20th July 2009

Brian Simpson MEP driving forward European transport policy

Today Brian Simpson MEP has been elected as chair of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament.

"This is a great honour and reflects the high standing that Labour MEPs have within the European Parliament. Transport is an important policy area that affects people's everyday lives. It also has a crucial role to play in the next five years in helping reduce global warming and to act as a catalyst in stimulating the economy and in creating new jobs as part of Europe's economic recovery plan." said Brian Simpson MEP, newly elected chair of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament.

Brian Simpson MEP continued: "This is the first time that a British MEP has been elected Chair of the Transport Committee. The work of the Transport Committee is of vital importance to the UK, as we modernise our railways and integrate them into the European network."

Brian is a long serving member of the Transport Committee and has been the Spokesman for Transport & Tourism for the Socialist Group in the European Parliament twice, from 1991 to 2004 and re-elected to that role again in 2008. 

He was a Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 2004 and then again from 2006 to the present.

Brian is Vice President of the Heritage Railways Association. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.