Find out how Fiona spends her week

Monday

Early start this week for the usual train down to Strasbourg for plenary week. At our pre-plenary meeting of the ALDE (European Libs and Dems) group I was asked to stand in for a colleague and present a resolution on 'Financing the Millennium Development Goals'. This provoked an interesting debate. Later on I met with my UK LibDem colleagues to discuss this week's plenary agenda.

Tuesday

I started the day with an extra ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) Committee meeting with Commissioner Piebalgs on the implementation of Energy Directives. It appears that member states including the UK are not fully implementing old directives in spite of what their governments are saying about commitment to security of energy supply. During today's votes we adopted a report I’ve been working on about Heating and Cooling from renewable energy sources. This report asked the Commission to put forward legislation on this and we later heard that the Commission planned to do so - good news!

Wednesday

This morning began with a press conference on banning the use of tiger and leopard skins in India, China and Nepal (link). MEPs are seeking support for a Written Declaration on this subject, which takes effect if a majority of MEPs sign. I had an eventful meeting with the other MEPs who went to Haiti with me as part of the EU election observation mission. We had a speakerphone telephone conversation with the mission leader in Haiti at the very point that he and the rest of the mission were being evacuated because of the deteriorating security situation.

Thursday

The majority of this morning was taken up with the vote on the controversial Services Directive which led to demonstrations 30,000 people.

Friday

A day on Teeside, with a visit to the impressive facilities at Stockton

College and a meeting with Evening Gazette editor Darren Thwaites.