online diary of Richard Corbett MEP

November 2003

Saturday 1 November

Anne (my wife)'s birthday. Despite the weather, we brave the elements for a trip to the seaside and walk in the dunes, followed by dinner in a Moroccan restaurant.

Tuesday 4 November

Day for lots of talks to visitors: first the “Project Fullemploy”, then Labour candidates and finally Local Government Association.

In between, interesting briefing from a top pollster: apparently the government is in dire straits, but will be saved by the unpopularity of probable new Tory leader Michael Howard.

Wednesday 5 November

Miss fireworks by virtue of being in Brussels where Guy Fawkes is not a well-known figure (despite having stayed in Maastricht before setting off to London for the gunpowder plot). Most fellow European countries set off their fireworks on a day that marks national independence or a democratic revolution. They are somewhat puzzled as to why we mark an attempt to blow up our parliament!

More visitors: Swansea University , Industry & Parliament Trust, academics, Kevin Curran (the new leader of the GMB, my trade union), the NSPCC and the Food & Drink Federation.

Evening debate in Parliament on the IGC in which I speak, warning against some of the proposals for treaty change coming from the finance ministers.

Thursday 6 November

I speak to a meeting of representatives of the governments of the German Länder (regional governments). Bavaria , Brandenburg, Bremen and the others have a significant role in Germany's European policy making – one that Yorkshire can only dream of at present.

We vote in Parliament to send back to committee the Commission's proposal for a directive on consumer credit, which has caused much concern to credit unions, among others.

Afternoon and evening meeting of Parliament's constitutional committee with representatives from national parliaments to discuss progress in the negotiations on the new constitution. Many fear that the draft treaty will unravel as more and more governments table amendments to the draft constitution.

Friday 7 November

Back to Yorkshire in time to open the event in Bradford 's Millenium Square to mark European Year of the Disabled. Organised by GMB, the event brought together organisations working with all kinds of disability who had stalls and information points and many volunteers at the event. After my speech, I get the chance to admire some of their work. The commitment and dedication of many of these people is inspiring.

Evening to Shipley CLP meeting in Bingley. The forthcoming opening of the relief road is about to transform Bingley's town centre now snarled up with seemingly permanent traffic. Chris Leslie , the local MP, was crucial in securing that the government re-instated this scheme.

Tuesday 11 November

Today the European Parliament was “invaded” by representatives from disability organisations across Europe . These were, however, most welcome invaders. Using the Chamber of Parliament itself, and conducting their debates not only with the usual interpretation into the various languages but also sign interpretation into each language. They debated for two days the full range of issues facing disabled people across our continent. The EU has adopted Europe-wide laws outlawing discrimination on the grounds of disability, but many of the practical challenges they face are in their daily lives at local level, and it is useful to exchange experience and best practice. At the same time it portrays our debating Chamber in a strikingly different light.

Later debate on radio Leeds with an irate farmer who the Euro-sceptics have persuaded that the European Commission want to abolish British yoghurt. Whatever will they come up with next? Just to be doubly sure, I check out with the European Commission that there is indeed no proposal to this effect. Later in the day I am reassured by an NFU official that there is nothing in this story.

Later the EPLP (along with the rest of the Socialist Group) decide to vote against the Port Services Directive which, if it went through, would open pilotage services to competition (jeopardising safety) and would allow ship owners to bring their own workforce with them to unload their ships (jeopardising jobs in ports). Parliament has not managed to negotiate a satisfactory bargain with the Council and we are therefore set to reject the legislation outright.

Wednesday 12 November

To London to address the National Council for voluntary organisations at their conference at Church House, Westminster . Considerable positive interest in the European Constitution. It is always striking how people who are actively involved in organisations tend to be more aware and knowledgeable of what the European Union does and are invariably more positive.

Back to Brussels just in time for the presentation at the British Embassy by Yorkshire Forward. Representatives from regions across Europe , including many potential investors, attend this highly successful event.

Thursday 13 November

In the morning speak in the Socialist Group meeting on the Port Services Directive and then off to the European Strategy Board of Yorkshire Forward which is, exceptionally, meeting in Brussels where the discussion focuses on the future of European Regional funding for Yorkshire.

Afternoon, speak in panel of different parties on the subject of the constitution at a conference organised by the Italian radicals and then to a meeting of representatives from all of Europe 's socialist parties to discuss the mid-term blues of the inter-governmental negotiations on the constitution. Still much consternation about the amendments suggested by the Finance Minsters.

