Welcome to the first issue of the JHP – John Harper Publishing – Record and Review. Following the Brexit referendum, our first issue focuses on the British contribution – the positive contribution – to the European Parliament.
Martin Westlake, former Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee (2008-2013), looks back at the UK’s disproportionately large influence on the European Parliament since the first direct elections were held in 1979.
As the shadow of Brexit spreads across the British contingent in the European Parliament, Sir Graham Watson, former leader of the Liberal (ALDE) group, pays his respects to some of those – Conservatives, Liberals, Labour or Green – who came from Britain and added something positive to Parliament’s powers and reputation.
Long-time EP official Francis Jacobs describes the important work done by British MEPs on some of the Parliament’s committees – work that was usually totally unknown back in Britain.
“If British MEPs are about to leave the European Parliament, it cannot be said that they have not left a mark.” Labour MEP Richard Corbett, a veteran of treaty negotiations, explores the impact British MEPs have had on the development of Parliament’s powers.
Sir Julian Priestley, former Secretary-General of the European Parliament (1997-2007), looks back at the rich history of reform implemented by the Parliament’s British contingent.
Anita Pollack was a Labour MEP from 1989-1999. She looks here at the significant part British MEPs played in the Parliament’s very active work on the environment and consumer protection during that period.
Mike Shackleton is the former Head of the European Parliament Information Office in London (2009-2011). Here he explores the office’s successful initiative to spread awareness of the European Union throughout the UK’s schools, and the difficulties they encountered in the process.
For its first eight editions The European Parliament maintained the same authorial team of Mike Shackleton, Richard Corbett and Francis Jacobs. Here Darren Neville describes his experiences as the ‘new kid on the block’, stepping in for Mike Shackleton to co-author the ninth edition.
