Graham's Week
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July 2002
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June 2002
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May 2002
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April 2002
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March 2002
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February 2002
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January 2002
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December 2001
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Published and promoted by Graham Watson MEP, Bagehots Foundry, Beards Yard, Langport, TA10 9PS. Printed and hosted by Nextra, Global House, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, KT18 5AD.
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February 2002
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| 01 - 02 February |
| 03 - 09 February |
| 11 - 15 February |
| 18 - 22 February |
25 February - 02 March
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01 - 02 February
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FRIDAY, 1 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be speaking to business leaders at a CBI lunch in Plymouth. He will be explaining the need for Britain to adopt the European single currency as a matter of urgency to safeguard jobs and investment. Graham will also be stressing the need for improved rail links in the region. The lunch will be hosted by BAE Systems.
In the afternoon, Graham will be meeting Liberal Democrats in Plymouth who are concerned about noise levels at Plymouth Airport.
SATURDAY, 2 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be returning to Brussels to discuss the agenda for the following week's parliamentary sessions in Strasbourg.
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03 - 09 February
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SUNDAY, 3 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be in Antwerp to see Liberal Democrat party leader Charles Kennedy sworn in as honorary European senator.
MONDAY, 4 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be travelling to Strasbourg for a week-long session of parliamentary debates and committee meetings.
Parliament will be debating a proposal for common definitions and penalties in the fight against drug trafficking which was drawn up under Graham's chairmanship of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
TUESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY
In view of the importance of agriculture and fishing to the South West, Graham Watson will be following closely reports to parliament on the monitoring of BSE, including compulsory testing of sheep, and measures for the recovery of cod stocks.
Graham will be meeting Javier Solana, High Representative for the European Common Foreign and Security Policy. They will be discussing the situation in the Middle East.
WEDNESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY
In his role as recently elected leader of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform group of MEPs, Graham Watson will be holding a press conference to discuss the European Parliament's inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis.
Graham's report on combating terrorism, including the European arrest warrant, receives another reading in parliament.
At 1pm, Graham will be meeting Customs Commissioner Frits Bolkestein to discuss the issue of the seizure of cars from cross-Channel shoppers by UK Customs and Excise officers. This follows Graham's meeting with UK Customs Minister Paul Boateng at the Treasury in London on Thursday, 31st January.
As ELDR leader, Graham will be meeting M. Giscard d'Estaing who is to head a convention drawing up proposals for the future shape of the European Parliament under plans agreed at the Laeken summit in December.
In the evening, Graham will be meeting representatives of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) to discuss the role of the family in preventing delinquency.
Graham will later be meeting a group of Taiwanese MPs who are visiting Strasbourg.
THURSDAY, 7 FEBRUARY
In the morning, Graham Watson will be meeting foreign affairs ministers from Turkey.
He will later have discussions with Georgi Parvanov, president-elect of Bulgaria.
As leader of the ELDR group, Graham and the leaders of the other political parties will take part in a conference with Pat Cox, recently-elected president of the European Parliament.
FRIDAY, 8 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be speaking to delegates at a South West regional forum of the European Youth Parliament. The EYP offers opportunities to sixth form students to develop key skills including those of communication, working with others and problem solving. Delegates debate the major issues affecting Europe today. Graham will be discussing the importance of an early decision on Britain's adoption of the single currency and on the challenges posed by enlargement of the EU.
Graham will be discussing the future of regional government at a meeting of leading members of the South West Constitutional Convention at the Bishop's Palace in Exeter.
In the evening, Graham will be the key speaker in a debate on the importance of the euro held by East Devon Liberal Democrats at Sidford, East Devon.
SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be returning to Brussels for discussions with ELDR colleagues on the future shape of the EU.
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11 - 15 February
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MONDAY, 11 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be working on his new book concerning the role of the European Parliament's Justice and Home Affairs Committee which he chaired. The book will cover all aspects of this key committee's work including the issues of terrorism, asylum, data protection, and international crime.
TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be flying to Singapore at the invitation of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), an organisation which aims to promote and cement links between Asia and the EU.
WEDNESDAY, 13 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be addressing Asia-Europe Foundation delegates on the subject of terrorism and the EU's approach to tackling it.
