David Martin's EU Tribune

Captain Paul Watson Captain Paul Watson is the world’s most aggressive, most determined, most active and most effective defender of wildlife, is currently being held in prison in Germany pending extradition proceedings to Costa Rica on a trumped up politically motivated charge because he exposed the scale of illegal shark-finning and taking direct action to stop it.

This is a ridiculous, politically motivated attempt to punish the one man who has done more than anyone to stop this barbaric and unnecessary killing of sharks. That killing was on a massive scale of millions, and all to line the pockets of a tiny, but incredibly powerful, shark-fin mafia with friends in high places.

It is absolutely outrageous and one would have hoped almost unthinkable that this action against Paul should be taken in Germany – one of the places where the humanitarian, one-kind, green movement was born. I know many no, most, of my German political colleagues and friends will be outraged and ashamed by this action. It must be reversed!

If you want to support the campaign to ‘Free Captain Paul Watson’ and to save our sea creatures go to: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/05/15/urgent-call-to-sea-shepherd-supporters-help-save-captain-watson-from-extradition-to-costa-rica-1376.

The people all over the European Union (EU) are speaking at the ballot boxes – they want an end to austerity and the damage it is doing to jobs and the social fabric of our societies.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has been weakened by repeated losses in regional elections. Meanwhile in France, the second largest Eurozone economy, politics has taken a left turn, with the election of the explicitly pro-growth candidate, Francois Hollande. The respected Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has been campaigning for measures that support growth since the beginning of the year. At last, he can expect to have more allies.

What we need is a serious recipe for growth. There are many imaginative ideas ideas coming forward. Yesterday I BLOGGED about the role cities could play in this growth.

The European Commission has belatedly come round to see the need for some Keynesian Economic policies, and according internal document reported by PublicServiceEurope.com. The objective of the European Commission now: “…is to discuss concrete and feasible ideas that can deliver immediate or quick results,” ie jobs and growth.

So what can Europe do to re-launch growth without damaging the ongoing efforts to consolidate public finances? One idea is to subtract ‘productive investment’ from the calculation of the deficit. In other words, if a state invests in infrastructure which creates jobs and could drive future growth, this expenditure should not be taken into account in the deficit and debt reckoning.

Simple but effective – commons sense one might think! Definitely worth a try.

In a recent report Paul Bevan, Secretary General of EUROCITIES, has argued that cities should be the engines of the European economy. He believes that changes to the EU’s regional policy represent an opportunity to ensure that cities contribute fully to the recovery

The number one objective for the next long-term European Union budget has got to be growth. Beyond the euro crisis, however it develops, Europe faces intensifying global competition. Cities are the engines of the European economy, generating 85 per cent of gross domestic product. Their performance – how well they function, their liveability, their attractiveness to investment and talent – is therefore critical to Europe’s success. The continent’s cities have to be at the heart of any policy aiming to create growth, jobs and a sustainable future.

The productive and creative strength of cities lies in their density. They are places where diverse people and activities are concentrated. Because of this, intelligently coordinated development policies can have a tremendous impact. But this same concentration and diversity can, if left unmanaged, lead to growing problems of congestion, segregation, poverty, pollution and, ultimately, economic stagnation. The European Commission has recognised this by proposing a special place for cities in the next round of structural funds for 2014 to 2020.

The European Union’s major cities must be directly involved in the national partnerships that are going to decide the EU investment programmes. City leaders should be included as important partners with a greater role in strategic policy making. Their knowledge of their own metropolitan economy, its needs and opportunities, will make limited funding stretch as far as possible, with the greatest impact. Quite simply, getting input, ideas and direction from the people on the ground brings better results.

Paul believes the regulations governing how EU funds should be used must insist on a strong urban focus. One proposed innovation is that at least 5 per cent of the national allocation is earmarked for integrated urban development. No doubt this will help cities in those regions and countries where urban investment has been neglected in the current funding period. But with 75 per cent of the population it would be extraordinary if cities’ overall share of structural funds were to be so dismally low. This minimum percentage is for special programmes of integrated development, not for all urban investment. There should be a clearer requirement on member states to direct more EU funding to improve the functioning and attractiveness of our cities, not less; and certainly not just 5 per cent.

Member State governments must be required to offer city authorities and metropolitan areas the opportunity to manage EU programmes themselves. Local challenges will not be effectively addressed otherwise. Many cities are ready and willing to take the lead on EU investments in harness with public, private and third sector partners at local level.
The European Commission proposes that a list of cities to be offered delegated EU funds is drawn up in each country. It is essential that these lists are fair and justified, based on opportunity and need, not political favour.

There are a few cities I can think of in Scotland which should be considered.

