Find out how Fiona spends her week

Monday 20th February

This week is committee week in the European Parliament. During a committee week we MEPs meet to draw up, amend and adopt legislative proposals and own-initiative reports on a specific policy area before they are presented to the plenary assembly. I sit on the International Development (DEVE) and the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committees. Today I had to decide how I would vote on amendments put forward by other MEPs for a report on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) which are trade agreements between the EU and ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries. I am concerned that these agreements may end up hindering developing countries rather than helping their economies.

Tuesday 21st February

This morning was the vote in Development Committee on Economic Partnership Agreements. It was quite complicated as there were many amendments to vote on and MEPs did not reach the compromise some had hoped. I also presented a report on my election observation mission to Haiti two weeks ago. In the afternoon the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee sat and I also met some representatives from Unilever who came to talk to me about alternative sources for biofuels.

Wednesday 22nd February

This morning I met a representative from the European Federation of Transport and the Environment about energy policy for cars. Then I spoke to two 'Médecins sans Frontières' (Doctors without Borders) who I had invited to discuss the high mortality rate in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We hope to bring this concerning issue to the forefront of the EU agenda. The EU-ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Joint Parliamentary Assembly is meeting in Brussels this week and I sit on the Committee for Social Affairs and the Environment. This afternoon we discussed a report on fisheries and its social and environmental aspects in developing countries. In the evening I attended a reception on the conflict over the Saharawi people in Western Sahara.

Thursday 23rd February

This morning at the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly the European Commission presented a follow-up report on my report on Natural Disasters and Climate Change. Water in developing countries was also discussed which I found particularly interesting as I have had numerous letters from constituents concerned that the EU Water Initiative is not performing as it should. I then met with a man from the European Commission who is negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements with ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries.

Friday 24th February

A hectic day in the North East, beginning with a visit to pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp and Dohme in Cramlington. Heavy traffic on the A1 meant I was late for a lunchtime meeting with the editor and political editor of the Northern Echo, but the rest of the afternoon in Darlington went smoothly. I spoke to traders in Darlington's beautiful covered market about the importance of enhancing town centre shopping, then met with local campaigners in North Darlington who want to use a redundant school building as a community centre.