Speeches & Parliamentary Questions
.JPG)
Parliamentarians perform many roles - they legislate, they supervise the executive and the budget, and they represent the views of their electorate and seek to lead and influence opinion. They should also, in my view, stand up for the national interest and particularly local interests. MEPs are no different from MPs in this respect. We can table questions to the Council, where British Government Ministers sit, and to the European Commission, which has its own quasi-governmental powers, and which initiates almost all EU legislation. We can also write directly to Government Ministers and other authorities.
Below you can find direct links to my most recent speeches at the European Parliament. Unlike at the Palace of Westminster, debate in Brussels and Strasbourg is strictly curtailed, and regrettably I am usually able to speak for only one to two minutes on what are often very important issues
Videos of my speeches can also be found through the links beneath.
Speeches
-
Explanation of Vote - Situation in Mali
April 2012
While I voted in support of the overall resolution on the situation in Mali I voted against the paragraph concerning a possible CSDP mission to provide support to the Malian Army.
read more... -
Explanation of Vote - Burma
April 2012
I am, of course, strongly supportive of the process of democratic change which has been taking place in Burma over the past year.
read more... -
Explanation of Vote: Howitt Report on Human Rights in the World
April 2012
I am a strong supporter of genuine human rights and have campaigned vigorously for them in regard, for example, to Burma and Zimbabwe - but there is no mention of either country in the Report.
read more...
Read more Speeches
Parliamentary Questions
-
EU funding for Portugal, the Irish Republic, Italy, Greece and Spain
November 2011
read more... -
Repatriation of illegal migrants
October 2011
read more... -
Net contributors to EU budget
October 2011
read more...
Read moreParliamentary Questions
eDispatch
Have you seen the results from Geoffrey's latest "Dispatch" questionnaire? 97% of respondents wanted to see a major change in Britain's EU membership...
