How Europe Can Work (Helen Foster-Grime)

Helen Foster-Grime <info@helenfostergrime.com>

How Europe Can Work

January 7, 2009 1:00 AM

Chris Davies MEP with Helen Foster-Grime - working hard in Europe for all of us

Nearly 60% of Stockport residents voted in the Congestion Charge referendum. The General Election turnout is similar. At the local elections last year, turnout varied between 30% and 50%. In June this year, you will be asked to vote for your North-West representatives for the European Parliament (MEPs/Euro-MPs). How many of us will bother? Turnout in European elections is low. Last time, in 2004, 41% of the electorate across the North-West voted. Yet, if you read some newspapers, Europe is the big issue that gets people terribly excited. So why is turnout poor?

The main issue, I believe, is that the vast majority of us do not see what the European Parliament does and have no contact with their MEPs. How many of the North-West's 9 MEPs can you name? OK, so Lib-Dem Chris Davies MEP is the easy one to get, but what about the others? No? Well they are not doing a very good job for you then, are they? Indeed, Tory MEP David Sumberg has NO office in the North-West, as he does not believe he needs to be based here to represent us, and Tory MEP Den Dover was found guilty of expenses abuse and ordered to repay over £500,000!

The Lib-Dems are pro-European. However, we do not accept that Europe should have a hand in everything. The Lib-Dems want reform, accountability and common policies, bringing about real change within the EU. Europe should be there for the big issues it truly can influence, such as cross-border immigration, tackling terrorism and international crime, and climate change. It's not there to interfere with domestic matters best dealt with by national governments.

Here's how the European Parliament should be working together on major issues. There was a development just before Christmas, which received little coverage in the UK despite its importance.

It relates to 'Carbon Capture and Storage', technology that's seen as an essential weapon in the fight against climate change, with the potential to prevent massive outpouring of CO2 emissions from power stations across the world by separating it for permanent storage underground. Crucial funding for projects was finally agreed across all 27 member states in December. This was lead by LibDem Chris Davies MEP, who as the European Parliament's chief negotiator succeeded in driving the proposals through, despite strong resistance. Without this single development many of our environmental efforts could have been wiped out by the effects of dirty power plants pumping out pollution.

If the public become more aware of these EU issues, then I believe turnout would increase. So go on, make a New Year's resolution - "I will find out more about the EU and I will vote in the European elections"