Hear my views of the latest goings-on at the European Parliament and contribute to the debate in my fortnightly E-Surgeries on www.martinmep.com.

This is a very brief update to let you know what happens at the plenary meetings of the European Parliament.  This month's Strasbourg round-up comes from Brussels where MEPs have met for Plenary while work is carried out on the Hemicycle in Strasbourg (read on for more information).

·        Roof caves-in in Strasbourg- This month's Strasbourg Plenary session was held in Brussels as builders in Strasbourg carried out work on the debating chamber roof that collapsed over the summer recess.  It is believed that the debris would have badly injured a great number of MEPs if the Plenary was in session.  The farce that costs £200 million a year and needlessly increases the EU's carbon footprint has therefore been temporarily halted.  Members are required to sit 12 times a year in Strasbourg thanks to a decision taken at the 1992 European Summit in Edinburgh by EU Heads of State including John Major.  There is a possibility that the next plenary session will be held in Brussels...our fingers are crossed.

MEPs also voted on measures including:  

·        Better protection for consumers when booking airline tickets- I, and fellow Labour MEPs voted in favour of the proposals to increase protection for consumers who book tickets through high street and online travel agents.  The report simplified the current Computer Reservation Systems used by all major travel agents such as Thomas Cook and Expedia.  With these new proposals the European Parliament has allowed for the update of a system that is nearly 20 years old and out of step with the endless possibilities offered by the internet.  The proposals also stipulate that for journeys up to 90 minutes the systems should offer more environmentally friendly options for the same journey like the train.

·        A resolution on the Georgia/Russia Conflict-  MEPs voted a resolution condemning the violence that dominated this summer's headlines.  In passing the resolution the European Parliament sent a resounding message that, while it believed Georgia was by no means blameless in the whole affair, Russia's reaction was above that deemed acceptable.  President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin's actions have also jeopardised the conclusion of lengthy discussions over a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that is essential for securing positive cooperation between the EU and its Eastern neighbour. 

·        Production of Hydrogen Cars given a boost- I and my Labour colleagues voted in support of new measures boosting investment in hydrogen powered cars.  The new law will apply across Europe and pave the way for full scale production of these cars in the future.   With this investment, the European Parliament has not only signalled its commitment to combating climate change but to provide drivers with real alternatives to fully contribute to a sustainable future.  Alternatively fuelled vehicles are becoming increasingly popular and it is therefore important that we help move the industry towards production of hydrogen powered cars by 2015.