Marshalswick South Focus Team

Councillors, Rod Perks and Allan Witherick working with Andrew Duff MEP and Melvyn Teare for you Learn more

Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category

Anywhere in the European Union 27 member states, dialling the numbers 112 will put you through to the local emergency services – ambulance, fire brigade and police – free of charge. Yet only about 1 in 10 people in the UK know about the 112 number. In addition, all EU countries’ emergency services call centres […]

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A WEEE Problem

by awitherick on 21 February, 2011

Marshalswick South and St Albans are good at recycling, with our rates among the best in the county.  But the issue of what happens with the various items which go for recycling is something that we do keep an eye on. MEPs have recently voted on new rules for the promotion and increased recycling of […]

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Why do we care about Europe?

by awitherick on 13 February, 2011

As individuals and as a party we are sometimes asked why do we believe the UK is better in Europe. Well as much as some Euro-sceptics might like to – we can’t pull up anchor and float off to the states! We are part of the Council of Europe (with around 49 other countries) because […]

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EU Zoo Inquiry 2011

by awitherick on 1 February, 2011

The EU isn’t just about protecting people, it’s also about protecting animals. As shown by the snappily named European Council Directive 1999/22/EC. The Directive thought does do important things, it provides a framework for legislation on licensing and inspection of zoos, through to strengthening the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity and the […]

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The EU is Fishy, because it needs to be

by awitherick on 28 January, 2011

88 % of the European community fish stocks are today being unsustainably fished. It’s a startling number with extremely serious implications: Comprehensive and ambitious reforms are urgently needed if we still want to see fish on our menus in 10 years time. Europe already has too many boats chasing too few fish. If there is […]

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New rights for patients to seek healthcare abroad

by awitherick on 19 January, 2011

Several years ago Marshalswick South Liberal Democrat County Councillor Allan Siao Ming Witherick brought a motion to Hertfordshire County Council which was fighting for a European Patients Charter, supporting the work of our local MEP Andrew Duff. Now, after four years of hard campaigning by Liberal Democrats and our sister parties across Europe we’ve had […]

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Why EU should care about driving up standards

by awitherick on 16 January, 2011

We’ve all seen the price at the pump going up, but did you realise how much more efficient cars have become? New cars being sold in Britain offer more miles to the gallon than ever before, and the improvements are set to continue. Official figures reveal that an EU law approved in 2008 has led […]

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Why be in government?

by awitherick on 26 December, 2010

With the parliamentary party in government, Liberal Democrats often get asked why are they in a coalition with the Tories. Have “we” given up our principles for power? Do we agree with what the coalition government is doing? All kinds of different questions, especially in light of recent entrapment exercises with the press which showed […]

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EU wanted to know more about prescriptions…

by awitherick on 24 November, 2010

Patients must have better access to high quality information on prescription drugs in the future, MEPs decided today. The European Parliament strives for more freedom for patients who want to be informed about prescription-only drugs. The basic pillar of the legislation is to ensure the availability of objective, reliable and non-promotional information on medicines to […]

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Labour need their credit cards cut up

by awitherick on 31 October, 2010

Whilst everyone else, from individuals to governments, are trying to reduce costs and keep things on track, Labour MEPs pushed for an INCREASE in the EU budget of nearly 6% in the European Parliament. Liberal Democrat Euro-MPs voted to freeze the €130 million EU budget at 2010 levels. Labour MEPs voted against that freeze and […]

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