Conservatives in the European Parliament
European Parliament News
Here you can find an archive of all the news items that have been on this website.
Disappointment as socialists block key debate on situation in steel industry
11-Nov-2015 @ 15:0
A socialist-led coalition of MEPs has today blocked a request from Conservative MEPs for an emergency debate to be held in the European Parliament this afternoon on the situation in the steel industry.
EU spending error rate remains stable, but reform is needed, say Conservative MEPs
10-Nov-2015 @ 14:0
For the 21st year the EU Court of Auditors has given the EU's accounts only a qualified statement of assurance, with the rate of error slightly down on last year's report.
Fox: European Council must respect Cameron's four objectives on EU reform
10-Nov-2015 @ 13:0
The leader of the Conservative delegation in the European Parliament, Ashley Fox MEP, has warmly welcomed today's publication of the letter from David Cameron setting out the four key objectives for reforming the UK's membership of the EU.
The Prime Minister's letter to the European Council President Donald Tusk paves the way for talks among EU leaders ahead of a promised referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017.
Conservative MEPs table question to European Commission on steel
09-Nov-2015 @ 17:30
Conservative MEPs have tabled an Oral Question to the European Commission on the situation in the steel sector, ahead of today's extraordinary meeting of EU Ministers to discuss the crisis.
Scots MEP sees benefits of million Euro funding for Glasgow Caledonian University
04-Nov-2015 @ 17:30
Ian Duncan, Conservative MEP for Scotland, has seen first-hand the impact of 1 million Euros of research funding, which he secured for Glasgow Caledonian University students and staff.
Last week, the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted through a joint bid by Ian and Rohinton Emmanuel, Professor and Subject Leader in Sustainable Design and Construction at Glasgow Caledonian University, for research funding.
Senior MEPs write to Commission urging action on steel industry
31-Oct-2015 @ 8:0
Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom
Directorate General for Trade
Foster secures overwhelming support for report on safe use of drones
29-Oct-2015 @ 12:30
A report by Conservative MEP Jacqueline Foster on the safe use of remotely piloted aircraft systems - or drones - for non-military use, has been overwhelmingly backed by MEPs.
The first ever report by the European Parliament to deal with this exciting and constantly evolving technology seeks to ensure that any legislation brought forward by the European Commission takes a risk-based approach, without creating unnecessary red-tape for the industry.
European Parliament passes ambitious but realistic clean air targets
28-Oct-2015 @ 1:0
MEPs have voted for an ambitious set of clean air targets today by backing proposals put forward by the Conservative MEP leading on the targets for the European Parliament, Julie Girling.
The parliament in Strasbourg was voting on a proposal for a revised National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD), which forms part of the EU Clean Air Package. It puts in place new annual caps on the emissions of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and ammonia (NH3) until 2020.
Girling leads calls for Commission to scrap "dangerous" plan on GM feed
28-Oct-2015 @ 16:0
MEPs have backed ECR MEP Julie Girling today in calling on the European Commission to think again over plans to let member states unilaterally ban animal
feed made from genetically modified (GM) crops.
Mrs Girling has strongly criticised Commission proposals to give member states the freedom to restrict or prohibit the use of GM organisms in food
or feed in their territory, even if EU scientists have deemed them to be safe.
After similar votes from the Environment and Agriculture Committees, the Parliament as a whole has formally voted to reject the Commission's proposal.
However, the Commission has refused to withdraw its proposal which it believes is the best way to address disagreements among member states on the
use of GMOs.
Mrs Girling said: "The Commission's refusal to withdraw its proposal despite opposition from a huge majority of the Parliament flies in the face of
its own Better Regulation agenda.
"The EU cannot produce enough protein feed for its livestock. We rely on imports of GM feed to maintain our livestock sector.
"The Commission's proposal is dangerous as it pits politics against the agricultural sector. It side-lines science and the advice of the EU's own advisory
agencies.
"I still hope the Commission will eventually listen to the strong voice coming from the Parliament and scrap this plan which blasts a hole through
the core principles of the single market."
Conservatives vote to stop taxpayer-funded subsidy for Spanish bullfighting
28-Oct-2015 @ 14:0
As part of the vote on the EU's budget for 2016, Conservative MEPs have voted in favour of an amendment to end taxpayer subsidies for Spanish bullfighting.
The amendment, which has cross-party support, aims to stop EU funds being released from the Common Agricultural Policy for the controversial blood sport.
Conservative MEPs reject calls for inflation-busting EU budget increase
28-Oct-2015 @ 13:30
Conservative MEPs have promised to continue calls for a disciplined and restrained EU budget that provides real added value for taxpayers, despite a majority of MEPs voting today for excessive inflation-busting increases.
The parliament has voted for around €4 billion extra in payments and commitments compared to member states' own estimates for 2016, however these demands are likely to be reduced when talks with EU governments are concluded.
Conservative MEPs back final deal to end mobile roaming charges
27-Oct-2015 @ 13:45
Mobile phone roaming will end in July 2017 and will be significantly cut next summer in an agreement on telecoms laws backed by MEPs today, with the support of Conservative MEPs
Modernised package holiday rules will give greater protection to travellers, say Conservative MEPs
27-Oct-2015 @ 13:45
Travellers buying a package holidays online will now get the same protection as those buying from traditional travel agents under new EU-wide rules, backed today by Conservative MEPs.
Conservative MEPs give strong backing to PM's commitment over gender pay
26-Oct-2015 @ 20:00
The Conservative spokesman in the European Parliament on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, Julie Girling, has warmly welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement on new measures to tackle the gender pay gap.
Foster leads call for robust action against wildlife crime
21-Oct-2015 @ 16:15
The EU must take more robust action to tackle international wildlife crime, the Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, Jacqueline Foster, has said.
Conservative MEP gathers EU fishing leaders in Peterhead as discard ban and quota talks loom
19-Oct-2015 @ 10:15
The Conservative MEP for Scotland, Ian Duncan, today joined leading Dutch MEP Peter Van Dalen and the Chief Executive of pan-European Fishing body Europeche, Kathryn Stack, in Peterhead as the Demersal Discard Ban and quota talks loom large on the horizon.
Peterhead is the busiest white fish market in Europe, with over 140,000 tonnes landed each year, at an estimated value of £165m. The next phase of the discard ban, commencing in January 2016, will require fishermen to land all their catch (although not cod, which is to be included the following year), even if they exceed their allocated quotas. Ian has repeatedly called upon the Scottish Government to support fishermen with the storing, icing and transport of catch.
Girling issues warning over proposed organic food rules
14-Oct-2015 @ 11:30
ECR MEP Julie Girling has strongly criticised a proposed revision to the rules on organic farming in the EU.
Foster warns against over-regulation in major speech on aeronautics industries
14-Oct-2015 @ 11:30
Deputy leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, Jacqueline Foster, has used a major speech in Brussels today to warn of the dangers of over-regulation by the EU in the aeronautics sector.
MEPs back Conservatives' call for greater role for national parliaments to end EU democratic deficit
13-Oct-2015 @ 14:15
Conservative Legal Affairs Spokesman in the European Parliament, Sajjad Karim, has used his annual report on subsidiarity to push for a greater role for national parliaments in the EU's law-making process.
