http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Andrew Duff MEP en-GB Andrew Duff MEP http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Andrew Duff MEP 2008-07-24T17:48+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000299/andrew_duff_at_geremek_state_funeral.html Today Lib Dem Euro MP Andrew Duff will represent the European Parliament at the state funeral in Warsaw of the Polish statesman and former dissident Bronislaw Geremek. Andrew worked closely with Professor Geremek, a fellow Liberal MEP, in the European Parliament on constitutional and foreign policy issues. 2008-07-21T09:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000298/parliament_to_thoroughly_control_the_nomination_of_commissioners.html The European Parliament has today adopted a report by Andrew Duff (LibDem, UK) modifying its internal rules with regard to the procedure of approval of the European Commission. By this move, Parliament has taken a step forward in this crucial question for EU democracy. The report tightens and codifies presently applied empiric practices, mainly those that became obvious in 2004 when Mr Barroso's Commission was designated. Consequently, future Commission candidates will have to prove their European commitment and their independence. They will have to communicate their financial interests beforehand; at present, this obligation is complied with a posteriori. Should there be any doubts about an applicant's integrity, from the side of the committee(s) responsible of the respective audit(s), a vote could be organised to possibly refuse the candidate. The new internal rules also foresee that Parliament, via its elected President, will be able to pronounce itself on the distribution of the portfolios. 2008-07-08T12:28+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000297/lib_dems_welcome_eu_agreement_on_return_of_illegal_immigrants.html In a key vote today (Wednesday), the European Parliament approved a draft directive on the return of illegal immigrants. This legislation will encourage the voluntary return of illegal immigrants but otherwise lays down minimum standards for their treatment. 2008-06-18T16:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000296/eu_leaders_must_reflect_on_their_collective_responsibilities_in_failing_to_explain_europe.html Ahead of the European Council summit meeting tomorrow in Brussels, the European Parliament held a debate with Council and Commission in Strasbourg today to assess the impact of the Irish vote and its implications for the EU agenda over the coming months. 2008-06-18T12:47+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000295/irish_vote_sends_eu_back_to_the_drawing_board.html The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats note the outcome of the Irish referendum with deep regret. 2008-06-13T15:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000294/complacency_still_rife_on_european_security_and_defence_policy.html The European Parliament has debated and endorsed an annual report on the European security strategy and the European security and defence policy. 2008-06-05T16:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000292/small_political_groups_must_not_be_banned_from_european_parliament.html Andrew Duff, spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), is to oppose a move to cut the number of party political groups in the European Parliament from the beginning of the next legislature. 2008-05-26T14:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000293/worrying_lack_of_progress_in_turkey.html The European Parliament has voted to adopt a report on Turkey's 2007 progress in accession negotiations. The report from the Foreign Affairs Committee welcomes several recent legislative activities of Turkey, while insisting that the speed of reforms must pick up. The report calls on Turkey to continue its constitutional reforms and, regardless of those reforms, calls for the Turkish penal code, particularly article 301, to be changed. 2008-05-21T14:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000291/lib_dems_welcome_reform_of_eu_ombudsman.html The European Parliament, during its plenary session in Strasbourg today, has finally approved, with a clear majority the report on reinforcing the Ombudsman's statute 2008-04-22T16:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000290/turkey_report_firm_but_fair.html The Foreign Affairs committee of the European Parliament voted this evening on a report dealing with Turkey's progress in negotiations towards eventual EU accession. 2008-04-22T10:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000289/liberals_and_democrats_welcome_polish_ratification_of_lisbon_treaty.html Welcoming the decision of the Sejm today to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, Andrew Duff (LibDem, UK), ALDE spokeperson for constitutionnal affairs, said: 2008-04-02T10:00+01:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000287/european_parliament_explores_link_between_citizenship_and_electoral_procedures.html Today the European Parliament began the first step in an ambitious plan to reform the electoral procedure of the European Parliament. In a workshop, organised by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, experts were invited to give their views on questions concerning the relationship between EU citizenship and nationality, the possibility of creating a trans-national constituency, and other matters aimed at boosting the popular legitimacy of the European Parliament after successive falls in voter turn-out. 2008-03-25T16:00+00:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000286/duff_calls_for_cambridge_hq_for_european_institute_of_technology.html Following the decision by the European Parliament last week to set up the European Institute of Technology, East of England Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff has called for its HQ to be sited in Cambridge. 2008-03-17T09:00+00:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000285/andrew_duff_responds_to_baa_application_for_a_second_runway_at_stansted.html Following the formal submission of the planning application for a second runway at Stansted. 2008-03-11T11:00+00:00 http://www.andrewduff.libdems.org.uk/news/000284/turkish_constitution_should_reflect_diversity.html "The new Turkish Constitution should abandon the notion of 'Turkishness' 2008-03-04T22:00+00:00