Category Archives: Europe / International

Anything to do with European / international issues

LDVideo: Danny Alexander on UK’s commitment to tax transparency and the unproven case for arming the rebels in Syria

By The Voice | Sun 16th June 2013 - 12:35 pm

Lib Dem chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander did the rounds of the TV studios yesterday to promote the Coalition’s actions to increase tax transparency. You can see his BBC News interview here. On Channel 4 meanwhile, he was also quizzed about whether he thought the UK should help arm Syrian rebels: he said the case was unproven that would help the country at this time:

Continue reading »

Also posted in News and YouTube | Tagged Danny Alexander, syria and tax | 5 Comments

A picture postcard from a Liberal Democrat in Gezi Park

By Sam Lawes | Sat 15th June 2013 - 11:58 am

I’m leafing through the 2,077 photos I’ve taken so far of Turkey’s protests. Having sat down to shed a ‘liberal’ light on what’s happening here, I realize I may make a further claim to your attention: I am seeing, as it were, both sides of the coin.

Watching protests in Beşiktaş, Taksim & Gezi Park, marching to the outskirts of Istanbul & being pepper-sprayed is one side. Working in a conservative, pro-government school where colleagues refer to protestors as “terrorists” and tut gruffly every time Taksim gets mentioned is the other.

A Tale of Two Turkeys

This is a tale of two Turkeys. …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged turkey | 3 Comments

Lib Dem MPs to abstain on Tories’ EU in/out referendum bill?

By Stephen Tall | Fri 14th June 2013 - 11:55 am

On 5th July, Tory MP James Wharton’s private member’s bill — laying out Conservative plans for an in-out referendum on the EU in 2017 — will get its second reading.

The Tories are on a three-line whip to support it (very unusual for a private member’s bill). Labour has confirmed they’ll shun the vote, branding the bill “a gimmick, a political stunt”. The Lib Dem parliamentary party will decide its position in a couple of weeks’ time, but is likely to abstain with …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged david cameron, eu referendum, european union, featured and mark thompson | 17 Comments

Bill Newton Dunn MEP writes…European cooperation is indispensable in the fight against organised crime

By Bill Newton Dunn | Thu 13th June 2013 - 4:11 pm

On Tuesday the European Parliament voted through an interim report calling for greater European cooperation to tackle organised crime, corruption and money laundering in the EU.

Hundreds of billions of pounds worth of taxes are lost every year across Europe due to organised crime, as well as millions of legitimate jobs which have been taken from hard-working citizens. Fraud, counterfeiting, smuggling and cyber-crime all have a drastic impact on the economy and are undermining efforts to promote jobs and growth. Britain is particularly affected, with half of Europol’s investigations into organised crime having links to the UK.

Organised criminals conduct …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | 2 Comments

Opinion: Arming the Syrian Rebels

By Joe Bourke | Fri 7th June 2013 - 10:30 am

The Independent reported this week that Cameron faces serious Cabinet split over arming Syrian rebels.

Nick Clegg is said to have warned at a recent meeting of the National Security Council that supplying weapons to the Free Syrian Army might only escalate the conflict, killing many more people without any realistic prospect of decisive victory and that it could be “next to impossible” to ensure that British arms do not fall into the hands of Islamist militants.

A Whitehall source said Mr Clegg did not believe “there was a military-only solution to Syria” and would not back any attempt to arm …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged foreign affairs and syria | 34 Comments

Lord Tope tackles goldplating EU laws

By Sean O'Curneen | Wed 5th June 2013 - 2:29 pm

“Goldplating” – the practice whereby national governments add on extra regulation to the law emanating from the EU – is what often leads citizens to believe that the European Union “over-regulates”. Whilst there may be cases of such excessive regulation from Union bodies, such as the recent proposal to ban certain types of olive oil jugs, which has been thankfully withdrawn, the fact is that much of the over-regulation happens when the European law is being processed at national level. Unfortunately, Westminster has not been immune to the “goldplating bug.”

