As part of a new feature on joehiggins.eu, myself and my colleagues in the Brussels office will be publishing regular reports on important events, activities, issues and votes in the European Parliament.
Some reports have already been published on meetings organised by the GUE/NGL parliamentary grouping such as the important gathering of European postal workers as well as the campaign to free Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Below you will find the first report on significiant issues and votes taking place in the Plenary sessions of the Parliament.
Albertini and Danjean reports on EU Defence and Foreign Policy
There were two reports voted on in the Parliament this week that were concerned with EU foreign policy and the militarisation of the EU.
These reports made a series of recommendations that if implemented would be a big step towards turning the EU into a global military power. The reports favoured further co-operation between NATO and the EU including increased EU involvement in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
The Danjean report also “supports more effective and flexible use of the battle groups” and for greater spending on military goods including ”the establishment of a competitive European industrial and technological defence base and an open transparent European market for defence equipment.”
Disgracefully, Labour Party and Fine Gael MEPs, on one of the votes on these reports, voted in favour of the establishment of a permanent EU military control that would facilitate closer co-operation between NATO and the EU.
Apart from an abstention from Fine Gael on one of the reports, this militaristic and imperialist agenda was backed up by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour MEPs. This clearly raises questions about pledges of these parties during Lisbon referendum debate about respecting Ireland’s ‘neutrality’. It also vindicates the arguments made by Joe Higgins and the Socialist Party during the Lisbon Treaty debate about the treaty facilitating the militarisation of the EU.
International Trade and Human Rights in Colombia and Sri Lanka
This month there was a report adopted by the Parliament that dealt with “Generalised System of Tariffs.” These are a set of favourable trade terms that the EU gives to some poorer countries. One of the conditions in them is that the countries concerned must comply with human rights standards.
Recently this status was suspended for Sri Lanka by the European Commission pending an investigation into human rights abuses. Incredibly, Colombia still enjoys these trade terms despite widespread abuse of human rights in the country.
Joe Higgins put down amendments calling for a full investigation into these abuses. In particular the amendments called for an investigation into the recent discovery of a mass grave of government oppositionists in Colombia. Joe Higgins also put down an amendment calling for community organisations, NGOs and trade unions to control the monitoring and reporting of human rights issues.
Unfortunately, despite previous pledges of being in favour of human rights in Colombia other Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil MEPs voted against these amendments. An amendment that did mention human rights in Colombia and Sri Lanka was however adopted which was welcomed.
Click here to see the GUE/NGL Press statement on this matter.
Goldstone Report on Gaza
The Goldstone report was accepted by the Parliament this week. The report is a UN report that investigated the situation in Gaza following the Israeli war last year and its blockade of Gaza over the last 15 months. Joe Higgins voted in favour of the report as it highlighted the horrific conditions suffered by ordinary people in Gaza and called for the immediate and unconditional opening up of the borders.
For an “explanation of vote” click here.
How the Irish MEPs voted
Click here to see how Irish MEPs voted on some of these issues.
Video of Joe’s speeches in this plenary
Explanation of vote – financial transactions tax
Generalised System of Tariffs debate
CHECK OUT OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:
- Report from the plenary session of the European Parliament (May 2010)
- Report from plenary session of the European Parliament (June 2010)
- Update from the European Parliament
- Joe Higgins MEP lashes coalition of establishment parties for Presidency of European Parliament
- Report from the “Women and the Economic Crisis” meeting in the European Parliament
