No58 July/ Aug 1979 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
First Meeting - Unruly but for Real
Both cere1:1ony and acrimony marked the opening sitting and Allies and the Liberal and Democrat Group. Smallest of the elected European Parliament at its meeting in of the old groups is the European Progressive Democrats, Strasbourg on 17-20 July. Ceremony was represented by drawn from France, Ireland, Denmark - and now also inaugural speeches by the new President, Simone Veil, the United Kingdom, for Scottish National Member followed by those of Irish Premier Ja..:k Lynch, President Winnie Ewing has surrendered her non-attached status. in-Office of the Council of Ministers, of European But other non-attached Members were there in Commission President Roy Jenkins and of the political abundance: 23 at the beginning of the July plenary session group leaders. The acrimony arose from procedural against three in the old Parliament. And it was their wrangles which were interpreted on the one hand as the role which contributed so much to the nature of the defence of the rights of independent Members and on the session. under the existing rules of procedure a minimum other as deliberate wrecking tactics. One thing was clear: of ten Members drawn from at least two countries the old, consensual, sometimes too cosy Parliament was can be recognised as a group with the right to a seat on of the past. A new, lusty, perhaps wayward infant had the "enlarged Bureau" - the executive committee of the taken its place. Parliament - and to a group secretariat financed from The new Parliament reflects the political choice of the parliamentary funds. Before the house on 18 July was a 100 million Europeans who went to the polls on 7-10 motion to raise this minimum to 21, and it was to June. The Socialists, though still the largest single group, forestall this that eleven of the independents, including now have only a riarrow margin over the Christian five Italian Radicals and other left-wingers and four Danes Democrats - now known as the European People's elected on an anti-Common Market ticket, formed the ~ Party. (Yet, notwithstanding proportional representation Group for the Technical Coordination and Defence of Pihroughout the Community except in Great Britain, Groups and Non-Attached Members. It was an argument EPP candidates actually obtained more votes than over their status, characterised by procedural delaying Socialists.) tactics, which emphasised the contrast with the old Third in size is the European Democratic Group, the Parliament's normally decorous behaviour. But, irritated newly renamed European Conservatives, whose 63 as many were by the disruption of the proceedings of members have a handsome lead over both the Communists what had promised to be a sitting consisting mainly of ceremony, there was a more philosophical view expressed that the events marked the emergence of a "real" parliament which would contribute actively to the resolution of serious issues relevant to the lives of the 260 million citizens of the Community and the millions First President of the elected European Parliamen t is Simone Veil (Lihrral, more beyond its borders. It was recognised by more than France). Narrowl.v missing outright one speaker that the relatively low turnout in the l'/cctio11 in the first ballot 011 a field of European elections (with the UK taking "the wooden five candiclales. she .'Wccreded in a run off al(ainst two other candidat('s. spoon" in the words of Commission President Jenkins) Born in Nice 111 1927, Mrs ~ ci/ sur· ;:efleded poorly on the policies the Community vivcd a Nazi conc,•ntralion camp in hcr implemented and how it presented them to the public. youth heforc f.{radualin!f in law and political sci<'ll<"<' . .r\ fter a f<,1;al career The parliament, said European Democrat leader James she hccamc French Minister of Puhfic Scott-Hopkins, will have to demonstrate that it "is 1/calth and Fa111ily ,\ {fairs, a post fro111 something which is worth the electorate voting for and wh1Ch she rc'.'iij.fned on l'lcction lo the f :uropcan Parhame11t. continuing to support." Work begins Having elected its officers, Parliament now looks beyond the Summer recess to the commencement of committee work at the beginning of September. The provisional dates for 1979 plenary sessions (all in Strasbo~irg) are: 94 - 28 September, 22 - 26 October, 12 -16 11.,weinber 1d 10 - 14 December. The major autumn tt;tsk facing 1arliament will be examination and amendment of the EPP 108 Community budget for 1980. This, of course, will cover agriculture and food expenditure, the regional and social funds, research and technology, overseas aid etc. The Autumn may well see :: by-election in the UK constituency of· South-West London which is normally regarded as marginal by the parties. Although the group affiliation of some Members is provisional, and with two vacancies, the current strength of European political groups is as follows: (2 Seats vacant. For Group Titles see page 2). REPORT
