Various ideas on how the Dublin system should be reformed or replaced have been put forward.

In this background paper by Richard Williams the pros and cons of the various proposals and a possible way forward are discussed.

The paper was initiated by Jean and her Green MEP colleagues Bodil Ceballos, Ska Keller, Judith Sargentini and Josep-Maria Terricabras.

Download ‘Beyond Dublin’ paper

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At an event yesterday in the European Parliament to launch a new report, [1] Jean Lambert said of the study:

‘This study shows, yet again, that the Government’s portrayal of EU nationals in the UK as being takers rather than givers is just not backed by evidence.’

Covering the period from 2007 – 2013, the findings from four countries: the UK, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands shows that EU migrants made a positive contribution to their respective state budgets. The total taxes paid in exceeded the total benefits received by EU migrants by between 0.2 and 0.9 % of GDP, on conservative estimates.

Directly responding to some member states, the UK included, who want to restrict the right to free movement of people in the EU, the new report from the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) [2] further showed that:

• EU migrants received, on average, 50% less in terms of social benefit expenditure than the average citizen of the countries studied

• Even when pension-related benefits and contributions are not taken into account, the net positive contribution remains for the UK

Hosting the launch event in the European Parliament, Green London MEP Jean Lambert concluded:

‘While these findings are welcome the conclusion isn’t new, and you certainly wouldn’t know it based on the reporting of the mainstream UK press.

‘If the Prime Minister really wants to reduce benefit payments, he should concentrate on ensuring people are paid decent wages so they don’t need state top-ups. Pay is a national responsibility.’

-ends-

Notes To Editors

[1] http://www.ecas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Fiscal-Impact-of-EU-migrants.pdf

[2] http://www.ecas.org/

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The Report examines two scenarios:

– the UK renegotiating new membership terms from within and

– a new relationship with the EU post-withdrawal

See attached link:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content/Documents/Open_Europe_Gaming_Europes_Future.pdf

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Download leaflet here

More on GMOs on Jean’s Issue page

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The WDM delegates updated Jean on their campaign to end excessive financial speculation on food commodity markets which has seen price volatility increase dramatically in recent years for staple goods such as maize and wheat. They also presented Jean with a photo-petition book entitled The Future of Food and Farming We Want, which contained messages from thousands of European farmers, citizens and young people outlining their positive vision of sustainable agriculture.

The Greens/EFA group at the European Parliament, of which Jean is a member, has been fighting to replace the current outdated CAP with one that supports small farmers in making the transition to sustainable agricultural practices, and ends export subsidies which lead to the dumping of agricultural products on fragile developing world markets. Capping the maximum subsidy per farm to €100,000 would free up €7 billion which could be redistributed to promote sustainable farming and long-term secure employment in rural economies. More details on the Greens/EFA vision for the CAP can be found here: http://www.greens-efa.eu/fileadmin/dam/Documents/Publications/CAP_reform/CAP_reform_EN.pdf

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The booklet features articles from Green Members of the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Committee on subjects such as youth unemployment, minimum income schemes, homelessness and gender equality.

Download here: Green Social Europe

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My experience of being at the European Parliament in Brussels has been truly enlightening and insightful in how the European political system operates. At first, the thought of trying to influence the decision-making process at European level seemed like a daunting task, however having the privilege of working with the Western Sahara Campaign (WSC) has opened my eyes to what a difference individuals can make when you sincerely believe in something.

As part of the WSC, our aim was to lobby MEPs to vote against the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) whereby on the 15th December 2011 the European Parliament was expected to vote on a one-year extension of the Protocol to the agreement. In the two days we were there, we had managed to meet with MEPs across various parliamentary groups, provided MEPs with sufficient literature of our cause, and even painstakingly posted the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) Briefing Paper to each individual MEPs’ pigeonhole – all of which were translated to their appropriate language. Although there was a lot to do in a short space of time, and not to mention the vast amount of photocopying and printing required! I can safely say none of it was laborious, in fact every part of it was worthwhile, especially when receiving positive responses from MEPs. Some of the MEPs and Parliamentary Assistants we met included: Mario De Sa – PA for Phil Prendergast MEP (S&D), Martin Callanan MEP (ECR), Emma McClarkin MEP (ECR), Jill Evans MEP (EFA), Christopher Morris PA for Julie Girling MEP (ECR), Sean de Burca PA for Jim Higgins MEP (EPP) and Laima Liucija Andrikienë MEP (EPP). What struck me was the empathy many appeared to have towards the Western Saharan cause and the knowledge people had of the region was impressive. Coming from the UK, where so little is known of Western Sahara it was really encouraging to see individuals showing real concern for Saharawis and the future of the occupied territory of Western Sahara.

The last day of our trip was rounded off with the ‘EU and Western Sahara: Trading fish – ignoring rights?’ seminar, held on 7th December and hosted by Norbert Neuser MEP (S&D). The event proved to be successful and informative, with a fantastic panel of guest speakers including Saharawi human rights activist, Ali Salem Tamek and Pal Wrange, Associate Professor at Stockholm University and former legal counsel to the Swedish government. The consensus of the panel was that the FPA was in violation of international law. Wrange reiterated the illegal annexation and occupation of the region by Morocco and that the agreement was ‘not in accordance with the wishes and the interest of the people of Western Sahara.’ Tamek also raised the lack of compliance with international law and urged the European Parliament to ‘be part of the solution, not the problem’, while rapporteur Isabella Lövin concluded the seminar stating that the ‘largest cost of extending the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement would be the credibility of the EU’.

The Verdict

After an eventful few days, being back home on the other side of the Channel, I watched with excitement as news stories started to unravel. The EU-Morocco fisheries agreement was being hotly debated and although we were prepared for the worst, none of us had quite expected the outcome would be so positive. On 15th December 2011, MEPs voted down the proposed one-year extension of the fisheries deal between the EU and Morocco by 326 to 296 votes, with 58 abstentions – we had won! Many have described this vote as a ‘remarkable victory’, and it has been. Perhaps this verdict wouldn’t have been possible without campaigning individuals and groups such as WSC, WSRW, and as put by the Free Western Sahara Network it goes to show ‘how targeted campaigning and lobbying can be effective and gives renewed energy to campaigners for justice.’

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was onboard with this campaign, especially John Gurr, Natalie Sharples, Rhian Jones, Sarah Eyckmans – it has been a pleasure to work with you all. And last but not least Jean Lambert Green MEP for enabling me to have a truly rewarding experience I will not forget.

Shabana Abdool

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Download here: European Stress test for Nuclear Power Plants

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The First European Semester and its contribution to EU2020

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Newsletter December – January 2010-2011

Heidi Hautala Newsletter

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