News

Closing the net on illegal fishing

The battle to protect fishermen and dwindling fish stocks has been supported by South East England Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder.

Sakharov prize for human rights is European Parliament at its best

To mark this Wednesday's European Parliament conference to celebrate the institution's Sakharov prize for freedom of thought, Lib Dem MEP Sir Graham Watson said: "Concern for human dignity lies at the core of the values which created the European Union. I am delighted that this year's Sakharov prize was awarded to 5 activists from across the Arab world, including Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian who set himself on fire and unknowingly provoked the Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan, Syrian, Bahraini and Yemeni uprisings, and, in the first three countries, the overthrow of the authoritarian regime."

"Cut VAT on e-books" says Euro MP Sharon Bowles

Local Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles, who represents South East England in the European Parliament, has signed a parliamentary resolution which aims to cut VAT on e-books. Currently, EU countries may apply reduced rates of VAT for books bought in shops but e-books are often subject to a standard VAT rate of at least 15%.

Verhofstadt: "Nothing less than full economic and fiscal union including eurobonds will do"

Intervening in an important debate today in Strasbourg on the future scope and structure of economic governance in Europe, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader) drew attention to widening spreads on European bond markets - even amongst AAA countries - and called for a bold and global step forward towards economic and fiscal union - the missing piece from the EMU project dating back 20 years to the Treaty of Maastricht.

Lib Dems condemn “Out of touch” Conservative Surrey

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have condemned the County Council's Conservative administration after an official survey showed that residents consider them out of touch.

Lib Dems win Bookham South by-election