Robert Sturdy's Strasbourg report – November 2011

Before I begin my usual report on this week’s voting session Strasbourg, I must address a very important issue.

As many of you may know, every year the European Court of Auditors presents the EU's accounts to the European Parliament. This year's report saw the Court of Auditors announce that overall, 3.7 per cent of the EU’s €122 billion budget in 2010 was spent in error or against EU rules. That's just over €4.5 billion. This is a staggering amount of money. The figures get even worse when you look at the most offending area. Misappropriation of funds and spending errors were as high as 7.7 per cent of total spending in the areas of cohesion, energy and transport.

Some of you may be shocked by this news but many of you will probably not be surprised. After all this is the 17th year running the Court has been unable to give the EU’s accounts an unqualified statement of assurance.  The last time the EU's accounts were in order Sir John Major was a resident of 10 Downing Street, Mandela and de Clerk won the Nobel Peace Prize and the European Community officially became known as the European Union.

In isolation this is outrageous enough, but when one factors in the recent demands from the EU, especially from the European Parliament, to increase the EU budget, then the mind really does boggle. It is quite interesting that the amount of money being demanded is almost exactly the same amount that would be saved from scrapping Strasbourg, some €180 million a year.

Flexibility in the labour market

With the recent economic turmoil in Europe no one would blame you for keeping your minds on monetary matters but many other issues were addressed in Strasbourg this month that are worth mentioning.

Although the EU has managed to develop an effective single market, one area that needs improvement is the mobility of qualified professionals, which is one of the 12 priorities of the Single Market Act, the Commission's action plan to improve the functioning of the single market.  On Tuesday the Parliament voted on a Conservative resolution that aims to address this by making it easier for doctors, dentists, architects and other professions to work abroad within the EU.

Although this resolution is about adding flexibility to the labour market by enabling professional qualifications to be recognised faster, recent cases in the UK have highlighted that it is imperative that this be accomplished without compromising on the reputation and safety of qualifications.

Bees’ decline – a step forward (of sorts)

Also on Tuesday, the Parliament voted on a resolution on honey bee health and beekeeping. At first glance you would be forgiven in thinking that this is perhaps not as pressing an issues as others on the EU's agenda at the moment.

However, over recent years there has been a worryingly steep rise in bee mortality which could have a serious knock on effect on Europe's food production and environmental stability.

When one considers that an estimated 84% of plant species and 76% of food production in Europe depends on pollination by bees, its is evident that the problem is a pressing one.

Aside from the environmental impact of the declining bee numbers, beekeeping also provides an income for more than 600,000 people across Europe. As Vice-Chairman of the Cambridgeshire Beekeepers Association, I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are concerned about this issue and are keen for action to be taken.

The Parliament's resolution, which was strongly endorsed by MEPs from across the political spectrum, calls on the EU to step up investment in research on new medicines and coordinate its efforts to protect, what is fast becoming, an endangered species.

On the whole the resolution of honey bee health is an important step forward that manages to address the issue at hand. Unfortunately, like a busy little bee, the EU gives with one hand and takes with the other.

A recent ruling by the European Court of Justice stated that honey producers must prove that pollen is not an ingredient of their product. This involves expensive testing, bottling and labeling.

This is yet another length of red tape to strangle British industry. I am trying to avoid the obvious pun but sometimes I really wish I could tell elements of the EU to buzz off!

Global Adjustment Fund

On Wednesday, the Parliament voted on five reports aimed at mobilising the EU's Global Adjustment Fund (EGF). For those of you who are not familiar with the EGF, it is an annual fund of €500 million that helps EU workers find new jobs and develop new skills when they have lost their jobs as a result of globalisation or, since 2009, the economic crisis.

In this week's votes, the Parliament voted to send €42.3 million from the EGF to workers in Ireland, Austria, and Greece. This included €2.9 million to help find new jobs for 642 Greek workers made redundant by the closure of ALDI supermarkets.

Now I am fully aware that the current economic times are increasingly tough on families across the EU, but I think it is wrong to signal out a small number of workers when millions across Europe are in a similar predicament. The EU should be concentrating on growth and prosperity across the continent.

Watery issue

As I sit in my office writing this months 'View from Strasbourg', important news has been announced by EU officials.

After an extensive, and no doubt expensive, two year study, the EU has proclaimed that from now on water is no longer hydrating! This statement is dangerous enough but as usual it is accompanied with a regulation which in this case will forbid water producers from making hydrating claims about their products. The fact that water hydrates should be abundantly clear to anyone one who has ever had a glass.

One positive thing may come out of this mind you. We are always saying that EU officials are from another planet and this may well prove to be the evidence to prove that claim!

Mildenhall College of Technology

On Wednesday, 47 bright young people from Mildenhall College of Technology visited the Parliament together with their tutors.

For the past few years, a group of politics students from the College has travelled to Strasbourg to learn about the EU and how the EP works first-hand.  I was very impressed with their interest and knowledge and they raised some very good questions.  I look forward to hosting another visit for the College next year.

Contact Robert

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any enquiries of a European nature – I very much enjoy attending events and welcome any invitations.

       Robert Sturdy MEP

       Constituency Office
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       E  rwsturdy@btconnect.com
       W  Robert Sturdy

                  Julia Smith – PA to Robert Sturdy
                        T  01954 211 790
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