Each Member State should develop clear criteria in dialogue with its cities. There is no reason why the list should not include metropolitan areas too. The commission should hold governments to account on the transparency of this process. Defining such a list of cities in partnership contracts or operational programmes will help ensure that EU funding finds its intended goal.

For my first blog today I am repeating Richard Murphy’s Blog, which is so important. Richard is also on Panorama tonight at 8.30 a must watch!

German electors rejected austerity this weekend. They were right to join the French and Greeks in doing so. As Jonathan Portes of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research has argued:

‘…with long-term government borrowing as cheap as in living memory, with unemployed workers and plenty of spare capacity and with the UK suffering from both creaking infrastructure and a chronic lack of housing supply, now is the time for government to borrow and invest. This is not just basic macroeconomics, it is common sense.’

He is right.

I am pleased that at long last Labour are now getting the point. As Ed Balls and Pater Mandelson argue this morning:

‘Europe needs to boost public investment in the demand that will help to drive growth, as the European Commission is now urging. A serious capital lift for the European Investment Bank is desirable, to help to provide fresh sources of infrastructure investment, as are infrastructure bonds, which help to counter a failing private appetite for large-scale project finance.

It is an argument I’ve been making since 2003, and more recently (here and here). This is also the Green New Deal logic, of course, so I’m pleased to see Labour has finally bought into it.

As they should: there has never been a better time to build our future than now.

Fair Trade goods are now sold in more and more shops throughout Scotland – everything from chocolate to shampoo.

Tomorrow is World Fair Trade Day 2012 (12 May 2012). I would like to congratulate the Fair Trade movement on the occasion of World Fair Trade Day which is celebrated around the world this Saturday. It is a festival of events highlighting Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty.

As the Socialist spokesperson in the European parliament on International Trade, it fills me with pride that an ever increasing number of European citizens contribute to sustainable development by demanding Fair Trade products. Data suggests that last year the value of Fair Trade products in the EU surpassed the 3 billion Euros mark for the very first time and this is largely due to the over 100.000 dedicated volunteers who form the backbone of the Fair Trade movement in Europe.

The European Parliament has repeatedly and overwhelmingly called for policies in support of Fair Trade, especially thanks to the tireless efforts made by the European Parliament cross-party Fair Trade Working Group. In addition, Members of Parliament contribute one cup at a time as the Parliament offers Fair Trade coffee and tea at all its meetings.

Fair Trade makes a change! It proves that consumers, volunteers, NGOs, public authorities and the private sector can all work together in order to make trade work for development. It helps to tackle slavery and child labour, it guarantees women equal pay for equivalent work even in countries where women generally do not receive any financial remuneration for their labour. It enables smallholders in the South to introduce sustainable farming methods and improve the quality of their products. More than anything, Fair Trade proves that people are not looking for hand-outs but for decent labour standards and a fair price for their labour.

As Scotland’s senior member of the European Parliament I would like to take this opportunity to thank the global and European Fair Trade organisations and especially all the Fair Trade producers in the South and the many volunteers within the Fair Trade movement for the important work they do, and for leading the struggle for more equitable trade.

Thank you, and happy World Fair Trade Day 2012!

It appears that the Robin Hood Tax (Financial Transaction Tax) which is designed to take a tiny amount from big financial institutions and gives to the poor of the world is really gaining ground. Alex Salmond is now trying to jump on to the bandwagon and has appeared in Oxfam’s latest newsletter supporting the tax as well as indicating his support Radio Scotland’s Call Kay programme. This is in spite of the fact that both SNP MEPs failed to vote in favour in the European Parliament.

In February I was elected to draft the parliamentary report on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) – an international treaty with the aim of combating Intellectual Property Rights infringements, namely counterfeiting and piracy. A petition against ACTA signed by over two million people was presented to the European Parliament in Brussels. In the UK however it attracted little, if any media attention. The European Parliament organised a public hearing on 1st of March, the S&D group held a hearing on 12th April and the European Parliament office in Edinburgh held a seminar on 13th April. Given significant concerns and potential dangers David finally recommended that the European Parliament reject the agreement. You can see the interview on my website: www.martinmep.com

There is at present a report going through the Legal Affairs committee FCO on better regulation and subsidiarity. This is reviewing how well the “yellow/orange cards” work when national parliaments’ flag up concerns about subsidiarity. MEPs are keen to hear how this may be working in the Scottish Parliament.

The International Trade Committee will put an oral question to Commissioner de Gucht regarding the Colombia FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with specific questions on human rights – the final vote on consent is scheduled for September. In ongoing FTA negotiations (India, Singapore, Malaysia) David is pushing the Commission to insist on strong Geographical Indicators to protect products like Scotch whisky.

I had meetings this week finalising my report on updating the Parliament’s rules for holding a Committee of Inquiry, and meeting other Socialist MEPs to promote the European Socialist Alternative – our vision for economic and social progress in Europe, for growth and against austerity! This is much more pleasantly relevant in the wake of Hollande’s tremendous victory on Sunday.

