By Giles Chichester MEP

10th September 2008

When reflecting on the role Conservative MEPs play in the European Parliament one must emphasise how different things are from the House of Commons. There is no government, no opposition and no majority in the house. At home we represent huge areas comprising many multiples of Westminster seats and, crucially, we represent all those parts of England, Wales and Scotland not presently blessed with a Conservative MP in their constituency.

Yet the European Parliament is far from the talking shop which used to attract such scorn. Even the most rabid opponents of UK membership of the EU recognise that what happens in the European Parliament affects an increasing part of our lives at home and the legislation we must observe. The fact is that what happens in the European Parliament matters and consequently it is essential to have a Conservative voice and influence in the committee work which is the core activity of the Parliament.

Conservative MEPs are fully engaged in the nitty gritty of committee work and consequently able to influence the outcome by bringing about changes through having earned the respect, the street cred if you like, of MEPs from other Member States. This is in marked contrast to the dwindling number of MEPs belonging to UKIP – the party that could be described as the four letter word of European politics. They stay resolutely outside the tent peering in, or keeping an eye on things as they put it, as the sole justification of their presence. If they were sincere in their intent they would aim for election to the House of Commons, the only place in which they could achieve their aim of withdrawal instead of larking about with student stunts in the hemicycle or chamber of the European Parliament.

During the current term of the Parliament, now in its fifth and final year, Conservative MEPs have played a key role in many areas of policy and on most of the committees, especially the legislative committees. One of the least well known positions within the European Parliament, which is another indication of its difference from the national level, is that of co-ordinator. Each political group elects a co-ordinator for its members on every committee. They perform the combined roles of leader, whip and spokesman for their own group MEPs on the committee. In a way, co-ordinators are part of what is described sometimes as the usual channels at home because they determine the priorities of their committee, who is given which Report and they oversee the voting lists of their group members.

At present Conservative MEPs are co-ordinators of the MEPs of the largest political group in the European Parliament, the centre right group, on an impressive number of committees. That includes the Environment and Public Health committee; the External Trade committee; the Industry, Research and Energy committee; the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee; the Employment and Social Affairs committee; the Development committee and the Petitions committee. That is seven out of twenty or 35% compared to our share of the membership of the group of about 10%. And we also have two deputy co-ordinators on the Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence committees.

In case this list does not give a specific enough picture of what is actually dealt with here are some examples of areas and particular proposals.

Conservative MEPs on the Environment, Internal Market and Industry committees played a critical role in the REACH legislation (stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals) at the beginning of this term. The EU Framework Programme of Research is another important piece of legislation covering one of the largest headings of expenditure within the EU budget and it is one area where the UK receives a greater share of funding than it contributes to the overall budget. A Conservative MEP played the lead in the Services Directive aimed at opening up competition in the European market. Conservatives on the Budget committee have been particularly influential in pressing for reforms, in particular calling for Member States to submit a certificate of assurance covering their expenditure of EU funds. The list could go on.

Another area where Conservative MEPs have been in the forefront is in establishing Temporary committees, particularly where collecting the signatures of MEPs from other countries is required. Topics covered include Maritime Safety, Foot and Mouth, Rendition, Financial Perspectives, Equitable Life and, currently, Climate Change.

At the same time Conservative MEPs pursue campaigns and single issues alongside their committee work. One long-standing campaign is to end the Parliament’s peripatetic existence by moving the formal seat away from Strasbourg to Brussels where the major part of our work is done and the other two main institutions are based. Another more recent one has been our call for a referendum at home on the Constitution or Lisbon Treaty. We were successful after a fashion because Tony Blair did one of his elegant u-turns just before the 2004 European Election thereby removing a key element of our manifesto. Subsequently of course he and his successor both reneged on their commitment in denying the British people a referendum.

Specific issues taken up by Conservative MEPs range from banning cat and dog fur imports, setting up a child protection helpline, saving antique barometers, sanctions against the Mugabe regime, capping mobile roaming charges, dual marking in metric and imperial units of measurement and keeping the Red Ensign from unwanted EU defacement. Again the list could go on.

Finally, it should be said that Conservative MEPs are important because they are almost the largest national delegation from any party in the Parliament but more so because of the work they do and the respect they earn thereby. That makes them able to punch above their weight. Conservative MEPs do a good job for their constituents and will continue to do so.