European Reform Treaty

Last Friday’s agreement by the head of member states on a ‘European Reform Treaty’ (don’t mention the word Constitution whatever you do) doesn’t seem to have satisfied anyone.

We’ve leaped backwards from the Constitutional Convention which was meant to represent everyone, meet in public and produce a document that was written in clear plain language that everyone could read back to closed door negotiations by government leaders that we don’t get a say on. The result is a mishmash that I’ve heard MEPs in Strasbourg this week say would take a team of constitutional lawyers to read let alone understand. It isn’t even a single document, just a list of amendments, annexes, protocols and declarations.

The only thing we know for sure is what’s not in it, and that’s the charter of fundamental rights that Gordon Brown has bargained away on our behalf. This opt out from the document of basic human and social rights was one of the key ‘red lines’ that meant we won’t be getting a referendum on the treaty in the UK. So in one sharp move he’s done away with our rights and our say!

EU Anti-Trafficking Day

This Thursday (October 18th) is the very first annual European Day on Anti-Trafficking and a meeting of experts is being held in Brussels as well as events across the EU to raise awareness of trafficking.

I’ve worked on the issue of human trafficking for many years now; from when the reaction was ‘that just happens in London’ to arrests of trafficking gangs in Cardiff and gradual realisation how widespread the problem is. Although it’s impossible to measure the number of people trafficked or the traffickers, city and towns throughout Wales are affected.

The European Commission and Member States have started to take action and it is now a big issue for the police. In a March 2006 report on trafficking the European Parliament proposed an Anti-Trafficking Day and I’m really glad that the European Commission has taken up this initiative.

We still need more support for the victims of trafficking and I’ve called for a centre to be opened in Wales that would offer accommodation and practical support for these victims of crime. Very often they are women and even children who are conned or forced into prostitution. They have no one to contact, no official papers, no English and are terrified of what will happen to them. Knowing that there was somewhere to go and people to help them would encourage more women to escape to safety.

I hope that this event will grow into a valuable tool in the fight against human trafficking.

Russia denies visas for Moscow conference

Today I received notification that I, along with several other MEPs, had been denied a visa to visit Moscow to attend a conference on EU-Russia relations. I find this extremely worrying for democracy, and am not comfortable with the direction Russia is moving in.

Protesting against the refusal of the Russian government to issue visas for entry to Russia to MEPs and Greens/EFA group staff, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni, Co-Presidents of the Greens/EFA group issued the following statment:

“The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament have long been planning and preparing a conference on EU-Russia relations and the current situation in Russia from 28 to 31 October in Moscow.

With incredulity we have now learnt that the Russian government is refusing to issue visas for MEPs and staff of the Greens/EFA group to enter the country. This is a further worrying sign that the country is closing in on itself and that an open and democratic debate on key issues is no longer welcome in Russia. This impression is reinforced by the simultaneous refusal of the Russian government to let representatives of the Sub-Committee for Human Rights of the European Parliament enter the country.

In these circumstances, the Greens/EFA group is forced to cancel our conference in Moscow. We protest in the strongest possible terms against the decision by the Russian government, which flies in the face of good neighbourly relations and co-operation between Russia and the EU. The Greens/EFA MEPs will bring up the issue during the plenary debate on the occasion of the EU-Russia summit on 26 October.”

Infertility and the demographic crisis in Europe

I spoke in a meeting at the European Health Forum in Bad Gastein, Austria, on infertility and the demographic crisis in Europe. It is forecast that by 2050 one third of the population will be pensioners and this has massive implications - economically and socially. It is also true that despite the low and falling birthrate, many couples would like more children. Governments could help by having “child friendly” policies - more flexible working, childcare and so on.

But my interest in this subject comes from my own personal experience of infertility. One in six couples suffer from infertility. As I know only too well, fertility treatment doesn’t always work. I have been through it many times and it’s never worked for me. But it often does and could make a significant difference to future popuation figures. We should learn from what is being done in other European countries where couples are offered several courses of free fertility treament. The success rates are good and there is no extra cost to the health service in the long term.

Infertility is an illness. Sufferers are entitled to treatment just as sufferers of other illnesses get treatment. Faced with a demographic crisis this argument takes on another dimension. Support and treatment for infertility sufferers not only helps them but benefits the wider community.

The meeting in Austria was very successful and I hope it raised more awareness of this problem, which is not talked about publicly that often.

10th anniversary of the European Disability Forum

Even though I’m not in Brussels today, there’s a big event taking place there to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the European Disability Forum. It is a timely reminder for all of us to sign in support of the “1 million for Disability” campaign to combat all forms of discrimination against disabled citizens in Europe.