Concerns from myself and my colleagues caused the original draft of the Passengers Name Record (PNR) agreement with the US last year to be rejected because it didn’t meet data protection standards. This week the EP voted to approve an agreement between the EU and the USA for sharing air passengers’ personal data as part of counter-terrorism. Agreements already exist between the EU and Australia and Canada.

Finally, I am really disappointed but not surprised to see the Tories up to their old tricks in votes on LGBT rights. The EP voted on a major report on human rights in the world, with Richard Howitt MEP drafting amendments specifically on LGBT rights. Some Tory MEPs withheld their support for this while others voted outright against it.

Constituents should now agree to withhold their support from these hypocritical right-wing MEPs.

The European Parliament is building a name for itself as the consumers’ champion.

As the holiday season approaches, the European Parliament has taken action to reduce the cost of mobile phones on the Continent. We voted in the European Parliament to ensure bills on mobile phone calls for travelers in Europe will come down as from 1st July this year, 2012.

After a vote of the full session of the European Parliament in Brussels today price reductions will be in place in time for the summer holidays.

Labour Euro-MPs voted to regulate not simply the cost of making calls from abroad and receiving calls from home, but also to bring down the charges for “data roaming” when holidaymakers want to download information from the internet.

The changes should see the cost of making a call drop this year from around 30p/min to 20p/min and the cost of sending a text will fall to 7p. Further changes will follow with the cost of making a call set to fall to 12 p/min – or less – by 2014. Data roaming costs will also be capped for the first time with 1MB costing 40p.

The mobile phone companies have been ripping off holidaymakers for too long – it has got to stop.

The barrier charging different rates across national boundaries is totally artificial – phone signals don’t know they’ve crossed a border so why should you be charged more? This week’s vote will bring prices down considerably and UK citizens travelling abroad this summer will really feel the difference in their pocket. It will be cheaper to make a call, send a text or check Facebook or the football scores online.

If roaming prices have not come all the way down to domestic levels by 2016, then the European Commission will be obliged to propose additional legislation to ensure that roaming charges are identical to domestic prices.

We wanted to get rid of roaming charges altogether but unfortunately the right wing MEPs in the European Parliament supported the phone companies and we had to agree on a temporary measure.

When you’re travelling, you often want to download data, to find out about places to visit, for example. So there will be a dramatic reduction in prices particularly for internet use.

We have also set in place ‘bill-shock protection’, set at 50 Euros, so that customers are warned by text if they are approaching their limit while travelling.

Being in the European Union means you can live, work, study or holiday anywhere within the EU so you should not be charged anymore!

Before becoming a Member of the European Parliament I worked as an animal welfare campaigner. However, my election as the Labour Member of the European Parliament did not deprive me of the ability to campaign for the improvement of animal welfare: one of the Inter Groups I joined was the Animal Welfare Intergroup and one of my proudest moments is when I was able to ensure a clause in the Treaty on European Union that reclassified farm animals as ‘sentient beings’ rather than ‘agricultural products’! This has led to a great increase in the caring for farm animals.-
Last week, the Born Free Foundation released its summary report on the European Union (EU) Zoo Inquiry 2011, an investigation into the licensing and performance of zoos in 20 EU Member States. This was done during a very successful exhibition at the European Parliament which had been initiated by in collaboration with the Born Free Foundation and ENDCAP.

Despite requirements under the EU Zoo Directive that all zoos be inspected and licensed by 2005, the investigation found many zoos are still failing to meet legal obligations related to animal welfare, conservation and public education.

Following the investigations, several Member States have started making improvements to their zoo laws and related enforcement. The European Commission will soon launch a project to develop a much needed Code of Practice offering guidance to Member States on implementing and enforcing the EU Zoo Directive. Trainings for veterinarians on the welfare needs of wild animals in captivity are also underway.

One of my colleagues recently put an Oral Question to the European Commission via the Environment Committee asking what steps will be taken to ensure more effective implementation of the Zoo Directive, particularly regarding the conservation of biodiversity. This discussion took place on 26 April in ENVI with additional MEPs inquiring about enforcement, plans for targeted inspections and an inspectorate, and asking for clarification on terminology in Article 2 which allows exemptions for facilities not displaying a “significant” number of animals.

While the debate took a bit of a turn to an ideological discussion of whether or not zoos should exist, it was pulled back to the issue at hand which was inquiring about what steps the Commission planned to oversee for more effective implementation of the existing Zoo Directive. The Commission noted the upcoming project on a Preferred Code of Practice and efforts to train vets, but would not commit to plans for an Environmental Inspectorate that would cover nature conservation issues or zoos.

