LDEG events at Brighton

LDEG held three successful fringe events at Brighton this year chaired by Phil Bennion and Catherine Bearder. The first was on "The Future of Europe" with Graham Watson MEP and leader of ALDE, Andrew Duff MEP and Sir Colin Budd who is chairing the Working Group on Europe. Graham talked about how Europe is changing, why we need more parliamentary scrutiny and why the EU is unpopular in the UK. Andrew talked about why we need the Reform Treaty and Sir Colin exhorted us to communicate with the Working Group which needs our comments and ideas. The second event was "Does Europe need an FBI?" Bill Newton Dunn MEP explained quite clearly why we do. The third event was probably the best attended showing the importance of "The Great Energy Debate" for both the European Union and the UK. Fiona Hall MEP, Chris Huhne MP and our guest speakers Ian Booker and Clare Wenner (from the Renewable Energy Association) all gave us intelligent insights into the future. LDEG members Mike Cooper, Ahmed Mallick and Carol Weaver report below with fuller details due in our next newsletter.

• THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

Graham Watson MEP, leader of ALDE, told us that Europhobes have driven out intelligent, rational debate on Europe. The amount the UK spends on Europe is negligible compared with what we spend on other areas. The government blames the EU for its own errors. We have freedom of information due to the EU yet the EU is unpopular in the UK due to the Murdoch press and the laziness of the BBC when it comes to covering Europe.

He also says that there needs to be better working relationships between national and European parliaments especially in terms of scrutiny which is often not carried out at all. "The EU is like Wagner's music, not as bad as it sounds."

Sir Colin Budd exhorted us to contact the European Working Group which has very "wet cement" at the moment. The final report will not be until spring so there is plenty of time for comments and suggestions to be made and heard.

He wants to help candidates deal with European issues on the doorstep. Good arguments backed up by knowledge are essential for Europe and the Liberal Democrats who have always been pro-Europe. Europe is a strategic opportunity for us. The two largest parties are not representing the best interests of the country with regard to Europe.

Andrew Duff MEP agreed that with regard to scrutiny what Graham had to say was correct but this is partly because MPs are not trained to do this properly. More training is needed.

On the Reform Treaty, Andrew is hopeful that by the 19th October it will be agreed. The criteria for enlargement are changing and there is improved economic and monetary policy. The capacity of the EU to act internationally has been increased and the court will have a wider scope. The EU personality will be a legal entity. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will get mandatory power as long as member states put it into policy. This is a great step forwards for the Liberals. There will be more fluent and democratic principles in Pillar 3 (JHA) for internal as well as external security. Referenda can be safely excluded as there are many differences from the former Constitution but referenda should be opposed for the right reasons. The British government is still looking for opt ins and opt outs on all sorts of Pillar 3 issues whilst the Tories would exploit the "opts" unscrupulously if they got power.

• DOES EUROPE NEED AN FBI?

Bill Newton Dunn discussed the mounting concern regarding cross-border crime which was expressed by Jose Manuel Barosso, President of the EU, when he spoke to Conference earlier on the 17th. Worrying the audience further was the understanding that Gijs de Vries withdrew as Anti-Terrorism Co-ordinator frustrated at the lack of cooperation between EU members, even after the Madrid bombings. He is reported to be very alarmed that "almost nothing is being done".Open borders is at the core of the EU but it helps the criminals, while the law enforcement agencies are all national and are, indeed, precluded from crossing frontiers, whether in open or covert pursuit. In the context of noting that crime statistics are national, Bill observed that it is estimated 1kg of heroin is responsible for 210 street crimes. Knowing the extent of the problem is a problem in itself: definitions of crime are national, and vary widely, but there is hope, for an agreed range of definitions is under discussion at the moment. The availability of reliable cross-border data is vital.

Lyon-based Interpol is financed by police forces themselves but operates slowly. Europol, based in The Hague, is an intelligence co-ordinator with no powers but with potential; some states are failing to cooperate with it but under the guidance of, particularly Britain and Germany, it is making progress. Bill noted that the Reform Treaty would make Europol an EU Agency (with some US participation anticipated); in contrast to other EU agencies, English is the agreed working language.

It seems a European Police Force is not seen as what is required, or practicable, at present but it is recognised that the extension of cross-border cooperation is an urgent need. Joint Investigation Teams are proposed but there are problems with funding and the seconding of police officers. Bill is unequivocal, an EU equivalent of the FBI is a must, "nothing less will work". Graham Watson MEP has endorsed this view.

• THE GREAT ENERGY DEBATE

Fiona Hall stated that the European Union has agreed to achieve a carbon reduction of 20% by 2020. She further stated that although this was agreed in March 2007, the responsibilities of individual member countries are still to be agreed. This is expected to be finalised by spring 2008. There is still a lot of political discussion to take place, including who has the most renewable energy sources. It is expected that the transport industry will be using 10% biofuels by 2020. However, she was not sure to what extent biofuels will be effective. She further stated that growing crops for biofuels will use land now used for growing food, which means there will be increases in food prices. She stated the most important factor has to be energy efficiency. This also means development of new technology, increasing awareness, use of the technology already available such as solar energy and wind power and development of tidal power. There were smart meters available which measure energy as you use it and also inform the supplier. She believed that energy efficiency will have to play a very big role if we are to achieve our target.

Chris Huhne stated that carbon emissions have increased by 4% since 1999, with a rise in the last year of 0.6%. The basket of all greenhouse gases has actually risen by 4 million tons. The choice we now have is between carbon capture and nuclear power. Carbon capture is better on the ground of flexibility, compatibility with renewable and micro generation, safety, waste, proliferation, counter-terrorism, security of supply and benefits to the British economy. Carbon prices for the electricity generating industry around the level implied by Stern means a 94% drop in carbon emissions from electricity generation compared to 1990 levels. This method is already being used by Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. He further stated that Finland is facing a disaster in the development of a nuclear power station which has already cost $70 billion and is still nowhere near completion. Carbon capture and storage is a technology in which Britain is in a position to take a lead, especially using skills developed in the North Sea, whereas nuclear power can only go ahead on the basis of imported technology.

Ian Booker said that there are a lot of projects for renewable energy already being developed and facing planning constraints. The planning authorities are unable to understand the complexity of such projects. There is a need for training council officials. He believes that renewable energy can replace the need and fill the gap.

Clare Wenner questioned whether renewable energy can fill the need for electricity, gas and transport. She stated that a quarter of the emissions of carbon is from transport. She favoured the use of biofuels irrespective of how this would affect developing countries and food prices. She believed that biofuels cannot replace all fossil fuel but only make a contribution. There is a need for more research in the use of natural organic materials.