Monthly Archives: November 2007

A Disheartening Tale

Posted on November 28, 2007 by

At a lunch today sponsored by the EuroCommerce Business Group, and organised by my good colleague Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, I heard Commission Director Xavier Prats Monné (sic), of the Unemployment Directorate, announce that “Flexicurity” will be the main theme of  … Continue reading →

Posted in Flexicurity | 2 Comments

What you need to know about the Renamed EU Constitution

Posted on November 27, 2007 by

Flying to Brussels this month, I sat next to an industrial psychologist on her way to Barcelona.  We fell into conversation, and she remarked that the Lisbon Treaty (a.k.a. the Renamed Constitution) was too difficult for the average punter to … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution | 2 Comments

Scared to Death

Posted on November 27, 2007 by

The last twenty years have seen a succession of media scare stories, which have all followed a remarkably similar trajectory.  They start with a scientific fact, or observation, or conjecture.  They are picked up by the media, whose job is … Continue reading →

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EU enlargement: good or bad?

Posted on November 22, 2007 by

A constituent recently wrote to me about EU enlargement, expressing concern about new accession states with porous borders to the East and South.  I replied as follows:   Good question about dodgy accession states.  The Conservative Party is pro-enlargement, on … Continue reading →

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Letter I’ve sent to the Daily Telegraph’s Environment Editor Charles Clover

Posted on November 21, 2007 by

Dear Charles,   I was surprised to read in your piece in the DT yesterday that “no politician from a British party would side with the flat earthers” (in your charming phrase) in the climate debate.  I am afraid you … Continue reading →

Posted in Telegraph | 3 Comments

EU Fisheries disaster

Posted on November 21, 2007 by

Today the press have picked up on the story about how much fish is being wasted due to rules making fisherman throw their catch back once they have landed it, even though the fish have died. I took the time … Continue reading →

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EU Emissions Trading: Building on failure

Posted on November 21, 2007 by

The EU is proposing to extend its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to the aviation industry.  Below is a recent piece I have just written for an aviation magazine which I thought I would share here on the blog:- There are … Continue reading →

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