In his speech, the UK Prime Minister urged the rest of Europe to be ‘bolder’. He set out an agenda for completing the Single Market and reducing stifling red tape on enterprise. Mr Harbour, the ECR chairman of the European Parliament’s internal market committee said that his main checklist of reforms was already being delivered by ECR MEPs in the European Parliament. For example, Sajjad Karim MEP is working on proposals for better legislation, which will see all future proposals tested for their impact on small businesses, and a reduction in the overall burden of EU law with a ‘one in, one out’ approach. Emma McClarkin MEP’s report on professional qualifications has helped form the basis for new legislation that will assist professional workers in having their qualifications recognised across the single market, whilst tightening up protection against rogue or ineffective workers.

Cameron also called for a ‘coalition of the willing’ to pursue bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in light of the ongoing failure to reach a multilateral agreement under the Doha round. Robert Sturdy, the ECR’s international trade spokesman and Vice-President of the trade committee in the parliament, was the parliament’s lead member on granting approval to the first of the new FTAs with South Korea – which will cut tariffs on EU products by €1.6 billion by 2016.

ECR group Chairman Martin Callanan MEP said: “The EU faces two crises: a sovereign debt crisis and a crisis of competitiveness. Instead of discussing treaties or new powers for EU institutions we need to funnel all of our energy on jump-starting economic growth and making the whole EU more competitive in a fierce global world. Europe will be left behind if we do not act immediately and with ambition.”

“David Cameron is right to point out the fundamental weakness of the Eurozone, which is the divergence of northern and southern European economies. The strait jacket of the Euro has exacerbated that divergence.”

Robert Sturdy MEP said: “By 2015, nearly 90 per cent of world growth will be generated outside of Europe, much of this in the Pacific area. This is a staggering statistic. The EU must re orientate its trade to take into account these current realities.”

“In view of this, the EU has implemented a progressive bilateral trade agenda that has targeted the world’s dynamic and high growth economies. After the success of the EU-South Korea FTA that came into force last summer, the EU has been pursuing similar agreements with India, Japan, Singapore and Canada amongst others. Only by taking into account the advantages and opportunities of the rise of ‘the rest’ has to offer, will the EU be able to guarantee economic growth and prosperity into the 21st Century.”

Malcolm Harbour MEP, who was this week re-elected chairman of the internal market committee in the parliament, said: “Much of David Cameron’s agenda for completing the Single Market is being taken forward. Our focus has been on bringing the Single Market into the digital age so that online businesses can offer goods and services across 500 million people.”

“We are also in the process of agreeing a major reform of public procurement rules. Our aim is to encourage innovation in the way that public bodies commission goods and services so that taxpayer money is saved and smaller businesses are given access to this untapped potential. This reform would act as a substantial boost to businesses across Europe.”

“A Single Market that is open within itself and to the outside world is the best way of granting our businesses new opportunities. EU regulation is still placing too many burdens on entrepreneurs. There is so much more that we can be doing to free the hands of businesses so that they can dedicate all of their energies to growing rather than complying.”

“The previous EU summit called for the completion of all the Single Market Act proposals by the end of 2012. The SMA is the centrepiece of the European Growth Agenda and the ECR was pivotal in getting it approved.”

“Whatever the short term answers to this crisis, more open and competitive markets must be the long term answer. A commitment to increasing competitiveness and opening markets will go a long way towards inspiring some confidence in the markets that we will come through the storm.”

http://www.conservativeeurope.com//news/1575/camerons-davos-agenda-of-competitiveness-and-opening-trade-is-real-answer-to-eus-crisis.aspx

Alongside the European Parliament’s Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity, Countryside Activities and Forestry Intergroup and the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE), Mr. Sturdy chaired a very productive discussion that was also attended by Ms. Bastino of the European Commission. The aim of the seminar was to influence the Commission’s upcoming proposal for an EU Strategy on invasive Alien Species, which is expected to be presented in 2012.

Invasive Alien Species are a major cause of biodiversity loss. In the UK the American Grey Squirrel has out competed, and in many parts of the UK replaced, the native red. Aside from the cost to biodiversity there is also a cost to the economy. Invasive Alien Species are estimated to cost theUKeconomy over £2 billion a year. In the EU this figure is estimated to be £10 billion.

Speaking after chairing the event, Mr. Sturdy said:

“Invasive Alien Species are not only clear and present dangers to European biodiversity, their effects are felt by our rural communities and it is thought that they cost the UK and EU billions of Euros every year. It is very important that we recognise the scale of the threat and deal with it accordingly. ”

 Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit www.robertsturdymep.com

On the 2nd of March 2012, in the prestigious surroundings of one of the world’s greatest and oldest universities, Robert Sturdy MEP, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, will be hosting a trade conference aimed at bringing together British SMEs and national and European experts, advisers and officials, to provide essential information to British companies on how to take their business to the world.

The conference will be split into three panel sessions followed by a questions and answer session. There will be an intermission for a buffet lunch which will double as a roaming session, that will provide the opportunity for the panellist and the other attendees to engage directly with one another in order for them to raise concerns, discuss experiences, and make direct contacts with policy professionals and experts.

A number of additional speakers and attendees have been confimed! Confirmed panellists now include Mark Prisk MP – Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Dr. Syed Kamall - MEP for London, Sean McGuire - Brussels Director of the CBI, John Walker - National Chairman Federation of Small Businesses , Ray Symons - EU Affairs British Retail Consotium, Liz Basing- UKTI, Signe Ratso – Trade Strategy and Analysis European Commission and Patrick Crawford – Chief Executive of the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD).

 Registration Open Now – To register for this free conference, or for more information, please contact rwsturdy@btconnect.com.