For this reason, Lord Tope, member of the EU’s assembly of …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged eu and lord tope | 8 Comments

EU Fisheries policy reform achieved

By Mark Valladares | Thu 30th May 2013 - 12:51 pm

Europe’s common fisheries policy is set for radical reform after negotiators for EU governments and the European Parliament reached agreement in Brussels at 03.00 this morning.

Supporters of the deal claim that it paves the way for rebuilding Europe’s depleted fish stocks and curbing the discard of millions of tonnes of fish each year.

British representatives have played a key role in securing the reform. They say that it demonstrates how EU policies can be changed for the better.

An obligation to land all pelagic fish, such as mackerel, will commence from 1 January 2015. Other reforms, which must yet be formally approved …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged chris davies and fish | 4 Comments

Opinion: UKIP vote against EU tackling tax evasion

By Richard Davis | Sat 25th May 2013 - 10:25 am

UKIP frequently describe the EU as a large, expensive, bureaucratic nightmare, stating that we pay into the EU more than we get out. Yet at a time when the EU seeks to change that, by tackling tax evasion and avoidance, potentially saving member states in total 7 times the EU’s annual budget, UKIP vote en masse against it.

This week the EU Parliament voted to halve the €1 tn lost due to tax evasion and avoidance by 2020 by closing tax loopholes and tax havens. This is to be achieved by tightening some of the agreements between tax havens such as …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged eu, tax and ukip | 21 Comments

This week in Europe: 20-23 May

By Mark Valladares | Thu 23rd May 2013 - 8:25 am

As attention turns towards next year’s European Parliamentary elections, Liberal Democrat MEP’s continue to work for jobs and growth, and against some of the more ludicrous bureaucratic excesses…

“EU must get tough on tax” says Sharon Bowles MEP

Ahead of yesterday’s EU Summit in Brussels, the European Parliament backed a common European strategy to combat tax fraud, evasion and havens.

UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles, who chairs the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, said:

It is totally unacceptable that corporate tax avoidance is now the norm in Europe, aided and abetted by aggressive tax planning and tax consultancy firms.

I have been fighting

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged chris davies, energy, fiona hall, george lyon, sharon bowles, stupid bureaucracy and trade | 6 Comments

Opinion: Referendum debate is a sideshow: the countdown to Britain’s real EU vote starts today

By Giles Goodall | Wed 22nd May 2013 - 4:18 pm

In or out? With or without? Will they, won’t they? The sound and fury over a referendum on Britain’s EU membership has become almost deafening over the past few days. It is a confused debate driven by a small and virulent band of anti-Europeans. Their success lies in a dual strategy of shackling the issue to others of much wider public concern (such as immigration), while simultaneously blackmailing one of Britain’s great pro-European parties (the Conservatives) into adopting ever more anti-European positions – against their own traditions, intuition and better judgement.

Around Europe, the ‘British question’ is also furrowing brows – …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged european elections 2014 | 26 Comments

ALDE Party Congress venue for 2013 announced… welcome to London!

By Mark Valladares | Mon 20th May 2013 - 4:51 pm

The Liberal Democrats are proud to announce the hosting of the ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe) Congress in London at the end of November this year.

The ALDE Party Congress is the biggest annual event gathering Liberals across Europe:

over 650 members of liberal parties from around the continent;
top politicians including Prime Ministers, European Commissioners, Ministers, Members of the European and national Parliaments, Members of the Committee of the Regions, and many other delegates
an event with European visibility, acknowledging the role of the supporting party within both a European and the national political context
topical debates, high level speeches and

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in Events and News | Tagged ALDE and nick clegg | 1 Comment

LibLink.. Edward McMillan-Scott MEP: The EU and US must promote human rights worldwide – that includes China

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 17th May 2013 - 3:20 pm

Yorkshire and Humber Liberal Democrat MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has co-written a Guardian article with Chinese human rights activist Chen Guancheng arguing that just because China is becoming a superpower, it must still be challenged on its appalling human rights record:

China, the world’s rising superpower, continues to systematically engage in the political repression and torture of its citizens, with an estimated 7 to 8 million Chinese currently being held in prison or labour camps. From Cameroon to Cuba, Belarus to Bahrain, governments go on torturing and imprisoning those who dare to question their authority. For too many people around the

