Posts filed under 'Northern Ireland and the EU'
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has demanded that the Spanish Government orders a final halt to the demolition of houses owned by British expatriates.
Mr Nicholson, speaking from Brussels, called for a moratorium on demolitions and all future land grab developments after receiving numerous letters from alarmed expatriates from Northern Ireland who have settled in Spain and whose homes now face demolition.
The European Parliament has previously issued four Resolutions calling for action to be taken to protect property owners, and although the law was amended in the form of the new Valencia Land Law (LUV), many still face the expropriation of their land without compensation or arbitrary costs for unnecessary infrastructure developments in their region.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“The Spanish authorities have had long enough to talk about change. Now is the time for action. I am calling on the Spanish authorities to issue an immediate moratorium on demolitions and future land grab developments.
The damage can already be seen both to those owning property in Spain and to the local environment. The European Parliament’s Petitions Committee will be referring cases to the European Courts of Justice and Human Rights. ”
E-mail April 3rd, 2008
Alex Benjamin
The European Parliament today debated the current situation in Tibet. UUP MEP Jim Nicholson took part in the special plenary session and in a statement said the Chinese Government should stop any acts of violence against Tibetan demonstrators or else face compromising the Olympic Games.
In his statement Mr Nicholson said,
“The Chinese Government must stop using violence against Tibetan demonstrators and respect their rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of expression, assembly and religion. Violence will only further worsen the situation in the region and increase disruption ahead of the Olympic Games .
The European Union must do its utmost to influence a peaceful solution to the current situation in Tibet and get involved as much as possible in facilitating dialogue. Failure to do so will result in China continuing to lose the support of the international community and could compromise the Olympic Games themselves.”
E-mail March 26th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
The UK Government must ensure the £123 million payment from the EU Solidarity Fund, agreed by MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, is distributed fairly around areas affected by last summer’s floods Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said today.
The cash, which is paid directly to the Government, is intended to assist with the reconstruction of key infrastructure following the devastating rainfalls across the UK last June and July, estimated to have caused around £3.48 billion worth of damage. Mr Nicholson said that Northern Ireland had been adversely affected by floods last year and was entitled to a share of the Solidarity Fund money.
This is the first time the UK has applied for assistance from the Solidarity Fund, which was created in 2002. The funds should go towards reimbursing local authorities for the costs of emergency services, the flood clean-up and offsetting the expense of restoring infrastructures such as roads and power lines.
Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said:
“I am asking the UK Government to ensure all affected areas across the UK receive their fair share. We in Northern Ireland were badly affected too and we are entitled to receive our share.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 12th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
UUP MEP Jim Nicholson today called on the First and Deputy First Minister to heed the Assembly and demand the Prime Minister for a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon.
The Treaty was voted on today and passed in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Continue Reading E-mail February 21st, 2008
Alex Benjamin
The European Union should lead by example and ensure an end to all live animal transport over long distances, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said today.
His call comes as a new global campaign is launched to end the appalling conditions thousands of animals face when transported long distances to slaughter.
The Handle With Care coalition - the RSPCA, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and the International League for the Protection of Horses – is using undercover footage to highlight journeys that can cover thousands of miles by road and sea, including sheep transported from Australia to the Middle East, cattle from Brazil to Lebanon, horses from Spain to Italy and pigs from Canada to Hawaii.
Following pressure from MEPs and Compassion in World Farming’s ‘Stop the Bull Ship’ campaign in 2005, the European Commission announced an end to export refund subsidies for live cattle exports to the Middle East. In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“European Union taxpayers are no longer unwittingly subsidising the unnecessary export of live animals over long distances, but the practice is still occurring far too often both inside and outside of Europe.
“This trade is not only cruel, but journeys of this distance are completely unnecessary. Slaughter should be carried out as locally as possible and meat transported on the hook, rather than on the hoof.
“It’s time we ended the outdated and totally needless suffering. I will continue to push the European Commission to lead by example and ensure all unnecessary long-distance animal transportation is ceased and that all European countries adhere to legislation already in place.”
