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General News Review: 2015
Hello there, and welcome to my December As usual, in lieu of Christmas cards, I’m making a donation
newsletter! We’ve decided to do things a to a Scottish charity. This year, it’s the Glasgow City
little differently this month and make this Mission, which provides emergency accommodation
newsletter a roundup of some of the key to Glasgow’s rough sleepers. We’ve got another bitterly
stories from the past 12 months. cold winter on the horizon, and it’s a crying shame to see
how many desperate, vulnerable folk there are out there
In here, you’ll find TTIP, bullfighting and Catalonia, along at this time of year. So instead of having to decipher my
with my usual updates on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and scrawl at the bottom of a card, this Christmas you’ll know
Animal Welfare. As always, I enjoy hearing your feedback, that a donation has been made in your name to give
so if you’ve got any comments or suggestions, please get some poor souls a night indoors.
in touch at the usual address:
alyn.smith@europarl.europa.eu Merry Christmas, and happy Hogmanay when
it comes!
In other news, the Scottish Government is offering three
full scholarships to the College of Europe – that’s enough Yours aye,
to cover the full fees, board and lodging. All students
who are ordinarily resident in Scotland can apply, and
no scholarship application needs to be completed. The
deadline is 20th January 2016 – go, go, go!
www.coleurope.eu/study/prospective-students
TTIP mini-update
are recognised as equivalent. Frankly, this is highly
problematic and will indirectly lower standards just as
surely as reducing the standards directly.
It may be Christmas but the Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP) does not stop for Mutual recognition will undermine the rules via the back
festivities, and there have been a few developments - door. Not only will inferior be available to purchase but
some good, some bad - here in Brussels. by allowing this produce, that is often cheaper, into the
market we will undermine the viability of our own farming
Tom Vilsack, the US Secretary of Agriculture, addressed system.
the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament
to outline his position on TTIP. I have long held that But in happier news, the so-called “consolidated texts”
agriculture should be removed from TTIP as the gulf are now available to all MEPs. Previously, I have visited to
between the two sides is simply too great, and previously the TTIP reading room to look through some of the EU’s
tabled amendments in the committee demanding a full classified documents but have not been able to view the
exemption. Sadly, there was insufficient support from my draft compromises that have been made between the EU
colleague for it to be adopted. and the US. These “consolidated texts” were only available
to 30 MEPs but with the ending of the restriction I will be
These comments did nothing to convince me that visiting the room as soon as possible. Although, due to
I was wrong. He stated that there are currently no confidentiality agreements I will not be able to share with
negotiations to change or lower EU standards, but there you exactly what I see, I’ll give you my opinion on their
is strong desire to ensure the EU and US regulations content early next year.
Foreign Affairs 2015
dealings with illegal settlements, not just goods but also
services.
The guidelines are a step forward to ensure the EU
Syria’s bloodshed needs a political enforces international law and does not fall complicit to
solution, not airstrikes Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories.
The EU was quick enough to act when Russia illegally
As a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee I spoke
annexed Crimea, yet the fact we welcome these
many times on behalf of my parliamentary group about
guidelines on labeling of illegal produce shows just how
the degrading situation in Syria.
slow the EU’s actions have been when it comes to Israel.
Amidst the launching of unprecedented Russian airstrikes
It is clear European consumers want more clarity, more
in Syria in support of the Assad regime, Europe has been
transparency on the produce they buy from illegal Israeli
left watching as hundreds of civilians and western-backed
settlements. It is equally clear that while these guidelines
Syrian rebels have been attacked. Despite official claims
will have limited economic impact, they will underline to
by the Kremlin that Russia’s intervention is to counter
the Israelis that the EU is finally starting to get serious.
the so-called Islamic State, evidence shows it has mostly
avoided ISIS and followed the steps of the Assad regime
to fight the moderate opposition.
Scotland calls for action in the Med
It has been a devastating year for civilians fleeing armed
conflicts and for international humanitarian law governing
the conduct of armed forces. Despite clear rules, civilians
bore the brunt of wars and conflicts around the world.
