Tag Archives: phil bennion

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 …

Posted in Europe / International and News | Also tagged air travel, eu budget and george lyon | Leave a comment

This week in Europe… 10-13 December

By NewsHound | Fri 14th December 2012 - 8:51 am

European patent will boost UK businesses

Liberal Democrat MEPs have warmly welcomed Tuesday’s green light for the long-awaited deal on a unitary European Patent.

The European Parliament has voted to accept a hard-fought compromise package which has taken nearly forty years to negotiate. Two states, Spain and Italy, have declined to take part on the grounds that their languages are not included in the patent filing process.

Andrew Duff MEP, who represents the important cluster of science research in the East of England, commented:

Today sees a huge break-through for European innovation and competitiveness. The final agreement on a unitary patent

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Also tagged andrew duff and george lyon | 6 Comments

Taking stock – 20 years of the Single Market

By Phil Bennion | Fri 26th October 2012 - 10:21 am

In the current “debate” over Europe, “loss of sovereignty”, and “power grabbing by the Commission” are the central themes… what an irony on the 20th anniversary of the single market – the key achievement of the EU which was spear-headed by a British Conservative European Commissioner, and cemented by a Conservative Government in 1992 under the Maastricht treaty.

Commissioner Arthur Cockfield in 1985 published a list of 300 recommendations needed to eliminate the barriers to real free trade within Europe, to make the (then) European Community more competitive and profitable for Member States.

Since 1992 the focus has been to “complete” this …

Posted in Europe / International | Also tagged europe and single market | 34 Comments

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: a Lib Dem success story

By George Potter | Tue 1st May 2012 - 10:50 am

A fortnight ago I was in Strasbourg where I was lucky enough to speak to two Liberal Democrat MEPs from farming backgrounds about their work to reform the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Phil Bennion, Liberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands, explained to me how the CAP, which has two pillars of funds, works.

“Pillar one is common to every country in the European Union, pillar two is devolved and co-funded by member states. In the UK we spend 80% of our pillar two money on environmental schemes, while other countries spend theirs on things …

Posted in Europe / International | Also tagged common agricultural policy, european union and george lyon | 22 Comments

Phil Bennion MEP takes up seat in European Parliament

By Helen Duffett | Wed 15th February 2012 - 4:42 pm

Phil Bennion has been officially confirmed as the new Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands region at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg this week.

The Staffordshire farmer and economic policy expert takes over from Liz Lynne who stood down from Parliament earlier in February after more than 12 years due to the extensive travelling required in the job. He was elected to second place on the Lib Dem list of candidates at the last European elections in 2009.

Phillip Bennion said of his new role,

I am determined to fight for the vital interests of the whole of the

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Also tagged fiona hall and liz lynne | 5 Comments

Liz Lynne MEP to stand down

By Helen Duffett | Mon 7th November 2011 - 6:50 pm

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has announced she plans to stand down as Euro MP for the West Midlands Region in three months’ time, saying ‘the time is right’ to move on after 12 and a half years representing the region in the European Parliament. She will be succeeded by Phil Bennion, the second candidate on the party’s list at the election in 2009.

The Euro MP revealed her decision in her speech to the regional Lib Dem party conference at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on Saturday afternoon, saying:

I have decided to stand down as MEP at the beginning of February.

…

Posted in Europe / International and News | Also tagged liz lynne | 4 Comments

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Tag Archives: phil bennion

Last week in Europe: 11-14 March

This week in Europe… 10-13 December

Taking stock – 20 years of the Single Market

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: a Lib Dem success story

Phil Bennion MEP takes up seat in European Parliament

Liz Lynne MEP to stand down

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Social mobility: is the Coalition doing enough to encourage it?

Stephen Tall asks: "Did Nate Silver write in vain?"

Nick Clegg: "Of course the EU has to change"

"Mad, swivel-eyed loons": a top Tory on the Tories

Tag Archives: phil bennion

Last week in Europe: 11-14 March

This week in Europe… 10-13 December

Taking stock – 20 years of the Single Market

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: a Lib Dem success story

Phil Bennion MEP takes up seat in European Parliament

Liz Lynne MEP to stand down

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