Dinner with Robin Cook, Giuliano Amato, Poul Rasmussen (former Italian and Danish Prime Ministers) and Ruari Quinn, former Leader of the Irish Labour party.

Friday 14 November

Lecture to Manchester University 's law and political science faculties on the draft European constitution and then over to Sheffield and then Rotherham, the latter with many enthusiastic Labour party members about organising the campaign for next year's European elections!

Monday 17 November

Strasbourg again. The town is, of course, beautiful: cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, gothic spires and riverbank restaurants. Great for tourists and visitors, such as the group of Doncaster sixth-formers I speak to in the afternoon. But beauty isn't a criterion for the location of a Parliament – if it were, we'd be in Venice (spoiling it in the process!) and the House of Commons would be in York (ditto).

In fact, it's a grubby deal brokered by John Major at the Edinburgh summit in 1992 that forces us, for four days a month, to abandon our perfectly adequate buildings in Brussels, and traipse across Europe to a town remote from the other EU institutions and exceedingly difficult to get to from most places in Europe.

What's more, the British tabloids – when they deign to refer to the European Parliament - insists that this terrible waste is all the fault of the MEPs. If only. If we were given the choice, most MEPs would scrap Strasbourg meetings immediately. Unfortunately, the matter is one for governments, by unanimity - meaning France has a veto on changing the situation.; something that defenders of the veto system would do well to remember!

Tuesday 18 November

Debate on the Commission's programme for 2004 - the nearest equivalent to the Queen's speech, but without the pomp and ceremony. Also without the same political significance, as the Commission can only propose legislation, while Council (national ministers) and Parliament dispose. The debate is in fact overshadowed by an attack on Prodi by Pottering, the leader of the Christian Democrats (including the UK Conservatives). His oratorical flourish is somewhat undermined when he claims that his group is 100% behind him and Roger Helmer (Tory Eurosceptic MEP) shouts out "no we're not"!

The debate also drifts off into the Eurostat scandal. This statistical agency based in Luxembourg has apparently had some extremely dodgy accounting practices which have recently come to light. Although the Commission acted as soon as it became aware of this, and the events in question pre-date the Kinnock reforms (indeed pre-date this Commission), there are legitimate questions to ask regarding why it didn't come to light earlier, and whether the anti-fraud office should tell Commissioners when it's investigating staff, even of semi-autonomous agencies. The staff in question have been suspended, but the Tories want the head of a Commissioner to roll and are gunning for Neil Kinnock, even though Eurostat isn't in his remit.

Meetings with UK minister Andrew Smith, EPLP Bureau and a meeting with free church leaders visiting the Parliament (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterean, etc).

At question time, I ask Mario Monti, Commissioner for Competition, why the world's longest standing monopoly, De Beers, has never been challenged by the world's strongest competition authority, the Commission. It seems that De Beers is tightening its restictive practices and I urge the Commission to open an investigation. My question seems to cause quite a stir, judging by the number of phone calls afterwards from the press (Financial Times, Bloomberg and journalists in Belgium and Israel).

Escape from Parliament about 9pm.

Wednesday 19 November

Early start for an 8 a.m. meeting of the inter-partyHome | Photos | Links | Contact group on the IGC, on which I represent the Socialist Group, to discuss the tactics of Parliament's representatives.

Votes in Parliament see us defeat the Christian Democrats (Conservatives) on their attempts to impose a ban on research using stem cells. The many constituents who have written to me on behalf of sufferes of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease will be pleased!

Lunch with a visiting delegation from Kirghistan.  Curious to see Tory MEP Balfe give them a complete set of newly-minted euro coins as a present!

Routine meetings rest of afternoon are tediously time-consuming. Dinner in the evening with the American Chamber of Commerce means that I miss seeing Holland beat Scotland 6-0 in the European Championship Qualifier.

Thursday 20 November

Another great victory over the right. By a narrow majority, Parliament votes down the proposed Port Services Directive, which would have opened up to unrestricted competition port services such as pilotage, where we felt that local knowledge is vital for safety and for the environment. It would have also allowed shipowners to bring their own workers with them tounload their ships at the expense of local labour. British ports (including Humber ports) and trade unions alike were opposed to this proposal, but the Conservative and Liberal Democrat MEPs voted in favour.

