Find out how Fiona spends her week

Monday

Today I met with representatives from ALCAN to discuss their smelter in Lynemouth, which could be effected by European emissions rules for large combustion plants. I managed to squeeze in a quick radio interview to discuss the European Health Insurance Card (http://www.fionahall.org.uk/news/17/index.phtml) before heading off to a working dinner on 'Energy now and energy in the future'.

Tuesday

An early start at a breakfast meeting with various representatives from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in preparation for the WTO round in Hong Kong. I had two working lunches to attend Today, which meant in practice that I never actually got to eat! At my first lunch I met the new ALDE (European Libs and Dems) observer MEP from Romania (they join the EU in 2007 with Bulgaria) followed by lunch number two with the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands, which is still a British dependency.

In the afternoon I took part in a press conference with the Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs and four other MEPs from the main political groups to discuss the final compromise we reached on Energy end-use efficiency (http://www.fionahall.org.uk/news/north14/index.phtml). In the evening I attended an event on renewable energy for heating and cooling In the EU around 50% of our total energy is used on heating so if more came from renewable energy sources it would make a big difference.

Wednesday

This morning was taken up by our ALDE (European Libs and Dems) group meeting. Later, ALDE held two public hearings, both on policy areas I work on. I took part in and chaired a session on the Great Lakes region of Africa following my recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (http://www.fionahall.org.uk/myweek/5/index.phtml). Afterwards I met up with Prof. Janet Bainbridge from the Regional Development Agency North East (ONE). I was delighted she had agreed to speak at the ALDE public hearing on FP7  (EU research fuinding) where she gave a strong North East perspective on the need for better access to research money for SMEs.

Thursday

As there were no meetings planned in Brussels today I organised a visit to meet my Westminster Lib Dem counterparts. As I arrived at the Gare du Midi in Brussels at 6.30am I wondered how wise it was of me to take such an early train but after breakfast with Berwick LibDem MP, Alan Beith and meetings with five other MPs, Lord Avebury and the international development team meeting, I realised it was really good to compare notes with my Westminster colleagues face to face and not just via phone calls or emails.

Friday

Lots of Christmas cards to write today followed by Christmas drinks with regional colleagues at the Gala Theatre in Durham. Alan Beith MP attended and Jenny Willott the recently elected LibDem MP for Cardiff Central was our guest.