David Martin, MEP

European Report February 2011

FEBRUARY 2011

European trade unions attack EU-IMF rescue packages
Social dialogue and collective bargaining are under attack within the European Union (EU).  In a letter sent to EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) denounces the diktat pressures from Commission officials to cut minimum wages and pensions, to reduce wage ‘rigidities’ and to make labour markets more flexible in Greece and Ireland. John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, demanded an emergency meeting with Mr Rehn to clarify matters, and warned that ETUC will find it impossible to support action by the EU along these lines. The ETUC has received reports from trade unions in Greece and Ireland about the role of EU Commission officials in implementing the EU/IMF rescue packages. According to these reports, it looks clear that the Commission officials are ignoring social dialogue and collective bargaining processes and directly intervening in the labour markets of these countries. Diktats are being issued which are designed to lower living standards.  “This policy of detailed interference in labour markets tramples all over pious Commission statements about the autonomy of the social partners, the importance of social dialogue and the specific exclusion in the EU treaties of a European competence on pay” John Monks declared.

UK Tories shift further to the right in the European Parliament
Michal Kaminski, the right-wing leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR group (in which British Tories sit within the European Parliament), has resigned his chairmanship in protest at the ‘far-right takeover’ campaign of its Polish ranks. In a move that will deeply embarrass the UK Prime Minister, Mr Kaminski is expected to quit the Euro-sceptic grouping to join the pro-EU, centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which Mr Cameron ordered Tory MEPs to leave before creating the ECR. The Conservative exit from the EPP led to the expulsion of a Tory MEP who accused the Poles of harbouring racists and anti-Semite members.  It is deeply disturbing that the Conservatives' Polish allies are seen to be moving even further to the extreme right with Kaminski's departure.  It is rumoured that one of the UK Tory MEPs will take over the leadership of this increasingly extremist right-wing group.

Growing partnership helps development
My report on approving the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the Pacific countries of Fiji and Papua New Guinea was adopted in Parliament at the January plenary. By granting consent to the Agreement, Parliament has allowed unconditional duty-free access to EU markets while opening the Papua New Guinea and Fiji markets as well. I hope this trade and development agreement will pave the way for a fuller Economic Partnership Agreement with the Pacific region and other countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region. I was particularly pleased that the new EU - Pacific Trade agreement will help Papua New Guinea boost their economy through trade. It will specifically help women in employment as there are over 5,500 employed in the tuna industry.

Combating deforestation and corruption in the timber trade
The European Parliament approved two voluntary partnerships between the EU and Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville on improving the traceability of timber. The agreements are designed to help combat illegal logging and large-scale deforestation, as well as corruption, and are part of the EU's strategy on forestry management. I was also recognised as a ‘Fair Politician’ for my work on the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade action plan, a key element of which is the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) designed to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported into the EU. Through these agreements the EU will provide support for forest governance reforms – including traceability and verification systems. As a member of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee I questioned the Commission on concerns regarding the enforcement, local participation, human rights and not least deforestation and environmental impact of these agreements.

NHS protected as EU agrees cross border treatment rules
Patients have won new rights to seek treatment abroad, after the European Parliament backed rules to facilitate cross-border healthcare.  Under the legislation patients will be able to seek treatment in another European country, provided it is something that would be funded by the NHS.  Original drafts of the law could have undermined the NHS by allowing patients to choose expensive treatments abroad without safeguards to avoid spurious or inappropriate claims. However, checks have now been added to the legislation to give the NHS overall control over what treatment is authorised. Safety clauses are also included to ensure that the NHS cannot be undermined by foreign patients coming to Britain under the new rules.  Patients with rare diseases are among those who could benefit from the changes.  However, the worry is that it will be the Con/Dem Government who decide who will benefit in the UK. With the coalition planning to dismantle the main structures of our health service, it is unclear as to exactly how our safeguards will now work in practice.  There are dangers that if the government were to require people to pay upfront and then repay the costs, then these new rights would only be available to those who are able to cover big hospital bills. We can’t allow a situation to develop in which people with personal wealth are able to access publicly funded treatment abroad, while those without large savings cannot. That would lead to an unacceptable two-tier health service.

Battle to block baby milk health claim
An attempt by a formula baby milk manufacturer to market its products with a specific claim about improving a baby's eyesight is being challenged by Labour MEPs.  The claim, that milk containing a fatty acid called DHA will improve children's eyesight, has been formally approved by an EU committee that has the power to block or authorise claims that a particular food has health benefits. However, there are concerns that we simply don't know enough about how DHA functions when delivered via the bottle.  If this particular fatty acid is really proven to be beneficial to babies' health when used in formula milk then we owe it to mothers and their children to ensure it is included in all products. If the link hasn't been proven, then companies shouldn't be allowed to make the claim.  The decision to authorise the eyesight claim was taken by the EU Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health in a meeting behind closed doors in December.  Although milk manufacturers will be gearing up for a big battle on this issue our children's health is too important to be left in the hands of a multinational company's marketing department.  A final vote will need to be taken by 07 April 2011.

Fight over fish!
The European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP) is backing the recent campaign led by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to reform the Common Fisheries policy (CFP) and has long campaigned for an effective fisheries policy which would end the practice of discard.  Overfishing is a serious threat to many species. The growth in demand for fish and fish products throughout the EU has been met by new fishing techniques and commercial structures, which have led to the exploitation of many fish stocks. Indeed independent fisheries scientists have assessed that of Europe's 33 most important commercial fish stocks, 88% are over-fished. This has a devastating effect on their ecosystems, and marine biodiversity is central to the CFP's aim to avoid extinction of certain species. It is also vital to protect the livelihood of Scottish fishermen by tackling the serious problem of illegal fishing in EU waters that puts an even greater strain on fishing stocks, and reduces the legal quota for Scottish fishermen. I recently wrote to the members of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Committee on Fisheries (COFI) to urge them to support the development of a Global Record of fishing vessels, which I believe will help prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing driving fish populations to extinction.

Worth a visit
My website, at http://www.martinmep.comwww.martinmep.com is regularly updated with local and European Parliamentary news. It contains embedded videos of questions and debates in the European Parliament and after each Strasbourg Plenary (which take place roughly once a month) I have written a brief ‘Strasbourg Roundup’ of the key issues. It also has links to my blog, twitter and an archive of earlier European Reports, Euro Trade Union Matters and Round-ups. In the coming months I plan to extend the ‘links’ page to facilitate access to a large selection of relevant sites. Please feel free to email me if you have any suggestions.