People fleeing a brutal civil war in Syria and other conflicts
in the Middle East are not a new phenomenon. However,
in 2015 the consequences of this war were impossible The EU guidelines are a reminder that we recognise
to miss. The Mediterranean Sea has become a Israel’s right to exist and a right to security within its own
cemetery, with more than 3,500 people reported to have borders. But this does not give Israel a right to illegally
died or gone missing attempting to cross it. And without occupy Palestinian land or allow settlers to illegally occupy
pointing fingers at anyone, a lack of support by some EU Palestinian land and exploit it for their profit.
Member States for search and rescue operations has
Most importantly, I note that both Israeli and Palestinian
contributed to the shocking death toll.
figures supporting peace have welcomed the EU
As one of the elected members for Scotland I’ve been efforts, with a public endorsement from over 550 Israeli
staggered by number of calls and emails from Scottish figures such as former Speaker of the Knesset and
people demanding action. Earlier this year, our open Chairman of the Jewish Agency Avraham Burg, Israeli
letter calling for immediate humanitarian assistance in Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman or former Israeli
the Mediterranean met with huge support from civic Ambassadors Elie Barnavi.
society and the general public.
The Syrian civil war is the main reason why we see a mass Victory against modern-day slavery
exodus of refugees. Until their homeland is safe men, In an astounding victory for anti-slavery campaigners
women and children will do anything to find safety. all over the world, the European Parliament has voted in
The scale, complexity, and urgency of today’s favour of mandatory measures to eradicate the presence
humanitarian crises are unprecedented. There is no easy of conflict minerals in the supply chain. The text now
solution and we cannot help everyone but we must do supports a fully mandatory mechanism to carry out
everything in our power to help as many as possible. supply chain due diligence.
The original proposal called for voluntary measures,
EU guidelines on which would have done nothing to combat trade in
Israel settlements in Palestine conflict minerals. We pushed for urgent amendments to
make it mandatory, and we succeeded.
As a long-term campaigner for recognition of Palestinian
state I welcomed the release of the EU guidelines on the By working within the EU, Scotland is part of something
import of produce from illegal Israeli settlements in the that we couldn’t have achieved on our own. Thousands of
Occupied Palestinian Territories. I believe they should constituents contacted me to ask that I take a stand on
be improved and extended to cover all commercial their behalf against conflict minerals. That’s what we did.
2
Other foreign affairs news...
Images of Syrian torture on display ‘Dirty tricks’ alleged over Catalunya
in European Parliament in EU Commission
In July I hosted a public exhibition of the evidence of In September, before I headed to Catalunya on an
torture in Syria at the European Parliament, after it was observation mission for the elections, I wrote to President
shown by the US Congress and UN HQ in New York. The Jean-Claude Juncker seeking urgent clarification into an
Caesar exhibition displays photographic evidence of the alleged dirty tricks incident whereby the Spanish version
Assad regime mass-use of torture to suppress internal of the Commission’s answer to a Parliamentary Question
dissent, four years after Syria’s revolution was met with on Catalan independence differed considerably from the
all-out repression. original English version.
The remarkable discrepancy between answers given
My appointment to north Atlantic couldn’t possibly be a simple mistranslation. The Spanish
advisory board language version was nonetheless published and used
Earlier this year, I was delighted to have been appointed extensively in the media by opponents of Catalan
to the prestigious board of “Jewels of the North Atlantic”, independence. This was an unacceptable attempt
an organisation seeking to encourage greater cooperation to misrepresent the Commission’s position ahead of
and collaboration across the north Atlantic region, democratic election in Catalunya.
encompassing the USA, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the
Faroe Islands, Norway, Denmark and Scotland. Other No more trade in tools of torture
members of the board include the former Premier of
EU-based companies can no longer market and trade in a
Greenland and the Secretary General of the West Nordic
range of security equipment that can be used to torture
Council.
and ill-treat people, following a vote in the European
Parliament in Strasbourg in October.
