MEP calls for improvement in region's influence over EU laws

4.02.28pm GMT Thu 31st Jan 2008

Bill Newton Dunn (Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands) appeals to improve the East Midlands' influence over EU laws. He underlines that this is an urgent matter for the region, since its interests are currently at stake and need to be pushed further forward.

Speaking at the East Midlands Regional Assembly in Melton Mowbray on Friday 1st February 2008, Bill Newton Dunn will say:" With the wanton destruction of this Assembly, the consequent greater centralisation of power in Britain by the Labour government, and the regrettable reduction in Britain's democracy, it becomes ever more important to build good links between our region's Euro-constructive councillors and its two pro-Europe constructive MEPs."

Bill Newton Dunn stresses the importance of good communication between the region's representatives and the EU: "The region's office in Brussels, EMREO, may become the only surviving link between me and you. EMREO will therefore assume great responsibility for keeping the link open and for facilitating good two-way communication. If our councillors wish to influence future EU laws - and, since they and their councils will be directly affected by them, it would be lackadaisical if they did not - we all in this Assembly have to devise a way to enable councillors to be informed of impending EU laws, and for them to be able to communicate their views and to suggest amendments to the two MEPs."

The European Parliament's ongoing committee work, scrutinising and amending proposed laws is given in full detail at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees.do?language=EN

The European Commission's press service has issued a summary of its next six months at http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=AGENDA/08/1&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en