Jean Lambert Newsletter September/October
This newsletter is the first new-format digest of the work of Jean Lambert Green Party MEP for London, to provide a monthly summary of Jean's work to Green Party activists, constituents – and anyone else who wants to know more about her Brussels’ work, constituency visits and key campaigning issues.
Jean (3rd from left) at the Green Group meeting in Istanbul
Committees and Delegations
- Jean remains a full member and Co-ordinator to the Committee on Employment.
- Jean also remains as a substitute member of the Civil Liberties Committee. She has been assigned a high profile Report to present the European Parliament's view on how persons in need of international protection are given "managed" entry into the EU via camps in the regions of origin, support for those regions and treatment of the people living in the camps. Jean presented her first comments to the Committee and Commission in an exchange of views.
- Jean Lambert will no longer sit on the Petitions Committee but has taken a seat as a substitute member of the newly reformed Human Rights Sub Committee of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
- Recent work with the Sikh and Dalit communities will certainly be priority areas for Jean in her new Delegation to the South Asia and SAARC regions. Jean will also be a substitute member of the Japan Delegation.
Meetings and events
- From October 18-21 the Green Group held a high level meeting in Istanbul to debate Turkey's role in the EU. Jean spoke at a debate on Environment and environmental movements in Turkey - ways to connect. The Group felt that Turkish accession is possible but only if certain requirements can be met, particularly with regards to environment and human rights.
- Jean went strait from Istanbul to Weston super Mare for the Green Party Conference. This gave her the opportunity to reconnect with the Party members. Among other meetings Jean was on the panel for fringe events on the Green Islands Network, wind power and a meet the MEPs session. Jean would have liked to have spoken at the debate on the Constitution which was unfortunately scheduled for prior to her arrival.
- Jean hosted a meeting entitled "The Unfinished Enlargement". The event was based on a report published by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) an organisation which aims to defend the fundamental right to equal treatment.
- Speaking at a cross party event organised by the Greens on the right to wear conspicuous religious symbols, Jean gave a strong speech stating that the new regulations were misguided and could only fuel anti-Islamic views.
- Jean was a panel member of the re-launch of the Age inter-group. In her capacity as Vice President, Jean outlined that discrimination could occur at any age.
STRASBOURG - October Session
For information on the Commission proposal see Current affairs section below.
In addition to Group and voting activities Jean also had several meetings including the following:
- Jean's Report was debated in the Civil Liberties Committee and later with the shadow rapporteurs.
- Jean met with Landmine Action and its European Consortium. To discuss anti-personnel mines, anti-vehicle mines, explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions in detail. Jean agreed that without Parliament action, we would put forward a Written Declaration on anti-vehicle mines.
- Jean received a call from Patricia Hewitt regarding the Working Time Directive and why the current UK government position to maintain the opt-out and extended reference period is a good idea, Jean was not persuaded (see her Flexible Working Report).
Constituency Activities
- In response to Jean's request, the European Commission have now opened an investigation into the planned development on Erith Marshes in Bexley.
- Jean is liaising with her Green London Assembly colleague Jenny Jones, chair of the London Food Board and responsible for drafting the London Food Strategy, on healthy cities and food poverty.
- Following Jean's intervention, Orange and O2 have pulled out of erected mobile phone masts on a school in Harrow and in a church spire in Redbridge.
- Jean participated as a panelist in the final round of A Vision of Europe one of a series of public-access seminars. The seminar clarified the range challenges that lie ahead for the European Union countries. The resulting discussion paper will be widely disseminated to relevant committees, academics and other bodies.
- On the occasion of the Economic Social Forum, Jean hosted two seminars The Economics of Energy and The Role of the Market in Health Provision. Fellow Green MEPs and guest speakers took part in these well attended seminars as well as a rally entitled Taming the Corporations. More information can be found on Jean's website.
- Jean attended the TUC conference on Poverty at Congress House, London
Jean has published a new report on flexible working. The report explores what we really mean by "flexible working" and exposes that it is often used by UK employers to force employees to give up their pension rights and work the longest hours in Europe. The publication of the report was timed to coincide with the TUC annual conference and with a European Commission proposal to limit the UK's opt-out of working time.
Current Affairs - This new section explains Jean's take on current events.
The Withdrawal of the Commission:
European affairs have taken the spotlight recently in the national media following the presentation and then withdrawal of the new Commission.
Prior to the hearings, Jean met informally with the Nominee Commissioner for Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla. Jean highlighted the key areas that she wanted to see addressed by the Commission in the next mandate. These include sustainable development, working time and anti-discrimination. She also mentioned the greening of training and alternative solutions in transport.
On the basis of the Hearings it became apparent that the democratically elected Parliament had grave misgivings about particular members of the nominee Commission. Certain Consequently, at the eleventh hour, the Commission President José Manuel Barroso was forced to withdraw the proposed Commission saying that he needed more time but that he could be counted on to represent the views of the Parliament. We await his new proposal.
For Jean there were clearly errors all along the line, from the original nominations, in the allocation of posts and a total misreading of the Civil Liberties Committee vote. This was reflected by the high number of constituency letters we received expressing disapproval with Rocco Buttiglione being the most controversial.
For Jean Lambert, this is a question of competence. The views he holds on certain issues could be held by someone of any religion or none: the title of his religious belief is not the issue. The problem is that he has responsibilities under the Treaties which he has made clear run counter to his conscience and he has not shown us how he will handle this. Indeed, his behaviour since designation demonstrates that he does not even see that he has a problem.
There are also problems with some other Commissioners designate in terms of competence or conflicts of interest so even without Buttiglione, Jean would still have voted against this Commission had a vote taken place.
Parliament should probably have pushed for a vote in order to provide greater clarity and a clear mandate for Barroso to demand the withdrawal of certain nominations. He should now organise an extensive reshuffle of portfolios to deal with all the issues raised about conflict of interest and competency. Ideally we would now get an environment Commissioner with a total commitment to sustainable development!
The most important conclusions to be drawn from this series of events is that the current system of nomination and assent must be improved upon. Member states should offer three possibilities each and Parliament should be able to reject or accept on an individual basis. That way, we could see more women in the Commission, the President could have a way out of some the difficulties posed by single nominations and Parliament would not have to reject competent people as well as the questionable. Now, we need Council to see sense as well as Barroso.
3-4th Living to Work - Working to Live Conference Dublin
4th Rally for the Planet at the US Election Lincoln's Inn Fields
8th WWF - UK Family Event London
10th Green Leaders Meeting Brussels
Launch of the Anti Racism Intergroup Brussels
11th Services Directive Hearing Brussels
15-18th European Parliament Plenary Session Strasbourg
19th EAPN General Assembly Netherlands
AGM North Dorset Green Party Dorset