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Strasbourg Round-up March 2011

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


Robin Hood tax vote - no support except Labour
I was very pleased that the Parliament expressed its support for a European financial transaction tax to be introduced - and I was very disappointed that my fellow Labour MEP Catherine Stihler and I were the only Scottish MEPs to support this. I am strongly in favour of a global tax on banks, but while we work towards this very difficult goal, it is vital that as a first step we introduce a tax in Europe on the banks. A 0.05% tax would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, and it is time the banks paid their fair share instead of leaving workers to suffer following the financial crisis.

More support for Roma integration
The Commission is due to publish its updated strategy for Roma inclusion next month, and ahead of this the Parliament voted on a resolution this week, calling on the Commission to include better protection of fundamental rights for Roma people and the use of EU funds to support integration. Education, housing, healthcare and employment are areas of particular importance, and I hope the Commission's strategy will set out clear guidelines for local authorities, national authorities and the EU to work together in supporting Roma people. I particularly welcome the Parliament's calls for binding minimum EU standards and penalties for Member States who do not comply with equal treatment for Roma people.

Industrial policy
Parliament called for the Commission to propose an integrated approach to industrial policy when it comes forward with a legislative proposal shortly. To ensure EU competitiveness it is vital that the EU works with Member States, workers and trade unions to develop a coherent policy for jobs and investment. Trade policy, competition policy and environmental policy must be coordinated with industrial policy at all levels to ensure the EU is the global leader in innovation, economic growth and jobs.

Parliamentary calendar
MEPs voted to approve the parliamentary calendars for 2012 and 2013. While usually this is a procedural issue, this year we managed to secure a vital change to our plenary sessions next year and the year after. The Parliament holds its plenary sessions 12 times a year in Strasbourg, which is a legal requirement laid out in the founding treaties. Despite strong opposition to this in the Parliament we are not able to amend the treaties without agreement in the Council from each Member State national government. The French government is reluctant to abolish Strasbourg as the official seat of the Parliament, and so we are required to travel to Strasbourg from Brussels roughly once a month. As the Parliament is in recess in August we are required to hold two plenary session in the month of September or October to ensure 12 are held within the year. However, thanks to an amendment adopted in Parliament this week, the 2 sessions in October 2012 will be held over one week, which means we are only required to make one return journey to Strasbourg. While this is a very small step in our battle to stop the "travelling circus" altogether, I hope it will result in greater debate once again with the French national government. As the only Parliament in the world which is not able to determine where it sits, the amendment adopted this week is a reminder of the strong opposition the European Parliament itself has to this outrageous practice.

Turkey progress report
Parliament welcomed the progress Turkey is making in meeting the criteria for EU membership, and emphasised areas in which more attention is needed. Turkey has made significant progress in increasing democratisation and creating a more open and transparent society. These efforts must be particularly focused on freedom of expression and religion. I support Turkish accession to the EU, and believe that Turkey will have a hugely important role in the developing EU foreign policy and security.