Firearms control to be
strengthened across the EU I hailed the strengthening of the existing EU-wide controls
on the trade in torture equipment as a victory for human
The European Commission proposed measures to make rights and common sense. European companies must
it more difficult to acquire firearms in the European stop benefiting from the barbaric global business of
Union, to better track legally-held firearms, to strengthen torture and executions and the European Parliament
cooperation between Member States, and to ensure that made sure that EU trade policy serves to protect human
deactivated firearms are rendered inoperable. rights, the fight against torture and the eradication of the
Tightening the rules and ensuring better enforcement death penalty across the world. EU-based companies
is where the EU can bring real added value, without can no longer contribute to inhumane practices in third
diminishing member state control. countries, which are totally at odds with EU values.
Raif Badawi awarded Sakharov prize
An empty seat was left in the European Parliament
for Raif Badawi, Saudi blogger and activist, winner of
this year’s prestigious Sakharov prize for freedom of
expression.
During the last plenary session of 2015 I once again called
on the Saudi authorities to release Raif Badawi, who has
been sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison
on charges relating to “insulting Islam” and creating the
“Saudi Arabian Liberals” website for social and political
debate.
While international pressure appears to have brought
a halt to the flogging after the first 50 of 1,000 lashes in
January 2015, Raif Badawi remains behind bars at risk
3 of brutal and inhumane treatment.
Animal Welfare 2015
As Honorary Vice-President of the Scottish SPCA, animal That’s why I’ve produced a quick puppy checklist as
welfare is an issue close to my heart, and I work hard to a starting point for anyone considering adding a pet to
promote this in the European Parliament. It’s been a busy their family this Christmas, which should make it easier to
year, between bullfighting, Maltese bird hunting, raccoons avoid being duped by unscrupulous dealers:
and – my favourite – puppies. www.alynsmith.eu/puppy_checklist
It feels like the Dogs’ Trust has been saying this since Remember, microchipping will be compulsory for dogs
I was a boy, but a dog really is for life, not just for from April next year! Most dog owners I know have
Christmas. I’m flabbergasted by how many people seem already had their pups microchipped but, for those who
to see puppies as disposable once the novelty has worn haven’t, Dogs Trust is offering the service for free
off. Dogs Trust are reporting puppies being returned in rehoming centres and mobile clinics. On my last visit
because they ‘looked different after walking in the rain’ or to Dogs Trust Glasgow, I saw dogs whose owners were
‘ate the bannoffee pie out of the fridge’. Puppies are not almost certainly worrying themselves sick, trying to find
toys. They are sensitive, loving little animals and we have their missing pet.
a responsibility to ensure they are properly cared for.
Collars can fall off or be removed but that tiny chip stays
Despite changes in EU legislation, puppy smuggling put. Microchipping is an absolutely invaluable tool in
remains endemic. Falsified passports and fake helping reunite lost, stolen, or strayed dogs with their
veterinary documents are providing a lucrative business owners. If your pet wanders off, you can simply check the
for crooked vets on the continent, while dogs are being central database:
bred in poor conditions in puppy farms in Scotland and www.alynsmith.eu/microchipping_your_pup_could_
sold to unsuspecting owners, who are then hit with save_his_life_one_day_says_alyn
enormous vet bills.
#SaveFlash
In other news...
Malta Spring Hunting
I promise to keep up the pressure on the European
Commission to end the mass killing of rare migratory
birds in Malta. While I respect the traditions of other Alyn with Flash and his handler Sean
countries, when rare species of bird are being blasted out
of the sky in contravention of the Birds Directive and this
is being swept aside under the guise of ‘hunting season’, Flash the raccoon – whose uncle Oreo was the model
the Commission has a responsibility to take action. for Rocket the Raccoon in Disney’s ‘Guardians of the
www.alynsmith.eu/malta_spring_hunting Galaxy’ blockbuster movie – is the star attraction of Party
Animals, the animal-assisted therapy organisation based
in West Lothian.
