Brian Simpson MEP

Reform Treaty 

How the European Union Move forward in the future is an issue causing great debate throughout the country.  Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament are all working towards making the EU more responsive to the needs of the ordinary citizen. Is it just a reform treaty or is it a clever plot to create a European superstate?  In this briefing, I try to answer questions most often asked. (Q) What will the reform treaty do? (R)  It will make the European Union more efficient, flexible and fair.  It will also create an institutional structure that will enable the European Union of 27 states to work more effectively for its’ citizens.                      (Q)   Will we require a referendum? (R)   No: Britain has never had a referendum to ratify an international    treaty.    Britain’s tradition is as a Parliamentary Democracy. Like previous treaties the proposed Reform Treaty should be scrutnised, debated and voted on In the Houses of Parliament              (Q)             Will the new Treaty affect workers rights? (R)                 The Reform treaty will explicitly commit European Governments to defend and strengthen the European Social model.  It also re-affirms the obligation on the Commission to promote the consultation of management and Labour at Trade Union level.  Whilst it is true to say that the UK has obtained a protocol regarding the Charter of Fundamental Rights (known as opt-out) the facts are that rights contained in the Charter are almost all provided for in UK national law. (Q)        Will the UK have to surrender powers and sovereignty to Brussels? (R)            No. The UK has maintained national control over key areas including justice and home affairs, social security, foreign policy and defence.  Also, the Reform Treaty actually gives National Parliaments a direct role, for the first time in deciding whether EU legislation is necessary. (Q)        Will the UK have to give up its permanent seat on the UN Security Council? (R)            No.  There is no question of this.  The UN Charter is clear that international organisations like the European Union cannot be members of the United Nations (Q)             Will the UK lose control of its borders? (R)                 No it will not.  The UK will retain its border controls and will be able to choose whether or not it wishes to participate on issues such as immigration, asylum and combating terrorism and organised crime. (Q)             Does this treaty create a European Superstate? (R)                 No, because the Treaty creates no new powers for the EU and is actually on amending Treaty. (Q)             Is this Treaty the same as the Constitutional Treaty? (R)                 No.  The EU’s 27 leaders have agreed that the proposed Constitutional Treaty has been abandoned.  There are substantial differences between the two treaties in form and content.  The Constitutional Treaty would have replaced all the existing treaties.  This Treaty amends existing treaties which Parliament has ratified and does not contain constitutional characteristics.   For more information, you can contact:The European Commission8 Storey’s GateLondon  SW1P 3ATTel: 0207 973 1992  

Mobile Phone Roaming Charges  Mobile operators have been charging consumers up to 5 times the real cost of making or receiving a call in another EU country.  As a result of these rip-off charges we, as Labour Euro MPs, have been campaigning since 2005 to cut costs for mobile phone users when travelling or on holiday in Europe.  After a two year campaign we have won the day in persuading the European Parliament to back our plan to reduce costs for consumers.  Our demands to cut prices and give people information about the charges they face have been supported by a majority of Euro MPs. (Q)        How much will it cost to make a call?(R)         The law introduces a new tariff – The Euro Tariff.  Costs will be reduced annually over a three year period and to protect the consumer, the operator will not be able to charge more than the following rates: Maximum cost of making a call per minute from another EU country: Year1:       0.49 eurocents – GBP with UK Vat: c. 0.39pYear2:       0.46 eurocents – GBP with UK Vat: c. 0.37pYear3                0.43 eurocents – GBP with UK Vat: c. 0.34p (Q)                                How much will it cost to receive a call?(R)                                 Maximum cost of receiving a call per minute from another EU country? Year 1:      0.24 eurocents – GBP with UK VAT: c. 0.19pYear 2:      0.22 eurocents – GBP with UK VAT: c. 0.18pYear 3:      0.19 eurocents – GBP with UK VAT: c. 0.15p (Q)        How will I know exactly what I am paying per minute to make and receive calls when in another country?(R)         Under the new EU rules once you arrive in another EU member state you will automatically receive a text message telling you how much you will be paying per minute to make and receive calls in that country. (Q)                  How do I find out about the Euro Tariff?(R)                  Under this law your mobile operator had to inform you about the deals on offer by the end of July.  You may choose to take the Euro Tariff but you still have the same right to negotiate a different scheme with your operator.  Unless you have actively opted for another scheme all users on standard contracts or pre-pay will automatically be put on the new EU Tariff by the end of September. (Q)                  How do I qualify for the cheaper prices?(R)                  You can opt in to the new offers from your operator at any time and they must transfer you to the new tariff within one month.  Otherwise, if you have a standard mobile contract or are a pre-user, you will automatically be put on the Euro Tariff by the end of September. (Q)   What if I already have a special European roaming deal with my operator?(R)    Your operator should have informed you about the new Euro Tariff at                   the end of July, if not, you can opt-in to the Euro Tariff at any time.           If you have a better deal you will stay on your current deal and not automatically covered by the Euro Tariff. (Q)        Will it be cheaper to text from Europe, or to use data services on my mobile when roaming?(R)         Texting or data charges will not be covered.  These charges continue to be too high and we are putting the industry under pressure to reduce these costs.  If they don’t we will extend the law to cover texting and data services.  We have asked the European Commission to undertake a study on the excessive costs of texting and data services. (Q)        Will the cost of using my mobile in the UK go up?(R)         No, this law will end the excess profits mobile operators have been making from roaming, not stop them making a decent return, so there is no excuse for them to push up domestic charges.  We have asked OFCOM, the regulator, to monitor closely to ensure no operators attempt to do so, but consumers should also be vigilant that no charges rise elsewhere and let OFCOM and us know if they do. (Q)        For how long will the law be in place?(R)         The law will be in place for 3 years to force operators to compete and give consumers better European roaming deals and prices. Labour MEPs will continue to demand big and sustained reductions in roaming prices.   We will continue to work with consumer groups to monitor this and if there is any return to rip-off prices we will be arguing for the law to be kept in place to protect consumers.   For more information contact:Arlene McCarthy MEP, Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. E:arlene.mccarthy@europarl.europa.eu     