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in LibLink | Tagged edward mcmillan-scott and the guardian | 7 Comments

Clegg on UK and EU relationship with Africa: “more trade, fairer tax and greater business transparency”

By NewsHound | Tue 14th May 2013 - 2:47 pm

Nick Clegg gave a speech at the Africa Jubilee Business Forum which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation for African Unity. Here are the highlights:

Political rights must go in tandem with economic growth

Everybody, of course, wants growth – the key decision is how you achieve it. More and more African countries face a choice between the economic models of authoritarian capitalism, on the one hand, and liberal democracy, on the other.

In countries like China, authoritarian capitalism argues the case for economic growth ahead of political freedoms. And it’s a seductive argument in view of surging growth

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged africa, eu, G8, international aid, nick clegg and trade | 2 Comments

ALDE Party Council: “The sun lounger can wait, Brad, there are only twelve months to save Europe!”

By Mark Valladares | Sat 11th May 2013 - 3:37 pm

From Yerevan and Lisbon, from Mariehamn and Palermo they came, not necessarily to put the world to rights immediately, but to at least organise the processes by which it might happen.

Ah yes, process – not an obvious reason to come to Pula, in Istria on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, I admit, but that was what brought European liberals together for the Spring meeting of the Council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe (ALDE). The promise of warm sun, blue sky and crystal clear waters couldn’t have had an influence, surely?

There were two key issues to …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged ALDE | 10 Comments

LibLink…Fiona Hall MEP: Lawson’s EU lunacy is a recipe for economic disaster

By NewsHound | Fri 10th May 2013 - 8:55 am

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament Fiona Hall has responded to former Chancellor Nigel Lawson’s call for Britain to leave the EU.

Writing in the Independent, she spelled out some of the economic consequences of such a move:

We are currently on the cusp of a game-changing trade deal between the EU and the US, which will bring billions of pounds to the British economy and create tens of thousands of jobs. The US has also made it quite clear that our ‘special relationship’ would cease to be special were the UK outside the EU. Major trade agreements with India and

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in LibLink | Tagged eu, fiona hall, nigel lawson and the independent | 29 Comments

Opinion: Ironically, the rise of UKIP makes Britain a more European place

By Giles Goodall | Fri 3rd May 2013 - 7:00 pm

UKIP’s relative success in the English local elections and South Shields by-election this week has met with predictable reactions across the political spectrum: from copycat politics and jealousy on the Tory right, to handwringing and downright despair on the centre left.

But while UKIP has succeeded in hoovering up disenchanted Tories by the thousand, its appeal is clearly much broader. In fact, the rise of UKIP’s populist anti-politics replicates a pattern played out across Europe since the crisis hit, from the Danish People’s Party to Italy’s Beppe Grillo. Ironically, with …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged denmark, eu, europe, featured, local elections 2013 and ukip | 25 Comments

Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdown say that Afghan interpreters should have the right to live in the UK

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 1st May 2013 - 1:30 pm

Almost exactly four years ago, Nick Clegg, as an opposition party leader, led a debate in Parliament in which the Labour Government was defeated on its plans to restrict the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. David Cameron was keen to get himself into the photos with Joanna Lumley at the time.

Four years on, and Clegg and Cameron have opposing views on whether Afghan interpreters who helped our soldiers in that country should be allowed to settle here. Today’s Times (£) reports that the Prime Minister, along with Theresa May and Philip Hammond are against allowing …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged afghanistan, immigration, nick clegg, paddy ashdown and the times | 3 Comments

Opinion: 21st Century Britain will need the European Union

By Sean O'Curneen | Fri 26th April 2013 - 2:50 pm

Britain’s fraught relationship with the EU is perfectly rational. Think of it this way:

- if I have a problem and you solve it for me, I will like you;

- if you create a problem for me, I will not like you;

- if you solve a problem that I don’t have, I might like you, but I don’t need you.