No blood subsidies for bullfighting But Flash and countless other animals across Scotland
Parliament now calls for the eradication of public money could fall foul of the Alien Invasive Species Regulation
boosting the coffers of farmers who raise animals that by the European Commission, which seeks to outline
are destined for a slow, painful and bloody end. Currently, measures to ban certain animals and plants from Europe.
subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are
Legislation is necessary and I support it in principle
quite legally used by Spanish (and some Portuguese and
but I have a responsibility to the people of Scotland to
French) on hectares used to rear bulls used in the fights.
make sure it is properly drafted. That’s why I voted to
It is unacceptable for Scottish taxpayers to subsidise
send this back to the drawing board, and managed to
activities that are in flagrant contradiction of our common
convince a majority of MEPs to agree! The use of animals
animal welfare goals, which is why I voted to end these
in social care is in its infancy, but it is a really encouraging
indirect subsidies for bullfighting.
preventative spend that is showing real benefits to clients
www.alynsmith.eu/bullfighting_victory_in_
across Scotland.
european_parliament
http://www.alynsmith.eu/alyn_helps_to_save_
scottish_therapy_raccoon_from_eu_edict
4
Agriculture 2015
The ongoing crisis in the dairy industry dominated annual turnover but wasn’t granted the authority until
agriculture news this year, prompted by overproduction earlier this year. If Tesco is found guilty, I’m sure the
causing an imbalance between supply and demand. Dairy £400million fine the coalition government saved them will
farmers were being paid less than the cost of production, cushion the blow!
farms were closing, and global supply rose by 5% a year, www.alynsmith.eu/farmers_not_a_priority_for_the_
demand only by 2%. Something had to be done. uk_government
The Milk Package was a long-term structural measure Supply-chain bullying really came to prominence in
designed to fix this broken market, and meant Member 2015, with ‘pay to stay’ and retrospective discounting
States had the right to make written contracts between – and, of course, First Milk telling farmers in January to
farmers compulsory, of minimum duration and with fixed expect a two-week delay in payments. But what’s the
prices. Unfortunately, the UK decided to opt instead for a alternative? If First Milk went bust, all those farmers would
Voluntary Code of Practice, in addition to the creation of have lost their buyer. Supermarkets can tell a farmer
the Groceries Code Adjudicator, but the framework was they’ll buy cheese at £10 per kilo and then, once the
riddled with holes. The Voluntary Code covers processors cheese has been delivered, boot it down to £5 per kilo.
not retailers; the GCA covers direct relationships Sure, the farmer can complain but who’s going to buy his
with retailers (only 3% of the market) but not indirect cheese next time?
relationships, and neither critically focuses on price www.alynsmith.eu/unfair_supply_chain_uk
formation and the balance of power in the supply chain.
I’m all for supermarkets cutting prices. But our suppliers
That’s why the Milk Package also promotes the formation shouldn’t be the ones who take the hit. Retrospective
of Producer Organisations for the planning of deductions, the threat of de-listing, demanding
production and concentration of supply, and POs are standards’ compliance but at the suppliers’ expense –
allowed to collectively negotiate for contract terms, these are all ways that Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs)
including price. POs are vital to balancing the supply chain are strangling farmers.
unfairness and would allow our farmers to counter weak
That’s why, as Shadow Rapporteur for Mairead
bargaining positions – look at France, where almost 90%
McGuinness’ draft report on UTPs, I pushed for formal
of the annual marketable volume of recognised POs is
legal protection for our farmers:
negotiated collectively! While farmers have in the past
www.alynsmith.eu/_our_farmers_need_legal_
proved reluctant to operate collectively, in the ruthless
protection_against_unfair_trading_practices_says_
world of the modern supply chain where brute market
alyn
power counts for everything, attitudes may have to
change. www.alynsmith.eu/producer_organisations_ Our case was so compelling, we managed to get the
may_save_our_dairy_farmers majority of MEPs to agree, and the European Parliament
voted to adopt the full report! The Commission should
now draw up an open list of UTPs to be banned at
EU level, implement procedures to allow confidential
complaints, and give enforcement bodies the power to
impose appropriate sanctions. The opinion will now be
passed to the Internal Markets Committee, so we’re not
there yet but it’s an absolutely superb start.