have not come here to sabotage this European Council meeting in Stras The Parliament: Assembly's wotk ... We want to alter bourg and the Irish tum as President Denmark's complete relationship with of the Council of Ministers. The what now? the European Community into a energy problem, said Commission President Veil (Lib/F) " It is for general trading arrangement." President Roy Jenkins "could not us, with a view to future elections, to Willy Brandt (Soc/Ger) said the merely damage our economies, but draw up a single electoral system ... Parliament now had to prove its use bring them into a state of dislocation A responsible Parliament should not fulness. It should be a forum where or collapse within the next decade". limit itself, in the drawing up of the views can be expressed on matters Countries which failed to "break the budget, to fixing the amount of ex closely affecting the voters of link between economic growth and penditure, but should also concern Europe. He proposed that the Parlia the consumption of oil" would be itself with how taxes are raised ... We ment should hold more open heari."lgs, come the "dinosaurs of the industrial know that historically it was through and suggested that the first oppor world" of the 1990s. the control of supply that the first tunity could be taken this autumn, The need for a common energy parliaments in the world evolved." prior to the Madrid East-West Con policy was underlined by Willi Ernest Glinne (Soc/Bel) " ... The ference on Security and Co-operation Brandt (Soc/Ger), Egon Klepsch wish that the Council Presidency in Europe. (EPP/Ger), James Scott-Hopkins from now on take part in all the Paddy Lalor (EPD/lrl) " ... This (Dern/UK), Giorgio Amendola major debates in the Assembly ... the Assembly must be accorded its right (Com/It) and Jean-Frarn;ois Pintat decision to hold direct elections was ful place in the legislative process." (Lib/F) and Paddy Lalor (EPD/Irl). concommittant and coupled with the Colette Flesch (Lib/Lux) com The solidarity shown in Strasbourg creation of the European Council, an plained that the new European should be translated into concerted institution which was not foreseen in Development Fund for overseas aid Community action. Among the most the Rome Treaty, and whose inter was not included in the Community frequently cited measures were energy vention is only acceptable if the budget snd that the Parliament had conservation schemes and a reduction Assembly, after its election, becomes no control over it. in consumpt10n, development of a real counterweight." Roy Jenkins, Commission Presi alternative energy sources, diversifi Leo Tindemans (EPP/Bel)" ... This dent: " ... We believe that it is impor cation of supplies and more meetings Parliament, in co-operation with the tant from the outset that there should between producers and consumers, Commission and the Council, must be the opportunity for wider and including those from the Third find a new equilibrium, and must earlier discussion of major proposals World, and control over multinational make proposals and take initiatives which we take to the Council. Here it oil companies. F.conomic growth was which can be discussed with the other seems to us essential that there should needed to cure unemployment. This bodies of the Comm unity and we also be a greater understanding of impor was impossible until energy problems hope, be implemented.:' tant issues at a Community level, and were solved. ~ James Scott-Hopkins (DemiUK) we would be willing to prepare, where The excessive cost of the common ~ " ... It is wrong to assume that any appropriate, discussion documents as agricultural policy - currently some extension of our powers would auto a basis of parliamentary debate of three quarters of the Community matically be at the expense of broad policy issues in advance of budget - also figured largely in the national parliaments . .. In matters formulating proposals for the debate. As James Scott-Hopkins put relating to external agreements there Council." it, "we cannot go on as we are ... " is inadequate provision for any form The present arrangements for spend of democratic control either in the ing tax payers' money on storage and drawing up of the Commission's The Political Groups disposal of surpluses were "lunacy". negotiating mandate or at the con Socialist Group (Soc) Liberal and Democratic Group t~:bl The Council had not done ,\·ell: the et.airman: Cha1rna."I clusion of these negotiations. National E~est Gl.m.'lEe 'Bel) McU1J1. Barigerra.,n (Ger Commission had done even worse. Vicc.