This is exactly what lies at the heart of Britain’s relationship with the EU. Let’s consider what problems the EU solves:

All nation states need to trade their goods. Membership of the EU provides access to the Single Market, the largest market in

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged european union | 12 Comments

Liberal Democrats risk civil liberties blind spot on EU crime and policing laws

By Pawel Swidlicki | Fri 26th April 2013 - 1:19 pm

There are few issues that galvanise Liberal Democrat members like civil liberties. Since going into coalition, party members have upheld this tradition by campaigning on a range of issues, most notably the so-called snooper’s charter and secret courts. However, the party has also traditionally been strongly committed to European co-operation – what happens when these clash?

The immediate context is the choice facing the coalition on whether to definitely opt into around 130 EU criminal and justice laws, including the European Arrest Warrant, by 2014. This is part of a wider debate whether it …

Continue reading »

Also posted in The Independent View | Tagged civil liberties | 6 Comments

New Zealand Parliament rejoices at passing of same sex marriage bill

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 17th April 2013 - 7:30 pm

Something made me cry today, and it involved a bunch of politicians in what is normally a solemn ritual.

It took place in the New Zealand Parliament when MPs voted in favour of same sex marriage. In the House of Commons, you might, if you’re lucky, get some order papers waved. Having said that, I hear tales of The Land and Lloyd George knew my father being sung in the Lords voting lobby by certain of our peers late one night.

Anyway, look at this place – real warm celebrations. Hugs, kisses, flowers and the spontaneous rendition of a Maori …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged conference, conference accreditation, equal marriage and new zealand | 4 Comments

Sharon Bowles MEP writes: New EU rules make a more secure, sustainable and transparent banking system

By Sharon Bowles | Wed 17th April 2013 - 12:30 pm

Yesterday the European Parliament passed a historic package of financial legislation following almost two years of negotiations. The most widely publicised aspect of these new rules is the cap on bankers’ bonuses, introduced in an amendment by the European Parliament and supported by Lib Dem MEPs. As well as the moral justifications, there are many good rational reasons for the cap. Significantly, it will realign the bonus to salary ratio to more reasonable proportions, thus reducing the kinds of excessively risky behaviour which contributed towards the financial crisis. It is important for banks to show restraint and take a more …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged banks, european parliament and financial regulation | 15 Comments

Liberal Party of Canada elects Justin Trudeau as leader

By Caron Lindsay | Mon 15th April 2013 - 4:00 pm

Canada’s Liberal Party has had its troubles in recent years. Two years ago they suffered the worst election result in their history, returning only 34 MPs and falling to an unprecedented third place behind the Conservative and New Democratic parties.

The Guardian reports that Justin Trudeau was elected the party’s leader with a massive majority. He attained 80% of the vote, a good start for somebody who needs to unify the party after years of infighting. His acceptance speech attempted to put those divisions behind the party:

I don’t care if you thought my father was great or arrogant,” Trudeau said.

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged canada, Justin Trudeau and Liberal Party of Canada | 8 Comments

Rebecca Taylor MEP writes…Electronic Cigarettes: No smoke, but lots of fiery debate

By Rebecca Taylor MEP | Mon 15th April 2013 - 8:55 am

You may have heard rumblings that “the EU wants to ban electronic cigarettes”. This is not entirely true; the new EU tobacco directive proposes regulating electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) under medicines legislation and there is fiery debate as to whether this is appropriate.
During the last few years e-cigarettes, devices resembling a cigarette or a pen/torch which enable the inhalation of nicotine containing vapour, have sprung up across Europe including in the UK.
Many e-cigarette users call their habit “vaping” and some prefer to call their devices “personal vaporisers” or PVs. E-cigarettes use a liquid containing nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, but …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged e-cigarettes and european parliament | 38 Comments

Chris Davies MEP reveals how Strasbourg isn’t always good for your health

By The Voice | Sun 14th April 2013 - 1:15 pm

Chris Davies reveals one of the unexpected problems of the European Parliament shuttling between Brussels and Strasbourg at great expense: bed bugs. Here’s an excerpt from his latest notes:

I went to the medical centre in the European Parliament in Brussels. “I’ve had these itchy spots on my arms and legs for 6 weeks or so,” I told the doctor. “They started off like insect bites but they won’t go away.” She looked at them and asked if any new spots had appeared since the Parliament was

…

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged chris davies, european parliament and strasbourg | 2 Comments

Liberal Democrat MEPs call for Committee of Inquiry on Cyprus

By NewsHound | Fri 12th April 2013 - 11:51 am

Senior UK Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles has called for a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry should the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) Hearing on 25 April not answer the many questions hanging over the Cyprus affair.

