December 2008 (Central Scotland Liberal Democrats)

Central Scotland Liberal Democrats <ian.ogilvie.libdems@talktalk.net>

December 2008

December 28, 2008 12:00 AM

The first three weeks of December always seem to be particularly hectic, as they involve juggling normal activities with the demands of getting organised for the festive season.

My main preoccupations, as far as work was concerned, were education, cohesion policy and fisheries. The education part included our votes on ECVET, which is a framework for allowing educational and vocational qualifications to be transferred across the EU. It also covered visits from NUS Scotland and from law students from Glasgow University and a visit to a primary school in Bridge of Weir.

Cohesion policy meant writing amendments to a report on territorial cohesion. These were mainly aimed at making sure funding could be targeted to communities really in need of it, no matter where in the EU they might be found. I also had a meeting with members of the East of Scotland European Consortium about the issues involved.

When it came to fisheries, there were more amendments to be dealt with (to my report on whaling) as well as writing another report, this time on the governance of the Common Fisheries Policy. Its main thrust is to push for the upcoming reform to allow for decisions to be taken with as much stakeholder involvement as possible.

Of course, given the season, it wasn't all work. Our Group had its end of year celebration, at which the Scots and Irish got together to perform some traditional songs, and there was our Glasgow office lunch.

And I went to one very special event - the launch of J K Rowling's "Tales of Beedle the Bard" in Edinburgh. This was at the invitation of my colleague, Emma Nicolson, who is a co-sponsor of the High Level Group helping disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe, who will benefit from sales of the book.

Ultimately, there was a quiet time at home until into January. As I write this, I am back in Brussels preparing for Strasbourg, which promises to be even colder than it is here. Obviously, the very sad situation in the Middle East will be high on our agenda. But we shall be dealing with pesticides too - with the difficult task of voting a package that will protect human health but not have adverse effects on crop production.

I finish by wishing everyone (a little belatedly) all the very best for 2009.