Dame Glenis Willmott, our Labour MEP in the East Midlands, reports from Strasbourg.
Every month Labour MEPS debate the big issues and vote on new legislation and proposals in Strasbourg. This Strasbourg session has been another busy one for Labour MEPs. We've voted for a range of proposals, from tax transparency after the Panama leak, to a new package to help combat terrorism while protecting your privacy.
EU adopts Labour proposals for tax transparency
Some welcome news while the Panama Papers scandal keeps unfolding: a Labour report has led to new proposals for EU wide rules on tax havens, including public country-by-country reporting and a common list of tax havens.
Conservative MEPs have repeatedly failed to support EU action in the past, and David Cameron and the UK government have continually blocked stronger EU measures at meetings of European leaders.
New rules for air passengers and data protection laws will help combat terror and safeguard privacy
The European Parliament voted this week for the EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directive and data protection package.
The PNR directive will provide uniform rules on the processing and sharing of flight data between EU countries, and allow law enforcement to view the data in a dedicated database.
At the same time, the data protection package - long supported by Labour MEPs - will ensure the provisions of the measure are aligned and will mean a clear legal framework is in place for the use and sharing of personal data.
Labour MEPs have also voted for a report calling for the EU's Erasmus student exchange programme to be extended to more disadvantaged young people, for example those in vocational training rather than at university.
The report calls for expanding and improving mobility for vocational training and education, including specific support for disabled young people.
Labour MEPs believe one of the challenges of programmes such as Erasmus is to ensure they not only reach out to students in higher education but also to more disadvantaged young people who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities as learning abroad. Research has shown that Erasmus participants are half as likely to experience long term unemployment and 5 years after graduation their unemployment rate is 23% lower, so the more of our young people have access to this scheme the better.
Many thanks to Glenis for keeping us all up-to-date. Who says the EU doesn't have positive benefits for the UK? Perhaps if we had more positive and active MEPs like Glenis the popular impression might be very different.
Labour MEPs back extending EU's Erasmus student exchange scheme to include more disadvantaged young people.
Labour MEPs have also voted for a report calling for the EU's Erasmus student exchange programme to be extended to more disadvantaged young people, for example those in vocational training rather than at university.
The report calls for expanding and improving mobility for vocational training and education, including specific support for disabled young people.
Labour MEPs believe one of the challenges of programmes such as Erasmus is to ensure they not only reach out to students in higher education but also to more disadvantaged young people who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities as learning abroad. Research has shown that Erasmus participants are half as likely to experience long term unemployment and 5 years after graduation their unemployment rate is 23% lower, so the more of our young people have access to this scheme the better.
Many thanks to Glenis for keeping us all up-to-date. Who says the EU doesn't have positive benefits for the UK? Perhaps if we had more positive and active MEPs like Glenis the popular impression might be very different.
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