Bowles, who chairs the influential ECON Committee said:

We will have an ECON Committee hearing on 25 April with the Troika and Mr Dijsselbloem, President of the Eurogroup to get to the bottom of the Cyprus bailout affair. If we find the answers insufficient the Liberal Group in the European Parliament will call for the immediate setting up of a Committee of Inquiry

…

Continue reading »

Tagged andrew duff, cyprus and sharon bowles | 2 Comments

This week in Europe: 1-4 April

By NewsHound | Fri 5th April 2013 - 11:48 am

European ‘Financial Transaction Tax’ will hit Londoners

A research report prepared for the City of London Corporation has estimated the cost of the proposed European Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) on UK government debt at £4 billion, with further costs for company debt.

Even though the UK is not taking part, bonds issued by our government and companies are traded in EU participating countries and will therefore be subject to the tax. This will raise government spending and the cost of capital and investment.

MEP …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged financial transaction tax and sarah ludford | 2 Comments

Liberal Democrat MEPs lobby for fair distribution of EU funding

By Mark Valladares | Thu 28th March 2013 - 9:20 am

Lib Dem MEPs have welcomed the Coalition Government’s commitment to ensure that cuts to European funding from 2014 onwards will be shared in a fair manner across the UK.

The Coalition Government has announced that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be subjected to an equal percentage cut of around 5% compared to the current 2007-2017 EU funding levels.

MEPs and national governments are currently negotiating the next long-term EU budget for 2014-2020. Although a final deal has yet to be reached, the EU’s budget is expected to be cut in real-terms for the first time in its history.
…

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged catherine bearder, edward mcmillan-scott, european union and fiona hall | 22 Comments

Opinion: We await the lessons of Iraq while new conflicts loom

By Paul Reynolds | Wed 27th March 2013 - 9:58 am

It is ten years this week since I agreed to act as lead independent political and governance adviser in Iraq, primarily in the British-controlled Southern Provinces – despite my known anti-war views. It was a harrowing experience, risking the ultimate on a daily basis, appointing directly the first regional government in Basra by way of negotiations with largely hostile tribal, political and religious groups, and then working on other problems.

There has been much reflection in the media in the last few days over the failures of the conflict, its illegality, and lessons for the future, notwithstanding the absence, as yet, …

Continue reading »

Also posted in Op-eds | Tagged international and iraq | 4 Comments

This week in Europe: 18-21 March

By Mark Valladares | Fri 22nd March 2013 - 9:21 am

New Slovene government formed with a strong liberal presence

Following what has been described as a “constructive motion of no confidence” in the Slovene Parliament, President Borut Pahor has invited Positive Slovenia‘s leader, Alenka Bratušek, to form a new government. ALDE member party, Civic List, has joined the administration, with its leader, Gregor Virant, becoming Minister of the Interior. In addition, ALDE Treasurer, Roman Jakič, has become Minister of Defence. For any Liberal Youth reading this, he’s a former IFLRY Vice-President.

EU …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged chris davies, roman jakic and slovenia | 1 Comment

Last week in Europe: 11-14 March

By Mark Valladares | Fri 15th March 2013 - 10:21 am

Liberal Democrats want better deal for UK in EU’s long term budget

Liberal Democrat MEPs today voted to approve the size of the EU’s multi-annual financial framework deal reached by Member States last month. They also supported moves to renegotiate the shape of the budget by making it more flexible and focused on areas that will bring jobs and growth to the UK, such as investments in R&D, innovation and infrastructure.

Senior Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon, Vice-President of …

Continue reading »

Also posted in News | Tagged air travel, eu budget, george lyon and phil bennion | Leave a comment