GrahamWatson

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Political Memory: Graham WATSON, MEP

{{#icon:GrahamWatson.jpg|Graham WATSON}}

General Data

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Contact
{{#icon:Click_to_call_now.png|+32 2 28 45 626||callto://+3222845626}}


Functions in European Parliament

  • Delegation for relations with India
    (Chair)
  • Conference of Delegation Chairs (Member)
  • Committee on Foreign Affairs (Member)
  • Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China (Member)
  • Committee on Fisheries (Substitute)
  • Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Substitute)

Curriculum Vitae

  • BA (Hons.) Modern Languages (1979)
  • Interpreter (1979-1980)
  • Administrator, Paisley College (1980-1983)
  • Head of the private office of the Rt Hon
  • David Steel MP, Leader of the Liberal Party (1983-1987)
  • Banker, HSBC Holdings PLC (1988-1994)
  • Vice-President (1977-1979) and General Secretary (1979-1981), International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth
  • Council member, Party of European Liberals and Democrats (1983-1993)
  • Member of the European Parliament (since 1994)
  • Whip, ELDR Group (1994-1996)
  • Leader, UK Liberal Democrats (1999-2002)
  • Chairman, Committee on Justice and Home Affairs (1999-2002)
  • Leader, ELDR Group (2002-2004)
  • Editor, 'The Parliament Magazine (since 1999)

Votes

Opinions

Sources

Positions

Thanks to improve this part with opinions from Graham WATSON about La Quadrature du Net concerned issues (see page Help:Political_Memory to know how to do it).

25/05/2010 Written Declaration 12/2010 (ACTA)

Has signed written declaration 12/2010 on the lack of a transparent process for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and potentially objectionable content.

19/07/2008 Reply to campaign concerning vote on IMCO & ITRE of Telecoms package

Thank you for your e-mail concerning the Telecoms reform package, which is now going through the European Parliament. Earlier this month the Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee voted by a large majority in favour of a series of amendments that significantly enhance users´ rights in electronic communications.

These significant amendments include:

* The IMCO vote does not give governments new powers to restrict access, or to make applications illegal. Instead market demand and competition between operators will decide whether they see any point in restricting access.

* Number porting (the process of keeping a number when switching networks) will now take one day (while it has previously taken up to one month). However, there are also provisions in case of slamming (when a consumer is switched to another network without their consent) which will allow NRAs to intervene in such cases.

* Users will have to be informed of any costs incurred when terminating agreements early, where handsets or other terminal equipment are included free, or at a subsidised price,.

* Operators will have to inform users about any restrictions on access to services (such as Skype) before contracts are concluded;

* Promotion of the European 112 emergency call number across the EU, and measures to speed up the availability of mobile caller location when emergency calls are made. This will remain complementary to existing national emergency numbers.

* Disabled users will have equivalent access to communications with special terminal equipment for their needs. With regard to keeping the Internet open by empowering regulators to intervene if a carrier discriminated against a particular service provider - for example, by blocking or slowing traffic the following was agreed;

* Regulators would be given enabling powers to allow standardised public service messages to be delivered to users. These service messages could include security protection advice, and advice on harmful or unlawful uses of the Internet, and their potential consequences. The information would be sent to all users, but this would not be to targeted individuals and not be based on individual usage. Copyright infringement is just one of the areas that might be covered, but it will be up to public authorities to supply the information.

* The Committee also accepted under parliamentary rules, a set of amendments from the Civil Liberties Committee on data protection. Significantly this includes new requirements for operators to inform subscribers in the event of any breach of their personal data through electronic networks.

I note from the cross party support on this matter which claims these amendments are intended to reduce consumer choice and undermine individual freedom are not the case. The Directive contains no provisions on Copyright Law enforcement, and it does refer, in any way, to the French Government's proposed enforcement agreement.

Committee members who examined this Bill in detail welcome constructive suggestions for improvements to ensure that the text has no "unintended consequences" that infringe consumer rights. Nonetheless I think they all agreed that some lobbyists who had completely misrepresented the objectives of the legislation. MEPs will finally vote on the amendments in Parliament in September.

Thank you for contacting me on this matter and if I can be of any assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

In view of your interest in how I might be able to help you, it occurs to me that you might like to receive my weekly email newsletter providing news and my views on EU developments. If so, please let me know and I will add your email address to my distribution list.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Watson MEP Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar and Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament

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