Graham's blog Friday 21 May 2009

Published on Fri 21st May 2010

At the Party's special conference in Birmingham last Sunday to debate the new governing coalition I was truly proud to be a Liberal Democrat. We had a first class debate about the challenges ahead; and of over 2000 members present only a dozen voted against the coalition agreement. We may have needed, as I suggested to delegates, 'the longest preparatory process in political history' (since David Steel told us in 1981 to go back to our constituencies and prepare for government); but we got there.

The start to my week was again made a misery by volcanic ash, which closed Birmingham airport on Sunday night just before I was due to leave and Bristol at 6 am on Monday at my second attempt.

One good piece of news came through on Monday about the much-maligned Common Fisheries Policy when the Commission published figures showing that restrictions on fishing activity have allowed stocks of eleven different species of fish to recover. Before you jump for joy, however, it also reported that most stocks continue to be over-fished.

In Strasbourg MEPs voted to delay consideration of a draft directive on whether to set maximum working hours for self-employed coach and lorry drivers; they are covered by tachographs anyway so I intended to vote against: but we voted to call on the 27 Social Affairs ministers to extend maternity and sickness leave rights to women who are self employed and assisting self-employed partners, sometimes currently overlooked by legislation. We also approved draft directives updating the laws on energy performance in buildings (from 2020 they will have to produce as much energy as they consume) and energy labelling of appliances (extended to cover industrial appliances such as vending machines).

Parliament also gave its opinion on reform of the CAP, voting to approve a report by Tory MEP Richard Ashworth (one of the sensible ones) calling for payments to be made only to working farmers and for reporting requirements to be made less onerous.

At the European Commission our Liberal Democrat women Commissioners have started to show their mettle. Last week Maire Geoghegan-Quinn (Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner) outlined her plans for a new EU research and innovation strategy; the details will be published in the autumn. And this week the Commissioner responsible for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, unveiled plans to make the benefits of the digital era available to many more people by creating a digital market, improving broadband access and boosting inter-operability of systems and software. I met Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou on Wednesday, who is doing wonders in supporting the EU's film industry, and invited her to visit Wells Cathedral School.

I also met Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule for a briefing on Moldova; I am Parliament's 'rapporteur' for the country and will visit in three weeks' time.

Yesterday I welcomed pupils from Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis to Strasbourg. A dynamic young French teacher there is doing great work enthusing them about the EU. This morning I visit the Taunton Association for Homeless People. This afternoon I attend the wedding of my office manager Jackie Frost (she has even prepared me my standard 'visit sheet' for the occasion!). Tomorrow I attend the regional executive committee of the western counties Liberal Democrats before travelling to Heathrow for a visit to Beijing, where I will represent the EP's Liberal group at a conference.

Next week Parliament is in recess and the week after (UK school holiday week) I will be on holiday, so I will write again on 11 June.