Bill Newton Dunn our MEP has sent in an update about what is happening in the European Parliament. Although this is news from outside our area, he is our local MEP and some of you might like to read about what he is doing.
BORDER CONTROLS
With the economic recession and with the Arab democracy movements and civil-wars, the movement of refugees has moved near the top of Europe’s agenda. Italy is complaining that it is suffering from a wave of immigrants in boats from North Africa, to its southern island Lampedusa – and that other Europeans are not helping to pay the costs. Denmark’s government has announced that intends to re-establish controls at its own borders.
CLONED FOODS
Negotiations to agree a new law between the two EU legislative chambers, Parliament (representing the people) and Council (representing the 27 national governments), have broken down. For full detail click here.
LABELLING OF FOODS
The contentious committee stage of Second Reading has passed – with a final debate and vote planned for early July. Meanwhile, talks have begun with the other chamber, the Council, to search for a compromise.
BARONESS ASHTON UNDER FIRE
Given the responsibility of setting up the EU’s new External Action Service and EU embassies around the world, she has been under fire for not achieving enough and not fast enough. Although she is the equivalent of Hilary Clinton in the USA, she does not have all the resources and budget available to the latter. There was a long debate with her in the parliament yesterday.
Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP for the East Midlands
bill.newtondunn@europarl.europa.eu
Strasbourg 12-5-2011
PARWICH.ORG 
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