~ha.::nc-n. V 1ce -cnair.i"aen parliaments have little, if any power L..1dw10 Fcliermaier cG.c:r) lee1.n· rram;:o,s Pin·a: F' And the Irish Foreign i\'iinisier Ciaude Estie: (f) V.nce11z0Baniz.a1lt) in this area ... 8d!ba!a C~1:e llIKI Comt11s 5erkhc,t;>Ner r ~,;,, ::\Iichnel O 'Kc::medy was remjnded by Pw:to :.€1;:· IJtJ A:1rue Damseal.L( ,'E&i 1 " Individually, i\lirusters are !er. var. der, Heuv0l(NL) fov, t\.(•:.SenWK; 1\1r P ntat that this problem had bcPn '::ol(- r ~-~c." r.. ...>:1 responsible l,o their national parlia Group of the Europea..'1 People's ieft to h1s presidency for a solut10:1. P:uty rCPP' Group of Luropean PYog:ressive ments, and they should remai1, so, of Chairrr,an· Democrats Y>1 Egon Alfred Kl,~psrh (Cr. , Ct-;.-11nrar. course. But the Cuuncil itsPlf is re Chrnm.tn df: Li V.;i;, ., f'l Vice--ch.urmcn •, !•.'I" C!'-·-l1r.""IP.:'. sponsible to no one." Maria Louisa C..i.ssa.rmlaqn.100 Pamc La.or 11::) Identity, natality C,•rrctti(lt) Kai "Jyt>
2. C ommitte e on Agncultu:rc (39) 9. Committee on Regional Policy Robert Banersbv (Con Demi & Regional Planning (29) Barbara Castle (Lab Soc) Winifred Ewmg (SNT EPD David Curry (Con:Deml Winston Gnfhth.s (Lab Soi:) Members, however, should look Paul How€Jl (Con.'Dem) David Hams (Con Dern) Money for 1980 Sn Heruy Plumb (Con!Dcm) John Hume (SDLP Soc 1 beyond money and energy and the James Provan (Con· Dern) Alasda.r 1-!unon rear. :>em "The annual budget debates reflect Joyce Oum (La.b·Soc) Elaine KelJC'n Bowma;· iCM · Treaties of Paris and Rome. "Com John D Taylor 'OUP De·.,1 the central political judge ments on 3. Committee on Budget• (37) 10. Committee on Traruipor, (25) munity institutions", she added, Richard Balfe (Lab·Soc) which the Community is based ." It Richard Cottrell (Con Derr:i Enc Forth (Con Dern) 1 "have produced European sugarbeet, Brian Hord {Con/Dern) Lo1d Harrnar Nicholls Con De~, was in this spirit that Commissioner Robert Jackson (Con/Derr.) Bnan Kt:y (Lab·Soc/ JarneJ Moorhouse I C,;n !)r.- 1 butter, cheese, wines, calves and even Lord O'Hagan fCon ·'Dern) Christopher Tugendhat presented the Rohen Moreland (Ccr D-=~ 1 John M Taylor {Con.Der., I pigs . They have not produced Euro Fred 'J',1ckm,;,.n (Con Derr., Commission's preliminary proposals l L Committee on 1he Envuonment, Public Rr.alth & Consumer peans." There should be Em,:opcan 4 & for the 1980 Budget on Friday 20 Committee on Economic. Protection (27) M onetary Affai 1"'1 f37) Ken Co:i1n:; rLab SocJ education, an orchestra, sports teams :.;e1l Bdlfo,:1 rCor, u~r'li July. Reminding Members that the .)lona Hooper r,:_;01, l)f':r ~\chard C,1oom (Lal,.&><.:) - "a ball travels further than a shell", S:anlev jnhnson rr::·_:, t),:r:i, Budget was financed by their electors Ras:1 ciP Fl"rranli Cor:. Dern .'/tb,:.rr l'.t.!vr0r ~},;:,:,. Con D"'."!"'. Xorve!a f or~1.e1 .Cc:, l)e:-:-.) she said. The low European birthrate, Dr 11.lexw.Ce, ShN. ..:: Cc:- Ce:- W1i!iarnH0pp~1 .c,..~ c-,,..:n~ he expressed t he hope that action in too, was frightening. Could t here not Srr DaVld ~ir:o~' ·,r, C?:l L>err 12 Committee on Youth Affairs, spheres such as regional development S.r Brandon Rhys ·.v:'..:l.."''.!; "C.·'.''.' i.,p- , Culru.re Educatiou. Information be more Europea.'1 children and a AJ:ari Rooer~ ( uao Soc & Sport (27) and aid to the underprivileged should )ane·~ R::r:n,v, ;,,1b J,)r S Cornnutt~e on Energy & revival of family values? The third Br,r, l'i,rrer·';8n 'C::ir [)pm i receive finance exclusively from Com Research t.14) P,-,, PrK"P ·Co:: f'J, area of concern should be Parliament Garcon Ao.a.:•; C ..i.b ~ :._ ... ,, :'l;:--·,.,o:- ·Cl')r •. , mumty funds. This year the VAT rate P.:1t~1 EP.ule·.· (CJ~ -f)1:rr 1 ary advocacy oi Human Rights. In TnP ;'v1'arq,it:ss o! DcU!~; rC::!". !.:.>'c'r i.J. Committee on Development & was 0. 7 1%, below the 1 % limit set by M:chacl c,.-:w.;f'•:r, ~ So Cooperation 127) Torr. :car D,·:':". short, "identity, natality and legality" NotT"":a:iJ.;·r . ,, :"•'I' [r,:-;:;~11 'L
conscience, life and L:w". E. Comnuttee OI' Externa.i lconornic 14 Con-.mittee on Budg .. c.:i.ry cPive", concedP.d John M . 1'ay1or R('iat1on5(J6J Cont,ol (?7) S,r F'red Ca1f'-=rv1oo