Clearly, there remains a need for targeted efforts in Member States to undertake major improvements to the implementation and enforcement of the Zoo Directive. Support for such efforts will be needed from the Commission, Parliament and Member States, as well as from diverse stakeholders that must come together in the common interest of ensuring zoos in the EU meet the requirements of the Directive thereby contributing to biodiversity conservation and improving the welfare of animals kept in zoos.
If you would like to read the report, please go to:
www.euzooinquiry.eu

Unemployment is the most pressing issue in the European Union right now – it is ruining peoples’ lives.

Unemployment in the eurozone rose to 10.9 per cent, up from 10.8 per cent in February, according to figures published by Eurostat today. Even worse though: youth unemployment is standing at 22.1 per cent. And although in the wider European Union the jobless rate was stable at 10.2 per cent, unemployment was up in 19 out of 27 member states compared with a year ago.

To tackle unemployment, the EU should pump more resources into the regeneration of the traditional industrial heartlands of Europe. We also need a greater emphasis in education and putting as many young people as possible through university. We must also prioritise vocational skills.

High unemployment is not just the consequence of falling demand but of a number of factors, the main one being the reduction in investment in Germany. The speed and depth of the cuts that Germany is insisting upon is causing a real social and political backlash from France to the Netherlands and across the continent. This accounts for the18 per cent of the vote won by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front in the first round of the French presidential elections, the fall of the pro-austerity Dutch government, and the “bloody nose” expected by mainstream parties in Greece when the country goes to the ballot on Sunday. The continent is witnessing a wave of anti-austerity protests on May Day yesterday.

Looking in from the outside, the Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty said eurozone countries had to define a “comprehensive and credible blueprint” for recovery. Explaining his country’s decision not to make an extra contribution to the International Monetary Fund when it sought to boost its lending power last month, he said the eurozone had “sufficient resources to tackle its sovereign debt crisis” but there had been an “unwillingness to commit them”.

Rising unemployment in periphery countries is worrying but unsurprising, The eurozone is almost suffering from a second successive GDP decline in the first quarter of 2012 and is headed for a further contraction in the second quarter, and with overall eurozone business confidence taking a renewed appreciable downward lurch in April.

The European Commission has published a paper setting out ideas for boosting employment in the EU. The Commission paper emphasised employment in health, information technology and green energy. These should be vital growth sectors, and should enjoy reduced employment taxes by switching these taxes onto pollution, property and consumption.

In order to meet the EU’s 2020 target, 17.6 million new jobs will need to be created before the end of the decade – let’s get started now!

The Left is on the march again across the European Union (EU) and the World – we are nothing if not an internationalist movement. I was pleased to hear that a new organisation was formed on International Labour Day – May Day – to promote our aims. Union Solidarity International (USi), as the new organisation is called, will encourage links with trade unions and other organisations across the world based on thematic issues such as the financial crisis, global supply chains, industrial disputes, tax evasion and off-shoring providing a social-media glue for participating trade unions and networked organisations.

Trade unions know that it is increasingly difficult to maintain a strong media presence against the backdrop of the current economic, social and political conditions. New media give us an opportunity to bypass traditional media and speak directly with people with an interest in our point of view.

USi is an organisation supported by major UK and Irish trade unions that aims to build grassroots international union solidarity using the latest technology. Get involved:
www.usilive.org

Aims

• To promote and support solidarity campaigns with trade unions and others in countries worldwide.
• To identify and propose practical solidarity initiatives and to raise additional funding for such projects.
• To encourage greater understanding of international issues within trade unions and progressive social and community organisations, and to assist in the development of effective international education.
• To campaign on solidarity activities promoting human and trade union rights.
• To promote social and cultural links between countries based on the principles of international solidarity.
Objectives
• USi intends to connect trade unionists in countries around the globe to help connect and empower workers to fight global neo-liberalism. This will lead to effective international solidarity action, through campaigns, fundraising (for e.g. health and safety equipment), web conferencing and written blogs by workers across the globe and academics, information exchange and twinning between workplaces in different countries.
• The purpose of USi is to inspire, coordinate and facilitate international trade union solidarity campaigns. We will use Constituent Relationship Management software to build a global constituency that can be mobilised quickly around an issue. We hope to build a constituency while empowering union activists to develop and drive campaigns and it will focus on trade union rights.
• While USi is not a think tank, it will benefit from the considerable expertise of some of the world’s leading progressive economists and industrial relations specialists. This means that USi will be able to develop sophisticated analyses and alternative narratives to those that dominate public discourse.
• USi will be ready to work with UK and Irish unions to develop international education and campaign communication course, but also will seek to build international demand through online campaign materials and courses that can be utilised to empower workers across the world.
See our list of supporters so far: http://usilive.org/about/usi-supporters/

Come and join us!