December 2001

FERRY GOOD WORK BY MEPS

Scotland's eight MEPs are standing up to be counted over the proposal to start a new ferry service between Rosyth on the Firth of Forth and Zeebrugge in Belgium. The Commission is examining the EU's own rules on competition in connection with a proposed freight facility grant for constructing the terminal for the ferry service at Rosyth. My fellow MEPs and I have made it clear to the Commissioner that we cannot stand by and let this project founder. The preferred ferry operator - Superfast of Greece - has been selected in a competitive tendering procedure and Forth Ports, who own the port at Rosyth,have gone through all the hoops to get the service - due to start in May next year - up and running. The Scottish Executive and the UK government have given their backing to the grant to support the work on the terminal - but the sticking place is now Europe and time is running out. If the grant is not received, the operator could pull out and Scotland could lose out on this vital commercial development. The service will take thousands of lorries off the road between Scotland and England and so improve the environment. It will be a boost for Scottish exporters - and also for our flagging tourist trade. The pity is perhaps that the necessary permissions were not sought first - a case of enthusiasm for a good economic development plan running ahead of slow-moving bureaucracy.

FIGHTING TERRORISM - EUROPE FIGHTS BACK

Terrorism, trafficking in humans and drugs have dominated the thoughts of politicians and public alike this year and the European Parliament is no exception. The Parliament is taking the fight against such crimes seriously by authorising much closer co-operation of police forces, customs and intelligence services across the EU. The legislation will allow two police forces from different members states to set up a joint investigative team for a specific purpose, for a limited time, functioning under the law of the member state in which it operates. Any member of the investigative team, even if they are not a national of the state in which the operation takes place, will be seen as an official of that state for the duration of the operation. This could mean that a French Gendarme, as part of such a team working in Britain, would be seen as a legitimate official operating under British law and supervision. Similarly, a British bobby could operate in France. The flexible nature of the measures will greatly increase the effectiveness of the fight against terrorism and other vicious crime. This new co-operation will give the powers necessary to get the job done and help to rid Europe of many of the fears which haunt us.

A LARGER, MORE SECURE EUROPE?

In a world less predictable since September 11, an enlarged Europe could help create stability beyond its new borders through developing economic activity with countries such as Russia, Ukraine and countries in the Balkans and around the Mediterranean. Negotiations with the candidate countries have been ongoing for some time and the first new members could join the EU before 2004. Most of the countries concerned have been making determined efforts to meet the political and economic criteria and we could see nations like Poland being among the first to join.

A BLEARY CHRISTMAS?

MEPs from Scotland and across Europe are wholly dependent upon air services to get to and from work. The reduction in schedules since September 11 and especially the closure of Sabena have had a drastic effect - as they have also had for business people and tourists. I now have to leave home at 4.45am to catch connections to Strasbourg. MEPs look ever more bleary on Mondays in Brussels and Strasbourg. However, Christmas approaches and we will have three weeks with no planes or airports - a great relief! I hope you, too, will have a peaceful, happy and refreshing Christmas break and be reinvigorated to meet the demands of 2002.