Continue Reading E-mail February 12th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
The European Parliament is expected to back a resolution today which calls on the European Commission to set a timetable for abolishing goods with low efficiency ratings. This would affect outdoor patio heaters, leading to a ban on pubs, restaurants, cafes and the general public from buying or using outdoor heaters for their customers or for home-use.
It is estimated that the move, if implemented, could cost the UK pub and restaurant industry upwards of £250 Million a year in lost trade.
In a statement today Mr Nicholson said,
“There is no doubt that we must all do our bit for the environment and to lower our overall carbon footprint but this is a step too far. Given our far from balmy climate in Northern Ireland Patio Heaters add value not only to family life and outdoors eating and entertaining, but also to the many customers in pubs, cafes or restaurants who want to eat, drink or have a cigarette outside.
This proposal is an own-initiative report by a Liberal Democrat MEP, which although carrying no legal weight, ramps up pressure on products such as patio heaters if it is supported.
We are all in favour of encouraging changes to our energy consumption and improving our emissions. We must however allow change to develop at a pace in line with new energy efficient products coming into the market so that proposals such as this do not adversely affect our economy or our comfort.”
Continue Reading E-mail January 30th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Commenting on the outcome of this weeks Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels where European fisheries Ministers gathered to set the total allowable catches and quotas for the industry in 2008, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson, who is a member of the European Parliament ‘s fisheries committee, said,
“As I have said on a number of occasions before I have witnessed this damaging process take place now for a number of years and there is no doubt in my mind that the result for Northern Ireland’s fishing industry gets worse as each year passes.
“This deal is yet another body blow for the local fishing industry in Northern Ireland with significant reductions in the number of days fishermen can spend at sea. The conclusions will please no –one.
“What I want to see happen is a fundamental change to the way these negotiations take place. The annual spectacle of last minute negotiations must end.
“I have a number of criticisms of the Common Fisheries Policy but discards has to be the craziest of all. The European Commission must end the discards madness and allow fishermen to land everything they catch.
“We need action taken now to ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland or it could easily follow the textile and other well known local industries into obscurity.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 20th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed confirmation today that the First and Deputy First Minister will visit Brussels in the New Year to meet with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said,
“I very much welcome confirmation that the First and Deputy First Minister will visit Brussels in the New Year and hope that they will work in cooperation with MEPs.
“Their visit is long overdue and hopefully is a signal that the First and Deputy First Minister are taking the Executive’s relationship with Europe more seriously. I have been calling for them to get to grips with this area since they came to office. I look forward to them making the case for increased financial assistance for Northern Ireland from Europe.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 11th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has today called for the creation of a framework that would promote a fair relationship between producers, processors and the supermarket chains.
Mr Nicholson was speaking after it was revealed that Sainsbury’s, ASDA and a number of diary processors have been fined a total of £116 million by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after being found guilty of fixing the prices of milk, butter and cheese.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“For a long time there has been an undeniable need for the producer to receive a fairer reward for his produce and I believe that a way of doing this is to create a regulatory framework that would promote a fair relationship between producers, processors and the supermarket chains.
“I see something inherently wrong with a market that repeatedly shows falling returns to farmers but consistently shows rising returns to processors and retailers. I am glad to see these types of practices are now being highlighted. Price fixing benefits no – one except the giant supermarket chains. Both the consumer and the farmer lose out.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 10th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said he hopes that the First and Deputy First Minister’s trip this week to the USA is more successful than the duos dealings so far with Europe or with the Prime Minister over securing a financial package for Northern Ireland.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“The First and Deputy First Minister’s visit to the US is to be welcomed but my only hope is that more is achieved on this visit than been has achieved so far in their dealings with the Prime Minister on a financial package or with Europe in their efforts to deliver improved European financial support. These two areas still require the First and Deputy First Minister’s attention because as of yet they remain unresolved.
“Northern Ireland will seriously lose out on any extra European funding because the First and Deputy First Minister’s case has not been made forcefully enough by them in Brussels. They still haven’t managed to visit Brussels despite being in office for over 6 months. The financial package promised by the DUP and Sinn Fein has yet to materialise, despite strong assurances that it would. It should not be brushed under the carpet and forgotten about.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 6th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
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