THURSDAY, 14 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be a guest at the fifth anniversary of the Asia-Europe Foundation. EU Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy will give an anniversary lecture on Asia-Europe relations.
FRIDAY, 15 FEBRUARY
Before returning to Brussels, Graham Watson will be meeting the Singapore foreign minister to encourage cultural and trade links between Asia and Europe. He will also meet opposition politicians campaigning for human rights in the territory.
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18 - 22 February
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MONDAY, 18 FEBRUARY
In his role as leader of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Group in the European Parliament, Graham Watson will be holding a press briefing in Brussels to discuss ELDR issues and plans.
Graham will later be discussing progress on plans to enlarge the EU with Mr M. Zantousky, a Czech senator.
Graham will be returning to his constituency to take part in a head-to-head debate in Bristol with Nigel Farage, UKIP MEP for the South East. They will be debating whether Britain should join the single currency and the wider issue of Britain's continued membership of the EU. The debate will take place in the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton, Bristol, starting at 7.30pm.
TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY
In the afternoon, Graham will be in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, campaigning with Liberal Democrat activists against the North Western Distributor Road.
Later, Graham will be in Malmesbury Without ward of North Wiltshire District Council where Ann Davis is the Liberal Democrat candidate in a by-election. They will be assessing the impact of Dyson's decision to move vacuum cleaner production to Malaysia. They will also be discussing the future of RAF Lyneham with local residents.
In the evening, Graham will be a guest at the second annual Patrons' Dinner at @ Bristol.
WEDNESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY
In Brussels, Graham Watson will be meeting the Spanish permanent representative to the EU.
Graham will be taking part in a meeting of the European Parliament's Development and Co-operation Committee.
THURSDAY, 21 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be speaking at a breakfast briefing meeting of the European Policy Centre think-tank. He will be discussing the subject of "After Laeken - the fight against terrorism."
Graham will later meet Dell Higgie, the New Zealand Ambassador to the EU. In the evening he will meet members of the Scottish Parliament who are visiting Brussels.
FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be speaking to business leaders at a CBI lunch meeting being held at Bournemouth University. He will be speaking about the need for an early decision on Britain's membership of the common currency. Graham will later meet Professor Gillian Slater, vice-chancellor of the university.
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25 February - 02 March
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MONDAY, 25 FEBRUARY
Graham will later be discussing the need for an early decision on Britain joining the common currency with John Cridland, deputy director of the Confederation of British Industry.
In the evening, Graham will be meeting European Commission President Romano Prodi, together with Alexander Beels, Secretary General of the ELDR group. Issues under discussion will include the future shape of the EU and its institutions.
TUESDAY, 26 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will be discussing media concentration in the EU with Michel Rocard, chairman of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee. Also taking part in the meeting will be Italian MEP Mariotto Segni and Spanish MEP Enrique Baron Crespo.
Graham will later be meeting Dr R. Meinardus, new ambassador to the Phillipines of the Liberal organisation, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. They will be discussing issues concerning Korea, Japan and the Phillipines.
In the evening, Graham will be attending a reception for organisations concerned with equal opportunities for women.
Graham will later be outlining his priorities as the new leader of the ELDR group to Liberal Democrats working in Brussels.
WEDNESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will speak in parliament in Brussels in a debate on proposals for a new international criminal court for the trial of people accused of crimes against humanity.
Graham will be 'buttonholing' Commissioner Neil Kinnock at a reception at the Wales Euro Centre to quiz him about progress in his reforms of the European Commission.
THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY
Graham Watson will take part in a debate concerning freedom of access to documents as part of his campaign for greater transparency in the EU.
Graham will be a member of the panel in a special edition of HTV's Punchbag programme to be filmed in Brussels. The programme will be screened this evening.
Graham will later be hosting a dinner for Liberal Democrat members of the convention on the future of the European Union.
FRIDAY, 1 MARCH
Graham Watson will be attending a meeting of the South West Regional Assembly at County Hall, Exeter.
In the evening, he take part in a South West Constitutional Convention executive meeting at the Bishop's Palace in Exeter.
SATURDAY, 2 MARCH
Graham Watson will be the keynote speaker at the Wiltshire Liberal Democrats Spring Conference to be held at the Lawns Community Centre in Swindon. He will be speaking at 10.15am.
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