we face in the 21st century and it is important that we in the European Union take the lead and set an example for the rest of the world.

This point was made forcefully by Prince Charles, when he spoke to MEPs in Brussels in February and congratulated the Commission on its new package of climate change-busting measures.

The package lays down the detail of how the European Union will reduce by 20% its greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020 and reach a previously agreed target by EU Heads of State to increase renewable energy's share of the energy mix to 20%.

I welcome the proposals, but is clear that a 20% emissions reduction must be the absolute minimum and we should be prepared to increase this percentage in line with a future post-Kyoto international agreement.

We will be studying the proposals in detail in the Environment Committee and I will keep you up to date with developments.

Further information

Cancer Resolution

I am continuing my work on cancer by jointly putting forward a European Parliament Resolution on ‘Cancer in the EU,’ which will be voted on by all MEPs in Strasbourg in April.

I will be calling on the Commission to set up an EU Cancer Task Force to collect and exchange best practices for prevention, screening and treatment and to provide leadership for improved cancer control in Europe.

I have also been working with Cancer Research UK and the European Cervical Cancer Association to highlight the strong links between obesity and cancer.  World Health Organisation studies show that obesity is the most important known avoidable cause of cancer after tobacco.

To see a video of Glenis talking about the Resolution click here

Organ Donation

I am currently covering a Report on Organ Donation for the Labour group of MEPs. This is a very important subject at the moment, given that the UK Government is considering an overhaul of the current UK transplant system.

The use of human organs for transplantation has steadily increased during past decades. But there is a shortage of organs, which is the major factor currently affecting transplantation programmes. There are nearly 40, 000 patients on waiting lists in Europe.

The Report will address the inconsistencies in European organ donation and transplantation. Organ shortage is a common dilemma in all European countries. However, the experience shows that some countries, such as Spain, are performing better than others. The report will explore the notion of a single European model. It also outlines the need for minimum binding standards of quality and safety to ensure a high level of health protection EU Member States.

I will also look at the shameful subject of 'transplant tourism' and the trafficking of human organs. I am calling on European governments and institutions to do more to prevent the trafficking of human organs and to launch an official EU investigation into the practice. 

Stop Press

The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive will become law in the UK in May.  It will protect consumers from aggressive tactics and high pressure salesmanship, as well as misleading claims.  And you will be protected throughout Europe.

Find out more

Tory divisions

The Tories are hopelessly divided on Europe.  East Midlands Tory MEP, Roger Helmer, has been fined for interrupting the signing of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights with acts of pure hooliganism. He and UKIP MEPs shouted down the Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, whilst he was publicly showing support for basic human rights.  On the other hand, Caroline Jackson, the only Tory woman MEP, has described the issue of Europe for the Tories as, “a very nasty patch of poisonous fungus.”

Caroline Jackson’s article in the Financial Times

Contact Glenis

Glenis Willmott MEP
Harold Wilson House
23 Barratt Lane
Attenborough
Nottingham  NG9 6AD
 
Tel. 0115 922 9717
Fax. 0115 922 4439

office@gleniswillmott.org.uk
 
Glenis’s team
 
Paddy Casswell: Political Manager
Chris Poles: Brussels Researcher
Ted Willmott: Personal Assistant
Maggie Hudson: Constituency Assistant
Elizabeth Udall: Media Officer
Kelly Tomlinson: Secretary
Alex Phillips: Stagiaire (Intern)