ALDE: deal establishing European financial supervision a big step forward

On September 22nd the EP approved with a large majority the establishment of an EU financial supervision. Guy Verhofstadt said: "I am very satisfied that today this long battle has ended with a positive result. It is worth recalling that it was ALDE that first called for the need for pan-European supervision.

"Today we have given birth to the new EU supervisory authorities as the starting point for effective EU financial supervision. This is just a first step, but it will not prevent a future crisis if we do not respect the spirit of the proposals. The real work starts now as all forthcoming legislation such as the proposed regulation on derivatives markets and short-selling must concentrate on the cross-border dimension of financial markets and infuse trust to the new supervisory authorities." said ALDE MEP Sylvie Goulard (MoDem, France), EP rapporteur on the establishment of the ESRB and macro-prudential oversight.

Ramon Tremosa (CiU, Catalonia, Spain) EP rapporteur on the specific tasks of the ECB with respect  to monitoring financial stability said "Parliament won the argument that the ECB President must also head the ESRB which will give greater credibility to the new bodies. With this reform, Mr Trichet  is accountable also for financial stability in his hearings in the EP. He will risk his reputation and his credibility in achieving an effective financial stability in Europe

A step towards a safer and more transparent EU pharmacovigilance system

On September 22nd the European Parliament adopted two reports amending the current EU legislation on pharmacoviligance, following a first reading agreement concluded with the Council. ALDE Group health spokesperson, Mrs. Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria) welcomed today's vote, which will enhance mechanisms at EU level to prevent, detect and assess adverse effects of medicinal products.

"Enhancing our capacity to detect and collect adverse drug reactions across the EU, as well as a better coordination with national authorities and pharmaceutical companies, is a key step towards making sure risks related to the use of medicinal products are highlighted in a timely manner and duly assessed", stated Parvanova.

Investigation of Accidents and Incidents in Civil Aviation

ALDE shadow rapporteur on Investigation of Accidents and Incidents in Civil Aviation Jelko Kacin (LDS, Slovenia) is proud of the results achieved in trialogue with the Council and the Commission. "The document which we have here is an example of a good and thorough regulation of an area that demands a lot of technical precision. It is more than adequately dealing both with the investigation of accidents and incidents and with the rights of victims."

By establishing patterns of dangerous practice and technical problems much sooner, a large database of incident occurrence reports on the European level could help prevent accidents in the future," said Kacin. "We have proved that the safety of aviation is our top priority. This is possible only when the fear over one's own personal responsibility is overcome by rationality, solidarity and a wish to prevent repetition of mistakes."

New PNR proposals an improvement on past

Sophie In't Veld (D66, Netherlands) who has led the Parliament in the scrutiny of the various air passenger data agreements between the EU and third countries has given cautious welcome to the new package of proposals presented on September 21st by Commissioner Malmström.

"The Commission's proposals largely reflect the requirements set out by the European Parliament" she said in an initial reaction. "One of the main demands, namely that the use of passenger data has to be drastically restricted, has been accepted."

Commission strategy on gender equality: all talk and no action?

On September 21st the European Commission unveiled their plans for the next five years to combat inequality between men and women in the EU.  While ALDE broadly supports this strategy and welcomes all measures aimed at tackling gender imbalance, is this plan heavy on rhetoric and too light on action?

Dr Antonyia Parvanova (National Movement for Stability and Progress, Bulgaria) and ALDE coordinator on the Womens Committee commented,  "The European Commission is setting up an ambitious agenda, tackling gender equality in a wide range of policy areas. We particularly welcome the fact that actions addressing the existing social and economic gender gaps are being pursued, as well as the emphasis on women in top level decision-making positions but while I notice plenty of vocabulary such as "promoting", "welcoming", "reporting" and "considering", I am concerned that there is not enough concrete action being proposed".

The strengthening of commercial ties between the EU and Turkey is in the interest of both parties

On September 21st the European Parliament approved a report by Metin KAZAK (Mouvement for rights and freedom, Bulgaria) by a very large majority, recommending in particular the widening of commercial ties with Turkey, the 17th economic power in the world and the 7th most important commercial partner with the EU.  "Our commercial relationship is important for both parties but each side must make efforts to overcome the difficulties", declared Mr. Kazak.

"Whatever one´s opinion about Turkey's candidacy for the EU, one must recognise that certain economic dossiers are in our common interest, notably energy supply.  This is why the EU must reaffirm its support for the Nabucco pipeline project and without further delay, open the important energy chapter in the accession negotiations", concluded Metin Kazak.