Friday 21 November

Back on the first flight from Brussels to Leeds-Bradford airport. Interesting conference of the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries & Archives held at the National Coalmining Museum. Then to Wakefield to see Jerry Nelson, regional secretary of the GMB trade union, before making my way to Broughton, near Brigg, to help in the Council by-election to try to regain the seat that Labour lost by one single vote in May, but where a court has ordered a re-run of the ballot. In the evening, give a talk to Brigg & Goole CLP, before wearily driving back to Saltaire to plough my way through the week's correspondence from constituents and others.

Saturday 22 November

When I reserved a ticket from Manchester airport several weeks ago, I hadn't thought that it was Rugby World Cup Final just at the very time I'm due to travel! I get to the airport early to be able to watch the first half in the lounge, where I join a merry band of nail-biting spectators huddled around the screen. Everyone is glued to the screen until the last second they can get away with and still catch their plane. Never have I heard the public address system call so many final calls!

I watch England claw their way back from the initial Australian try into a safe lead at half time, and get on my plane reasonably assured that they have things under control and I have seen the key part of the match. Only later do I find out what I missed...!

Monday 24 November

Meeting in Brussels of the EP's Constitutional Affairs Committee, together with members of national Parliaments. The UK delegation led by Donald Anderson MP, Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. Discussion focus on the talks in the Intergovernmental Conference on the proposed new constitution for Europe – talks which currently seem deadlocked.

Tuesday 25 November

Constitutional Committee continues, but this time looking inter alia at the European Parliament's internal rules. Several reforms have been suggested and I have been asked to draft proposals. This will clearly make me the subject of all conversations in the pubs and clubs of Yorkshire (!).

Meeting with the UEFA top brass including the Chief Executive, Gerhard Aigner, to discuss the articulation between European Union law and football – a hot subject ever since the Bosman judgment. I raised the issue of how UEFA rules are doing nothing to counter the trend of all wealth, power and trophy winning ability being concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer clubs. In a week in which Leeds United looks as though it could go under, I point out that (with one exception) only two teams have won the English league in the past 10 years. Is England going the same way as Scotland (Celtic and Rangers dominate completely), Portugal (Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon), Holland (Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven), Spain (Real Madrid, Barcelona) and several others? The financial system is skewed towards enormous returns for the clubs that reach the final stages of European trophies, thereby making them more likely to repeat and continue their success – while the rest go under.

Then to a “Brewers of Europe” reception to hear about the concerns of local breweries across Europe, of which Yorkshire has a notable share.

Wednesday 26 November

First to the “Yorkshire Embassy” in Brussels – the office maintained by the RDA and the Regional Assembly, to talk to its Director, Paul Wardle on how to improve the impact made in Brussels by that office. Then a talk to visiting students from York University and an interview on BBC Look North on the issue of the British plane-spotters arrested in Greece who have still not received their bail money back, although it's now a year since they were acquitted.

In fact, today is a big media day as I also took part in a debate for BBC Parliament channel and BBC News 24 on the proposed Constitution and on the EU stability pact, where I am pitted against German Christian Democrat Elmar Brok, Yorkshire Tory Tim Kirkhope and a right wing MP from Poland. Then to do radio interviews for Radio Humberside and Bradford Community Broadcasting.

Evening dinner with Lucy Powell, the new Director of Britain in Europe. She is upbeat as the organisation has received a lot of new support and donations and will be continuing to make the case for Europe and the euro to counter some of the euro-sceptic mythology that is put about by UKIP/BNP and their allies.

Thursday 27 November

Speak to West Yorkshire Women's Institute visiting Brussels and show them around the Parliament. A lively, curious lot anxious to find out for themselves what goes on in the EU.

Onto the Global Progressive Forum meeting with Robin Cook and Colin Challen , MP for Morley & Rothwell.

Friday 28 November

In the morning go to the Alhambra theatre in Bradford to see The Life of Pi. I'd like to praise the efforts of Bradford's Twisting Yarn Theatre, the theatre-in-education company based at the Alhambra, who pulled off a major coup and secured the exclusive global stage rights to the 2002 Booker Prize-winning novel ‘Life of Pi' by Yann Martel. The European Union's raison d'etre is promoting unity in diversity and I was delighted to see this happening here in Bradford.

Then to Leeds University to meet the Pro-Vice Chancellor and other top brass to discuss the future of the “Jean Monet Centre” which co-ordinates the European studies of various faculties in the University. Leeds University 's prestige on these matters extends across Europe.

Evening off to Pudsey CLP and Shipley CLP.