EDINBURGH ACTA SEMINAR
In the process of ratification, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) became highly controversial, with large street protests in a number of European cities. Last month, a petition against ACTA signed by over two million people was presented to the European Parliament in Brussels. In the UK however it attracted little, if any media attention.
In a welcome response to the apparent lack of publicity and open discussion on the subject on Friday 13 April, the European Parliament Office in Scotland hosted a seminar on ACTA.
As Rapporteur to the Agreement David was appointed to draw up the European Parliament's response and at Friday’s seminar he provided an update on discussions in the European Parliament and set out the basis of his recommendation that the Parliament votes against the trade agreement. This was followed by a Q&A session and much lively and intelligent discussion from attendees including senior speakers from those in favour of and opposed to ACTA, as well as journalists and academics. The seminar was tweeted live with a twitter wall receiving thousands of comments worldwide.
RNIB conference highlights European Parliament support
for blind and partially sighted people
Blind and partially-sighted Scots met at the Grand Central Hotel Glasgow last Friday (16 March) to hear how the European Union can create a more level playing field for people with disabilities. The keynote speaker, David Martin MEP, Scotland’s senior European MP told the one-day conference, organised by the charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland, that: ‘A great deal of legislation that affects people with sight loss is enacted by the European Union’.
Mr Martin continued: ‘Only 5% of books are currently accessible to the blind in richer countries, and fewer than 1% in poorer ones. Blind people should have access to books and other published works in special formats, such as Braille, large print or audio.
However’, continued Scotland’s senior MEP: ‘This requires a targeted exception to copyright rules. Such a resolution was adopted by the European Parliament, calling on the Council and Commission to support a binding International Treaty to make it possible. I pledge to make the European Parliament the champion of blind and partially sighted people in Scotland,’ concluded David Martin.
"An industry that made over 700 billion euros in the past decade, has spent only 0.0075% on investing in the conditions of its workers"
Speaking during a debate on the latest International Cocoa Agreement David stressed the industry needed to go much further in improving working conditions. With the EU being the world's biggest consumer of chocolate David raised concerns about the role of child labour in the cocoa trade and strongly endorsed Fairtrade Products.
David Martin at the European Parliament
FOR DAVID MARTIN'S WORK IN BRUSSELS AND STRASBOURG,
visit: David Martin at the European Parliament
For enquiries write to: DAVID MARTIN MEP, Midlothian Innovation Centre, Pentlandfield, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RE
Telephone 0131 440 9040 Email: david@martinmep.com
Keeping the Financial Transaction Tax on Track
Since 2010, the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) has been heavily debated at EU level. President Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Zapatero of Spain, the European Commission and the European Parliament have all expressed public support for an FTT ahead of the G20 in November.
A part of the FTT revenues should be invested in global public goods, and thus used to alleviate extreme poverty and to help reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
As Chair of the European Parliament Working Group on Innovation, Access to Medicines and Poverty-Related Diseases, David hosted a lunchtime debate on why the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) should not drift away from benefiting international development and health.
The Working Group believes that new and innovative sources of financing are needed if we are serious about achieving WDGs. An Financial Transaction Tax could turn the global economic crisis into a global opportunity, by making banks, hedge funds and other parts of the financial sector pay their fair share to clear up the mess they helped create.
Click graphic below to see David's video interview on the website of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats
in the European Parliament
