Working Hard in Europe for London - Mary Honeyball MEP

Annual Report 2005

Thank you for all your work and support in re-electing three London Labour MEPs. London was the best result in the country. This came from working with our Assembly members and the Mayor. A special thanks to Hilary Perrin and the Greater London Labour Party staff.

I was elected Whip of the European Parliamentary Labour Party and focus on Opposition Watch monitoring the work of the Conservatives, UKIP and our opponents in Europe. My committees are Environment, Culture, Women’s Rights and the committee working towards Turkey’s entry into the European Union.

Women’s Rights

I have fought hard in the European Parliament to continue the Daphne Programme, which combats violence against women and children. The European Parliament has, in fact, agreed to increase the funding for the Daphne Programme to €50 million over the next four years to enable it to be extended to the 10 new member-states.

This funding supports amongst others Hammersmith Women’s Aid, the Woman Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University and the Pakistan Women’s Welfare Association in Walthamstow.

The Environment and Public Health

One of the most important pieces of legislation going through the European Parliament is the REACH initiative on the regulation, evaluation and authorization of chemicals which will regulate not only new chemicals entering the EU market, but also those that have already been introduced since 1981. My blood was tested by WWF and found to contain a cocktail of chemicals including DDT which has been banned for decades. DDT has been linked to cancer and immune system disorders.

The Olympics

Individual Socialist MEPs are charged with developing relations with a specific sister party in another EU state. It has been my privilege to work with PASOK (the Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement) in Greece. My regular trips to Greece have helped to strengthen the common bonds of social democracy between Greece and Britain.

During these visits to Athens I have supported London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics, and I have also seen the amazing amount of development it has brought to the city of Athens. London would benefit greatly from hosting the Games. As a London MEP I look forward to showcasing the city I love to the rest of the world.

Turkey

On 17 December the European Union will decide whether or not to give Turkey a date to start negotiations to join the EU. As a strong supporter of Turkey’s membership, I have been active in London, the media and the European Parliament on this issue. Despite opposition inside some existing member states I believe that Turkey will eventually take its place within the European Union.

Mary Honeyball