2007 has been designated the European Year of Equal Opportunities and I really hope that the campaign will reach its 1000th signature before the year is out. We should remember that more than 50 million people in the EU have some sort of disability so please take time to sign this campaign on www.1million4disability.eu/sign.asp?langue=EN

Faslane 365

On Monday I returned to Faslane in Scotland to take part in the Big Blockade - the peaceful blockade of the trident base that blots the landscape in this beautiful part of the world.

I said back in January that I was there to reaffirm Plaid Cymru’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and the party’s opposition to these illegal and immoral weapons of mass destruction. That commitment is a strong as ever, and once again I was taking part in the blockade to reflect the views of the majority of people in Wales who oppose and have protested against Trident.

Here’s what the press had to say about the Big Blockade on Monday 1st October:

Daily Post: MEP in Trident protest

Oct 1 2007 by Hywel Trewyn

WELSH MEP Jill Evans will be taking part in a blockade at the gates of the British nuclear weapons base at Faslane, Scotland today.

In January, the Plaid Cymru deputy president was arrested at the gates but will be returning today to mark a year of non-violent blockading of the nuclear submarine base, 30 miles west of Glasgow.

Speaking last night, Ms Evans said: “I said in January that we were here to reaffirm Plaid Cymru’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and the party’s opposition to these illegal and immoral weapons of mass destruction.

“That commitment is a strong as ever, and once again I am taking part in the blockade to reflect the views of the majority of people in Wales.”

Guardian: Year-long nuclear base protest ends

Monday October 1, 2007 6:28 AM

Hundreds of campaigners are expected to take part in the culmination of a year-long anti-nuclear blockade of a submarine base.

MSPs, MEPs and politicians from across the country are expected for the demonstration at the Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde, home to the fleet of Trident nuclear submarines.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond is among those to have backed the event, and several SNP politicians are expected to take part.

The year-long campaign of protests, dubbed Faslane 365, has involved people from across the UK, as well as Japan, France, Germany and Belgium who are opposed to the deployment and renewal of the system.

The campaign has led to more than 940 arrests and a recent report showed the cost of policing the base has exceeded £5 million.

Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White will be among the protesters at Monday’s ‘Big Blockade’.

She said: “I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Faslane365 campaign this past year and been arrested for blockading the base.

“This is the most important event in the Scottish calendar this year because we can no longer afford both morally and financially to have these weapons of mass destruction on our shores.”

Jill Evans MEP, Plaid Cymru deputy president, voiced her support for the protest during her party’s conference last week.

And Scottish Green Party co-leader Robin Harper MSP said: “The use, the threat of use, and the planned replacement of Trident are all illegal. We should take a lead in fighting the wars of this century - the war against poverty, injustice and environmental destruction - not spend £25bn on weapons of mass destruction aimed at civilians.”

Glasgow Evening Times: 114 held at Faslane as year-long protest ends

MORE THAN 100 anti-nuclear protesters were arrested today as they marked the end of a year-long campaign at the Clydeside submarine base.

An estimated 500 demonstrators gathered outside Faslane naval base, home of the UK’s Trident fleet of nuclear subs, early today.

Many started blockading the main entrance by gluing themselves to the road outside or chaining themselves to the perimeter fence.

Police moved in quickly to start removing the demonstrators, making 114 arrests.

Witnesses spoke of a “continuous” stream of people being carried off by teams of officers.

The protesters were marking the end of Faslane 365, a year-long campaign against the hosting of the Trident fleet in Scotland.

It has led to more than 940 arrests and a recent report showed the cost of policing the base has exceeded £5million.

Organisers of today’s action vowed to mark the occasion through “colourful, creative and dramatic actions” at the base.

Coachloads of people began to arrive shortly before 7am, to be greeted by a large police presence.

Protesters blocked access entrance to the main gate by lying on the ground with their arms linked by tubes.

Police used special cutting equipment to free them, before arresting them.

Other protesters blocked the base’s other entrance, as well as the A814 to Garelochhead.

Politicians from across the country, including MSPs and MEPs, also attended today’s Big Blockade’.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Robin Harper MSP was among the first to arrive at Faslane today.

He said: “There is a continuous stream of people being carried away, but more are replacing them.

“The use, the threat of use, and the planned replacement of Trident are all illegal.

“We should take a lead in fighting the wars of this century - the war against poverty, injustice and environmental destruction - not spend £25 billion on weapons of mass destruction aimed at civilians.

“Trident is not wanted by UK citizens and I support this protest.”

Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White said: “I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Faslane 365 campaign this past year and been arrested for blockading the base.

“We can no longer afford both morally and financially to have these weapons of mass destruction on our shores.”

Police urged motorists to avoid the area around the base while the protest lasts.

A spokesman for Faslane said the protests had not had an effect on the main operations or people inside the base.

He added: “It’s unfortunate that the protests have had an impact on the local community.”

The Herald: Over 170 arrested at Scottish base

Link: www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1726201.0.0.php