2011 Budget for the European Parliament: ALDE supports rigour
At a time when all EU member states are being hit with tight budgetary restrictions, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe appreciates that the European Parliament attempts to introduce austerity when it presents its needs for the 2011 budget, which was voted on today during the Strasbourg plenary session.
"The Lisbon treaty has increased the workload of the European Parliament, which needs to be met with increased expertise, but any increase must go hand in hand with a redistribution of existing resources, aiming to further improve the efficiency of EP's important work. That's why we do not think that it is necessary to increase the expenses for MEP's secretarial allowance, as we are still waiting for an evaluation of the implementation of the new members and assistants´ statutes. We also consider it unnecessary for Members holding particular positions in Parliament to receive increased allowances, emphasising that all MEPs are equal regardless of position. Furthermore this must be the last time the Lisbon treaty is used to justify increases in staff expenses for the European Parliament", argued Carl HAGLUND (Svenska folkpartiet, Finland) following Parliament's budget proposals for 2011 on behalf of the ALDE group.
"As of 1988 the 20% limit for the Parliament's budget was a self-imposed ceiling and we have to realise that since then many changes have come into force: enlargement, Members Statute, Lisbon Treaty etc. Parliament has more responsibilities and more legislative workload so we cannot treat the 20% limit as written in stone. However, we should have self-disciplined, balanced and responsible approach while deciding on our institution's budget." commented Anne JENSEN (Venstre, Denmark), ALDE spokesperson on the Budget Committee.
Intergroup for Traditional Minority and National Communities, and Languages
Statement on the Belarus and the Polish national minority
The Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages, strongly condemns the actions taken by the Belarusian authorities against the largest Polish minority organization and the members of the minority community. The facts, which include arrests, fines and a forced office closure, show a clear violation of not only minority, but also basic human rights. These actions further substantiate the undemocratic nature of the political system in Belarus.
Since its establishment the Intergroup has consistently supported the rights of national minorities. We therefore ask that the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs takes resolute action in order to send a clear message to the Belarusian Government that without a meaningful engagement in the democratic process, accompanied by the substantive recognition of human rights - including minority rights, the strengthening of relations between the EU and Belarus is not viable.
Strasbourg, 1 March 2010
Signed by
Mrs Kinga GÁL, MEP - Co-Chair of the Intergroup
Mr Carl HAGLUND, MEP - Co-Chair of the Intergroup
Mr Oriol JUNQUERAS VIES, MEP - Vice-Chair of the Intergroup
Mr Csaba TABAJDI, MEP - Vice-Chair of the Intergroup
25/02/2010
Common Fisheries Policy: radical re-think needed to protect small fishermen
The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy must support small scale fisheries. This was the clear message from ALDE MEPs during a debate in the European Parliament in Brussels today.
Carl Haglund (Svenska folkpartiet, Finland ), shadow rapporteur for the report on the reform of the CFP insisted:
"The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is going in the right direction. The Fisheries´ Policy has long been one of the EU´s most discredited policies, infamous for micro-management, a top-down approach and, above all, a system that encourages discarding enormous amounts of perfectly usable fish every year. ALDE welcomes an ecosystem based approach. ALDE supports regionalization - not renationalization - of the CFP, and the establishment of a separate EU policy for small-scale fisheries."