September 2011

Personal data risks falling outside EU jurisdiction

Thursday 01 September 2011

On July 5th ALDE Members from the Civil Liberties Committee Sophia in 't Veld (D66 Netherlands) Sarah Ludford (Liberal Democrat UK) Renate Weber (PNL Romania) and Alexander Alvaro (FDP Germany) questioned the European Commission about worrying evidence suggesting that US authorities can access on the basis of their national law (i.e. Patriot Act) EU personal data stored by companies operating in the EU that have headquarters or activities based in the US. Therefore de acto overruling EU Directive on Data Protection 95/46/EC.

Sarah's bulletin: 2nd September

Friday 02 September 2011

London Riots

Summer is usually a quiet time for news as Parliament goes into recess and people go abroad or take time off to unwind.  Unfortunately, as you are all very well aware, this August saw violence, looting and rioting on the streets on London and other cities.

Sarah's bulletin: 9th September

Friday 09 September 2011

Brian Paddick chosen as Lib Dem Mayoral candidate

UK helps to improve EU wide victim support

Friday 09 September 2011

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP has welcomed the Coalition Government's decision to participate in a proposed new EU law designed to improve support and protection for victims of crime across the continent. This will be the subject of a debate by MPs in the House of Commons tomorrow.

The European Commission is proposing that existing national measures be strengthened through EU-wide minimum standards so that any victim can rely on the same basic set of rights whatever their nationality and in whichever of the 27 EU countries the crime takes place.

Sarah Ludford said:

Bright prospects for UK joining EU ‘access to lawyers’ legislation

Friday 09 September 2011

There are bright prospects for Britain to shape and sign up to a new EU law guaranteeing basic rights for Britons arrested abroad according to Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP.

She is negotiating on behalf of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament the draft EU directive ensuring the availability of legal advice and consular contact for arrested people.

Commenting after last night's debate in the House of Commons on the UK's approach to this new law Sarah Ludford said:

Both 9/11 commemoration and audit of terrorism policies needed

Friday 09 September 2011

On the eve of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP Liberal Democrat European justice and human rights spokeswoman and Member of the European Parliament for London calls for rigorous analysis of anti-terrorism actions alongside remembrance of 9/11.

"Ten years on from 9/11 our first impulse must of course be renewed condemnation of 9/11 and solemn and heartfelt commemoration of the victims."

"But we must also be clear-eyed enough to look back over the last decade and assess the effectiveness and wisdom of the military and policing reactions."

EU Commission halt to Schengen disarray welcome

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford is heralding the expected announcement by the European Commission tomorrow curbing the ability of EU member states to introduce unilateral internal border controls.

The new rules would apply to the states who are members of the Schengen border-free zone (22 in EU plus Norway Switzerland and Iceland but not including UK or Ireland). Currently those countries can reintroduce internal border checks if public order is under threat and for an unlimited period of time. In June this year EU leaders asked the Commission to draft new legislation defining the 'exceptional circumstances' in which checks could be brought back.

London kettling fit case for Strasbourg

Thursday 15 September 2011

Four London residents have taken the UK to the ECtHR after they were cordoned for almost seven hours in Oxford Circus during anti-globalisation May Day protests in 2001. This will be the first time that the Strasbourg court has considered if kettling is a breach of human rights. The human rights organisation Liberty which is acting on behalf of one of the applicants George Black will argue that the practice breaches Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights the right to freedom and liberty.

Sarah Ludford said:

EU must shape up too on Democracy Day

Thursday 15 September 2011

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has called on today's UN International Day of Democracy for Europe to improve its own democratic and legislative practices as well as promoting democracy worldwide.

The European Parliament has this week in a series or reports called for: smarter regulation with simple and clear laws; more transparency; less foot-dragging by EU states in implementation and tougher enforcement; and a crackdown on corruption. MEPs' report on 'access to documents' - freedom of information - demands that EU bodies should be at the forefront of good practice and stop trying to duck FOI requests.

Sarah Ludford commented:

EU and states should root out corruption

Thursday 15 September 2011

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed a European Parliament call for much tougher EU action on corruption. Transparency International gives poor ratings to many EU states.

The European Commission recently produced a package of measures to target corruption. These included a reporting mechanism whereby the level of corruption in each EU member state would be assessed every two years.

Sarah Ludford said:

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