www.alynsmith.eu/unfair_trading_practices_
europe_moves_to_protect_farmers
Meanwhile, the Milk Supply Association (MSA) has
announced it will form the first EU Dairy Producer
Organisation in Scotland! Formed by producers, a
Producer Organisation can optimise production costs,
The UK Government took more than a year to grant stabilise producer prices, and respond faster to changes
the GCA the power to fine supermarkets for dodgy in the market. For example, Fresh Growers Ltd brought
practices. The GCA, Christine Tacon, has confirmed she Chantenay carrots back to the UK and now supplies over
has “reasonable suspicion” that Tesco breached the 90% of the domestic Chantenay market. I’ve given MSA
Groceries Supply Code of Practice but cannot fine my support, and I hope their DPO to be the first of many
supermarkets retrospectively. In 2013, Christine for Scotland. www.alynsmith.eu/scotland_s_first_
dairy_producer_organisation_first_step_to_save_
5
asked for the power to fine retailers 1% of their
the_dairy_industry_says_mep
Other agriculture news...
Country of origin labelling The future of farming?
According to Which?, 83% of UK customers think it’s It’s always a pleasure to visit
important that food labels include the country of origin. I Whitmuir Organic Farm, and
agree, and have been calling for this since 2009! Labelling their plan to become the
is a tricky issue because you can have a cheese produced first community-owned farm
in Scotland but made from milk imported from, say, in Scotland gave me a fine
Northern Ireland. But the Scottish Government launched excuse to pop through! The
a new Scottish dairy brand at the Royal Highland Show farming sector has to evolve
this year, so let’s buy local this Christmas! and Scotland’s already got a
www.alynsmith.eu/alyn_backs_consumer_calls_for_ good story to tell when we talk
country_of_origin_labelling about high-quality food.
www.alynsmith.eu/alyn_praises_inspirational_
whitmuir_farm_plans
All things CAP
When Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan asked
for CAP simplification suggestions, I opened the floor
Say cheese!
to Scotland’s farmers and pressed him on cross- Pleased to see Dunlop
compliance. Personally, I think we need to start again cheese achieve
with a fresh sheet of paper because – while the CAP Protected Geographical
is vital for Scottish agriculture – we’re tinkering with a Indicator (PGI)
broken system. status! Destined for
greatness, along with
www.alynsmith.eu/alyn_presses_farming_
Arbroath Smokies
commissioner_on_cap_cross_compliance
and Dundee Cake.
www.alynsmith.eu/_cap_serves_supermarkets_not_
farmers_and_not_the_people_of_scotland
Meanwhile, Scotland’s own Richard Lochhead and Tony
Alyn is a full member of the European
Buchanan flew out to Brussels to discuss how the new
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
CAP is being implemented in Scotland, with Richard
and Scotland’s sole voice on the Agriculture
highlighting his five ‘demands for Europe’:
Committee. He’s also Honorary Vice-President
www.alynsmith.eu/agri_meps_hear_the_cap_view_
of the Scottish SPCA
from_scotland
NFU pro-EU Stay informed
Andrew McCornick, Vice-President of the NFU, described
the EU’s role in supporting farmers as “complex but It’s easy to keep in touch about my work on your behalf
invaluable”. Good work by Christina McKelvie and the and on developments in the European Parliament:
rest of the European and External Relations Committee
in launching such a wide-ranging inquiry into the EU
alyn.smith@europarl.europa.eu
referendum implications for Scotland.
www.alynsmith.eu/european_membership_good_
for_farming_but_independence_in_europe_better_ Techcube, 1 Summerhall,
still Edinburgh, EH9 1PL
Cloning alynsmithSNP
Until there is scientific consensus that food from cloned
animals and their descendants is completely safe for
@AlynSmithMEP
human consumption, a total ban must remain in place.
www.alynsmith.eu/comprehensive_ban_on_cloned_
food
www.alynsmith.eu
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