Bonino (TCD/lt) as the first speaker, UK) brought loud applause when he Informal sitting Madame Weiss can perhaps be for called for some respite from being 10 seats in the Parliament chamber given for aberrantly addressing subjected all day to this "police were occupied for a few minutes several of the ensuing - male - interrogation". during the lunch recess on Wednes speakers as 'Madame'_ "You can tell day 18 July by a delegation from the what a feminist I am", she explained. Deja les vices ... And as one of the Members pointed British Liberal Party led by MP The reaction to Parliament's opening Russell Johnston. This symbolic out more than half the voters were women. session was mixed. Some 716 journ protest, said the former European alists and many television vans and Member, was to "claim the ten seats units had made the journey to Stras which the Liberals could have won if Stay awhile! bourg. But with the closely foµght proportional representation had been Flags and flowers everywhere, a elections taking up much of the used for the European Elections in concert of Beethoven's 9th Sym week and with parliamentary the UK_ The Chairman of the Euro phony, banquets, special charter manoeuvring taking precedence over pean Liberal and Democratic Group planes, taxis, canal boat trips in and formal ceremony it was to the Martin Bangemann (Ger) called for out of town and what Willi Brandt rumours in the lobbies that many a unified system of proportional called "the fresh air of Strasbourg" turned for copy. And with hours to representation to be used throughout were just some of the elements of wait between votes Members were the Community for the next Euro the Alsatian welcome for the new happy to discuss political 'deals' and pean elections in 1984. But could it Parliament. The local tourist office even expenses with the press. The be an STV system as in Ireland or found three thousand rooms for previous Friday's headline in the national or regional lists as used Members, staff, journalists, and Frankfurter Rundschau "Fehlstart elsewhere? As yet, however, there guests and visitors. The security in Strasbourg" proved somewhat are no European Parliament pro police frequently in evidence were prophetic. Few, however, would posals to break either the 5% Rule even seen disguised in old R enaults. agree totally with Le Republicain of minimum votes for party repre 'Th e telephones worked, the weather Lorrain "Les neuf ont rate leur sentation (e.g. Germany, France) or, held and even sales notices in shops premiere." As "the Euro-MP's take what Mr Johnston described as the appeared in several languages. Many their seats to change history" (The "undemocratic two party domin Members were suggesting that such Guardian) perhapsL'Aurore captured ance of British politics". facilities and lavish food if repeated the spirit of the week with "Deja throughout the Autumn sessions les vices d 'un v: ai parlement ... " Die Griinen would bode ill for Luxembourg ausgesperrt whose new European Parliament H&CtoLux chamber is not due for completion Latest suggestion for solving 4 900,000 votes yet the Green Parties until the New Year. With five French Members' travel problems comes are excluded. This was the protest Members including the Mayor of from Southampton. An expert in on the banners of the German ecolo Strasbourg but no Luxembourger operating expeditions to Mexico and gists who managed to secure places elected to Parliament's twenty Guatemala offers a 12-passenger at the front of the public gallery on strong controlling Bureau, it looks Mercedes which comes complete Tuesday 17 July and caught the as though the Alsatian capital's bid attention of television crews in the for the seat is now stronger. nearby press gallery filming the in augural session. Interrogation Roundhead or byTV Cavalier? Is the Parli,ament's role to criticise and try to control the Commission or the Council of Ministers? Views differ. In a BBC television interview Barbara Castle (Soc/UK) argued that it was to go for the Commission, which was not elected, whereas the with airline seats, cooker, fridge, Council was composed of Ministers hand basin, H & G and WG The 81 responsible to national parliaments. members, their staff and families Altiero Spinelli (Com/It) disagreed. and "unlimited baggage" are offered He likened the position to 17th a door-to-door service in aircon- century England with the Council of ditioned and cosy comfort (run, Ministers as a king which made exe presumably, on military lines as he cutive and legislative decisions and the stresses his Marine officer back European Parliament as a rather weak ground)., parliament. In championing the Council he told Barbara Castle: you are of the King's party; I am of the ~t!~~eavoure. Parlfamentary party. 9a?l~~~?sin European Parliament Report to generate interest, particularly in Mesdames et In summer Parliament's cavernous plenary sessions. Parliament is now chamber is normally a cool refuge larger and better known: media Messieurs from the sun. But with Europe coverage has increased. We hope in 17 July was very much Ladies' Day watching the proceedings, suited future publications to answer the anyway, with Madame Weiss pre Mer.1bers spent much of the week growing need for more specific in siding over the eventual election of sweltering under television lights. formation on its many activities. Madame Veil. Having called Emma One Member, Lord Be~hell (Dern/ K.P.G. !:->esigned by Brian Beurdmore Associates . Published by the Euror;egp D ;· 39 JG