February 2011

EU air passenger data scheme raises many questions

Wednesday 02 February 2011

The European Commission has proposed a mandatory system to oblige airlines to hand over reservation and payment details of passengers on EU-bound flights to counter terrorism and serious crime.

The EU already allows the US Australia and Canada to oblige airlines departing from the EU to pass over these Passenger Name Records (PNR). This new system would only apply to flights arriving from or departing to somewhere outside the EU with a review after 2 years to decide whether it should apply to intra-EU flights.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

LibDem Euro-MPs tackle toxic electronic waste dumping

Thursday 03 February 2011

New measures to promote the recycling of millions of tonnes of electronic waste have now been approved by MEPs in Brussels. At the moment only one third of this toxic electrical waste mountain is properly recycled.

Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment - illustration

90% of Britons don’t know about 112 European emergency number

Friday 11 February 2011

Today 11th February 2011 or '11/2' marks European 112 Day and the 20th anniversary of the European emergency number being put into place.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford a supporter of the campaign to raise awareness about the number said:

"Anywhere in the EU's 27 member states dialling the numbers 112 will put you through to the local emergency services - ambulance fire brigade and police - free of charge."

"Shockingly however 90% of the UK population don't even know the 112 emergency number exists. Given the number of Britons travelling abroad every year that really is worrying. More must be done to raise awareness of this number that works at home and abroad."

ALDE rejects politicised debate on the European Arrest Warrant in the wake of Assange extradition trial in the UK

Monday 14 February 2011

During today's resumption of the plenary session the Eurosceptic group in the European Parliament tried to change the agenda asking to include an oral question on the "use and misuse" of the European Arrest Warrant in relation to the ongoing extradition case of Wikilieaks founder Julian Assange.

Vans to get greener thanks to Euro CO2 standards

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Euro-MPs today approved new Carbon Dioxide emissions limits for new vans paving the way for greener vans in years to come.

This follows ambitious legislation pioneered in the European Parliament in 2008 which set targets for the CO2 emissions of passenger cars.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"Greener less polluting vans are a win not just for the climate in the form of lower Carbon Dioxide emissions but getting more miles to the gallon will save businesses money too!"

"This new law takes a carrot and stick approach: there will be penalties for manufacturers who miss the targets but also rewards for car-makers who build highly efficient vehicles."

Migration help must not mean ducking of asylum responsibilities

Tuesday 15 February 2011

MEPs have raised with Liberal home affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström the pressures on the EU's asylum system such as the difficulties Greece and Italy are having in dealing with a mass influx of migrants.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that asylum-seekers arriving via Greece but moving on to other Member States such as the UK can no longer be returned to Athens as foreseen by the EU's procedures because they will badly treated.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

Last remnants of Labour’s hated ID card scheme crushed to pieces

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Sarah Ludford has welcomed the destruction of the last remaining hard drives of the Labour government's National Identity Register the super-database that would have formed the backbone of their hated ID card scheme.

The last hard drives were fed into a huge industrial shredder in Essex on Thursday 10 February 2011 - see video below.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford and long-time data protection campaigner commented:

Real or fake medicines can mean life or death

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Euro MPs today passed new legislation to protect the public against the ever-increasing number of fake medicines that are making their way into the legal supply chain including on the internet.

The European Parliament is calling for all prescription medicines to have safety features like a seal or serial number and for medical supply firms to be legally obliged to check that their goods are genuine. But cheap everyday medicines like aspirin will not be covered by these rules as the risks of criminal networks faking them are very small.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is strongly involved with diabetes and has sought to raise awareness regarding the risks of counterfeits like for insulin. She said:

Press and other freedoms: EU states must be kept up to mark

Thursday 17 February 2011

Liberal Euro-MPs have scored a significant victory after the Hungarian government agreed to change its media law.

This law threatened to prejudice press freedom by requiring 'balanced information' and making it illegal to 'cause offence' and by extending government controls too wide.

The Liberal (ALDE) group in the European Parliament have for months led the pressure which prompted the European Commissioner for communications Liberal Neelie Kroes to declare the Hungarian legislation non-compliant with EU provisions on broadcasting. ALDE will agree to postpone but not cancel a European Parliament resolution on this subject.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

Thames Water set to avoid King’s Stairs Gardens construction

Tuesday 22 February 2011

On 1 Nov 2010 Sarah Ludford visited two proposed construction sites in Bermondsey for the Thames super-sewer to hear representatives from Thames Water listen to local residents' concerns about the planned work.

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