Welcome to my Strasbourg Roundup. This is a very brief update to let you know what happens at the plenary meetings of the European Parliament.

This month's Strasbourg session was a busy one, dealing with several important issues. MEPs debated and / or voted on the following:

• Sanctions against Burma - Myself and colleagues voted on a Resolution calling for tougher sanctions against Burma as well as a worldwide embargo on the sale of arms to Burma and the release of all political prisoners. Following the crackdown against protests of Buddhist monks last September, I tabled a Written Declaration (which could have, had it been more fully supported, have resulted in Commission legislation) calling on the EU to put pressure on Burma's neighbours in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to cut off Burma's membership of the regional trade grouping until it fulfils its transition toward democracy. It is clear that as long as the Burmese Junta is self funding through highly lucrative exports of jade, rubies, timber and oil that the only way to effect change is through a well planned trade embargo. I am pleased that the  Resolution voted this week take on board my ideas.
• Trade with the Gulf States - I took part in a debate with Commission and Council representatives on a bilateral trade agreement the EU is negotiating with the six Gulf States (Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates). Human rights organisations such as the Bahrain Human Rights Society have recently express their concern that violation of human rights, workers rights and discrimination of women are still very real problems is most Gulf States. I suggested to the Commission concrete steps they could take - such as giving trade unions and human rights organisations more power to take action against violations of these rights - to ensure that the EU does not enter into trade agreements with countries that do not adhere to our common  European values of equality, tolerance and democracy.
• Organ donations - Myself and colleagues voted on a report highlighting the increasing European shortage of organs. In the UK alone, more than 1000 people die each year waiting for a transplant. The report highlights that the situation is particularly serious among the ethic minority community due to the fact as tissue type varies, a match with someone of both the same ethnic minority and the same tissue type is needed. The report looks at ways in which we can overcome the organ shortage as well as preventing against organ trafficking and facilitating the exchange of organs within Europe.

Other matters that came up in Parliamentary business this week included:

• As a member of the Intergroup on Animal Welfare, I met with NGO colleagues to discuss the need for a EU wide ban on the import of seal products. This is an issue that I have campaigned for ever since seeing for myself that pain and torment of the seal cull twenty years ago in Canada. The EU recently banned cat and dog fur imports following widespread outrage that cat and dog fur was imported into the EU - mainly from China - with misleading labelling. I wrote to Commissioner Mandelson earlier this year highlighting the  arguments for an EU wide ban. Given the media and public interest in making this ban possible, I hope that together we can convince the Commission to bring forward legislation.
• During Question Time, I highlighted to the Commission suggestions that Scottish kilts should be given trade protection in order to prevent the sale in Europe of cheap "drinking kilts" from countries such as China. I fully agree that certain goods such as Champagne and Parma ham should be protected as their characteristics are inextricably linked to the region in which they are made. Stopping Europeans, including Scots, being able to buy these inexpensive informal kilts appears to me to be a very protectionist and narrow minded idea. I am happy the Commission have no notion to protect kilts in this way.

The next Strasbourg Roundup will be published shortly after the next plenary session which takes place 19-21 May 2008.