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Press Release: Embargo, Immediate, Tuesday 11th March 2003 For Further details contact Tim Huggan on 01223 566 700

LIB DEM EURO-MP BACKS EU SAFEGUARDS FOR DOCKWORKERS

Andrew Duff, Lib-Dem Euro-MP for the East of England, today backed new EU legislation to allow competition across Europe in the market for port services such as the loading and unloading of ships.Ê But he insisted on the inclusion of effective safeguards for local dockworkers.

Duff has worked with his European Liberal Democrat colleagues to get strict conditions for the licensing of new port service providers so as to ensure high standards of environmental protection and labour conditions. The Parliament voted to support Lib Dem proposals to make these licenses mandatory for all service providers.

Andrew Duff said: "This directive will bring a welcome degree of competition into the port sector while maintaining the special structure of UK ports. Our modern ports like Felixstowe, Harwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Tilbury and Purfleet need not fear that their dockers will be undercut by ship-owners employing cheap, poorly trained labour from outside the EU to load and unload their own ships.

"We have worked hard to get the best deal for the East coast ports."

3The European Parliament also voted in favour of Lib Dem amendments to introduce additional safeguards for "self-handling" port workers.

ENDS/...

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Andrew's work
in the European Parliament since 1999

Andrew is Vice-President of the European Parliament delegation to the Constitutional Convention on the Future of Europe.

Rights for EU citizens

Andrew drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights which has strengthened the rights of all the citizens of the European Union.

Turkey

Andrew is working for improved links between the EU and Turkey, to encourage improvements in Turkey's human rights record and to enhance its democracy.

Andrew's campaigning in the East of England

Airport Expansion

Andrew has led calls for the Air Travel industry to be subjected to the same rigorous environmental criteria as other modes of transport