Tuesday, 09 October 2007

PRESS RELEASE

A group of 34 members and friends of the Tamworth based Peel Society made a unique journey to Alsace, France last month to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg. They made the visit at the invitation of the West Midlands M.E.P, Philip Bradbourn.

The Peel Society group in the European Parliament in Strasbourg with Philip Bradbourn O.B.E. M.E.P. In front, Mrs Joyce Smith. Behind Mrs Smith, left to right. Philip Bradbourn M.E.P. J. Robert Peel, Nigel Morris, Vice Chairman of the Peel Society and Mike Jones. All the men wore Peel Society ties! Click the picture for a larger view.

The visit started last Tuesday with a walking tour of the old city of Strasbourg with its medieval houses leaning over the streets and rivers and its glorious cathedral. This old city at the crossroads of Europe changed nationality four times between 1871 and 1944.

The following day, the group made a visit to the Louise Weiss Parliament building. They enjoyed a talk and question and answer session with Philip Bradbourn and two other West Midlands M.E.Ps, Philip Bushill-Matthews and Malcolm Harbour.

There are 785 Members of the European Parliament from 27 countries. Each member chooses to belong to one of eight groups ranging from the far left with the Communists and Sinn Fein to the far right fascists such as the French National Front. The M.E.Ps the Peel Society talked to came from the largest group with 278 members called the "Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats." Other large groups include the Socialist group and the Liberals.

One of the most interesting part of the talks were those from M.E.Ps from Sweden, Malta and the Czech Republic, Gunner Hokmark, Simon Busuttil and Ivo Strejcek. They gave the Peel Society an interesting idea of what the European Union meant to their countries and how each M.E.P works together with their colleagues from 27 counties to achieve their aims.

After these discussions we heard about the organisation of the Parliament and then went to hear a debate on the crisis in Darfur (Sudan) in the Parliamentary Chamber. It is uncanny listening to simultaneous translation in English from speakers from all over Europe. Although the speakers in the Parliament use their native tongue, 84% of the members can use English as a working language, so committees use English.

Philip Bradbourn and Malcolm Harbour both spoke in the chamber on the day we visited. The Chamber sits from 9 am to midnight and speeches are strictly time controlled. Philip Bradbourn had 2 minutes to get his point across.

After the visit, the Society enjoyed a reception in the sumptuous Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) in Strasbourg. At the reception, Nigel Morris, Vice Chairman of the Peel Society presented Councillor Madame Annick de Montgolfier with a French copy of the biography of Sir Robert Peel by Francois Guizot published in 1856. The group then went for dinner in one of the famous restaurants in the medieval quarter of Strasbourg called "Petite France"

In addition to the interesting visit to the European Parliament, the Society visited the beautiful city of Nancy in Lorraine, the Maginot Line, a line of fortifications built in Eastern France in the 1930s to resist the Germans, one of the greatest monuments to man's folly, as well as the beautiful towns and villages of Alsace. They also enjoyed the excellent food and wine of Alsace.

Members clutching bargains bought at a Marché aux Puces (Flea Market) in Reichshoffen, Alsace. Left to right Mrs Janice Morris, Secretary of the Peel Society, Mrs Edith Critchley, Mrs Trish Wood and Mr. John Wood. Click the picture for a larger view.	A lovely flower filled corner of Colmar in Alsace. Click the picture for a larger view.