Strasbourg Round-up May 2010

Strasbourg Roundup

This month in Strasbourg we debated and voted on a number of issues, including organ donation, a youth strategy for Europe and food safety.

International Day against Homophobia

On Monday 17th May Parliament opened by celebrating the International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO). It was the sixth time the Parliament had celebrated IDAHO, and as a member of the Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights I am very pleased to see that the European Parliament is sending such a strong message against discrimination. For the first time there were joint statements released from three top-level EU leaders in support of IDAHO: Herman van Rompuy as President of the European Council, Jerzy Buzek as President of the Parliament and Commissioner Viviane Reding as Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. It is vital that the European Parliament and the EU as a whole is a strong voice against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation worldwide, and I hope we can continue to build on the high profile IDAHO events.

Energy Efficiency

Parliament approved legislation on energy efficiency, which focused on building codes for new construction. By the end of 2020, new buildings will have to comply with building codes to meet higher standards of energy efficiency, which will contribute significantly towards reaching the target of a 20% reduction in energy consumption that the EU has set. Where possible, older buildings will be adapted to become more energy efficient. In addition, the Parliament approved new guidelines for improving the effectiveness of energy efficient labelling on white goods and appliances, to make it easier for consumers to understand how environmentally friendly products are.

Organ donation and transplants

A directive approved by the Parliament should help shorten the time patients must wait for organ transplants. The directive calls for better cooperation between Member States. Common quality and safety standards will now be established amongst all member states, and the Commission will help set up a network of authorities and share information between them. Currently around 60,000 people in the EU are on the waiting list for an organ transplant, and 12 people die every day while waiting for a transplant. These new common quality and safety standards will go a significant way to helping to donate and transplant organs.

In a separate resolution, Parliament gave its approval for a Commission Action Plan on organ donation to encourage citizens to join a donor register when applying for a driving licence or passport, and to look into creating an EU-database with information of intended donations and donors to improve European coordination.

Meat Glue

I was very pleased that the Parliament rejected a proposal from the European Commission to add thrombin to a list of approved additives. Thrombin is known as "meat glue", as it is an enzyme that is used to stick scraps of meat together to form single pieces. While Member States are independently able to decide if they permit the use of thrombin, it has not been approved as a food additive at the European level, as the Parliament had serious concerns over misleading consumers on meat quality.

Strategy for Youth

On Tuesday the Parliament approved a Resolution that set a youth strategy as a high priority. Promoting non-formal education, combating youth unemployment and giving particular help to young people with special needs are central to the Parliament's future plans for young people. In addition the Parliament called on Member States to provide support for youth parliaments and similar schemes to involve young people in the formulation of policy. I am very pleased to see this being taken forward as a priority and look forward to continuing my work with schools and young people in Scotland.