• For flights less than 1500kms, 250 euros
• For flights of between 1500kms and 3500kms, 400 euros
• For flights above 3500kms, 600 euros
• Plus refreshments and a seat on the next available service

Workers Rights

(Q) How do I register for work in the UK?(R) As soon as you start work you need to register with the authorities.  The Home Office is the name of the Government Department that registers workers from new EU Member States.  (Q)      My employer says that work rights don’t apply to me because I am a worker and not an employee, is this correct?(R)          Yours rights at work depend whether by law you are an employee (which means that you get better rights)  or a worker (which means you do not do so well).  This is an important difference, but there is no easy test.  Many agency Workers fall into the grey area between the two.  Ultimately only an employment tribunal or a court can decide, through advice agencies and unions have lots of experienced. (Q)      What rights do all workers have in the UK?(R)          Everyone at work, including all agency workers enjoy these rights from their first day of work (Q)      What is the minimum I can be paid in the UK?(R)          The National Minimum Wage is the minimum that you can be paid for each hour that you work.  The latest rates apply from 1^st October 2006  If you are 22 or over, you should get at least £5.35 an hours;  If you are  aged 18 to 21, you should get at least £4.45 an hour; if you are aged 16 or 17, you should get at least £3.30 an hour (Q)         Can an agency charge me money to find work?(R)            No.  An agency cannot charge you a fee simply for finding you work, or for putting you on their books.  They also cannot insist that you buy other products or services such as CV writing, training, or personal protective equipment as a condition of using the work-finding services of the agency.  Employment agencies are meant to make their money from employers who need workers and not from those seeking work (Q)        What breaks and holidays am I allowed?a.    You have the right to a rest break of 20 mins  where your working day is longer than six hours.  If you are under 18, however you are entitled to a 30-minute break after working four and a half hours.  You should receive four weeks paid holiday every year. In the past, some employment agencies have tried getting round this by saying that your hourly pay rates include holiday pay and that they therefore do not have to give extra pay if you take a break.  However, thanks to a decision by the European Court of Justice, this practice is now unlawful, and your employer has to pay you on days which you take as holidays.          (Q)   How can I get my employer to give me my work rights?        (R)   Employers deny you your rights for a mix of reasons.  Sometimes it is because they don’t know what their responsibilities are.  Sometimes it is because they have always managed to get away with it, but will back down when challenged.  And sometimes it is because they rely on fear and exploitation to make their profits.        (Q)        What happens if I work in the Agricultural Sector?(R)         Your rights are covered by the Agricultural Wages Board.  This sets rates of pay (which may be higher than the National Minimum Wage as well as hours, holidays and overtime rates. (Q)        If I need more help who can I contact?T.U.C. Know Your Rights Helpline – 0870 600 4882.  Minimum Wage Helpline – 0845 6000 679.  Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate – 0845 955 5105.  Equal Opportunities Commission – 0845 601 5901.  Migrant Workers North West – 0161 877 6331.