Week commencing 27th April 2009
This week is the last group week of this mandate, and it is unusual in that the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is holding its meetings in London. In theory this should have been very convenient for me, as I live only a short distance outside the capital, but this wasn't to be the case!
This was because not one, but two trialogues, were scheduled for Monday afternoon. Because trialogues need the participation of the Parliament, Commission, and Council, they always take place in either Brussels (as on this occasion) or Strasbourg. The first trialogue saw us reach a final agreement on the Capital Requirements Directive, which will address the issue of how much and what sort of capital banks have to store against their deposits.
The second was supposed to the final trialogue on a 'Community programme to support specific activities in the field of financial services, financial reporting and auditing', but there remain some issues which may yet require further negotiation. However, I'm pleased that a provision which I have been pushing for which strongly encourages those bodies which receive community funding but also operate in third countries to ensure the diversity of their overall funding arrangements has received wide support.
I caught the train back to London on Tuesday morning, so that I could chair an ALDE group debate on financial issues in the afternoon. Nick Clegg, the leader of the UK Liberal Democrat party, also gave speech to the group. The following morning I attended an ALDE Group Meeting, where I discussed developments in the Capital Requirements Directive and Financing of financial supervisory committees.
I travelled back to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon. This was because I had to sign a paper copy of the agreement on the Capital Requirements Directive, and tidy up my office a bit as the end of this Parliament's mandate is imminent. It's a good idea to start early, as I've amassed an amazing number of documents in my four years in Parliament - some of them are essential, but I think that a lot of them deserve to go in the recycling bin!
I will then return to the UK on Thursday morning, to work in my constituency office, and prepare for the start of the election campaign in May.
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