Europe needs more transparency and choice in its energy market

Adina Valean (PNL, Romania), ALDE spokesperson on energy security in the European Union spoke up for transparency, choice and competition in Europe's still protected energy market in order to improve the security of supply and minimise risk linked to dependence on external suppliers.

"Every winter reminds us of Europe´s dependency on gas supply on Russia, Ukraine and others. Security of energy supply has become a priority for the EU. The proposal for legislation to safeguard the security of gas supply is a positive step towards reducing Europe´s vulnerability and reassuring our citizens, keeping prices affordable, and strengthening solidarity between Member States.

"It is time to ask for more transparency, accountability and democracy in the way our Member States deal with energy policy."

ALDE welcomes Commission action against France over Roma

"In response to our concerns on the situation of Roma in France, Europe is finally proving its worth by not ignoring xenophobic, discriminatory, and nationalist policies perpetrated by Member States. We welcome Commissioner Reding's action announced on September 14th to bring fast-track infringement proceedings against France. This confirms that we were right and it must be a warning to any Member States that the EU does not ignore or compromise on breaches of European fundamental rights" said the president of the ALDE Group, Guy VERHOFSTADT.

EU - Korea FTA - ALDE warns Council not to force their hand

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe supported the amendments to the regulation creating a bilateral safeguard clause to the EU free trade agreement between the EU and Korea without approving the legislative resolution in order to maintain leverage over the implementation of the provisional trade agreement itself. This is aimed at dissuading the Council from provisionally implementing the Free Trade Agreement without Parliament's consent.

"It is regrettable that Council forces us into such a manoeuvre but how else can we express our reservations about an agreement which we consider inadequate other than using the regulation on the safeguard clause ?" asks Michael Theurer (FDP, Germany), ALDE shadow rapporteur. "We require an effective safeguard clause which covers regional distortions and social and environmental norms which allow us to avoid the inherent duty drawback risks", continued Mr Theurer who warned "If the Council want to implement this agreement without Parliament's green light on the safeguard clause and the agreement itself, this would be in violation of the spirit of the Lisbon Treaty".  

Pakistan: Greens and ALDE plead for a prompt and pertinent response which demonstrates solidarity with the needs of the victims of this disaster

"During the month of August, 20 million people have been condemned to live in absolute distress. The country will need a long time to go back to a normal rhythm of life. What is crucial right now, and has been since the beginning of the flooding, is a rapid response which shows solidarity with the disaster victims", declared Eva JOLY (Europe Ecology, France), president of the parliamentary committee on Development (DEVE) and Charles GOERENS (Luxembourg, Democratic Party), coordinator for ALDE on the DEVE committee, in a joint declaration in late August.

"It's during this time of suffering that European policy, which is often criticised, can win back a little dignity by coming to the aid of the weakest.  In fact, the EU is predestined to play a leading role in these dramatic days: its political and economic environment, its new provisions in the Lisbon Treaty, and also its past and present contributions, make the EU among the foremost donors. We should also take note of the tireless efforts of Kristalina Georgieva, the new European Commissioner for humanitarian aid", they continued.

ELDR Congress Helsinki October 13-15th

We would like to remind you to visit the ALDE stand at the upcoming ELDR congress in Helsinki from October 13 through the 15th.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Ramon Tremosa (CiU, Catalonia)

Ramon Tremosa (CiU, Catalonia) joined the European Parliament and the ALDE group in June 2009. He is a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs with a specific interest in macroeconomics and in European monetary policy. In that capacity he has recently been involved in the establishment of a new European Supervisory Architecture - in particular as EP rapporteur on the role of the ECB in overseeing the new financial supervisory authorities.

As a substitute member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, he is involved in the development of the Mediterranean rail freight corridor in the context of the broad review process of the trans-European transport network policy (TEN-T), as well as the liberalization of the Spanish ports and airports and bringing to an end the last remaining monopolies in the Spanish rail industry, both for passengers and freight transport.

As a Catalan MEP he takes a special interest in EU-Mediterranean Relations, geographically so important for his constituency and for Europe, through the Delegation for relations with Israel, and the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean. He is also interested in Asian affairs from a trade and economic perspective and is a full member of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Tremosa has a PhD in Economics from the University of Barcelona (UB) and specialised in Applied Economic Analysis and Economic Theory, a subject he has been teaching since 2002.   Interested in regional economy and monetary policy, he has published several articles in national as well as international academic journals. He is the author of different books on Catalan economic policy, the most recent being "Catalonia, an Emerging Economy". He was also a visiting professor at the London School of Economics before being elected to the EP.

For more information, please contact:
ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unit

neil.corlett@europarl.europa.eu
willem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.eu