Working for the South East (Catherine Bearder MEP)

Working for the South East

With over 8 million people living in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex, South East England has a higher population than 12 of the 27 EU member states.

It's cities and towns are a great mix of the old and the new: the large urban conurbations at Brighton, Southampton, and Guilford; the historical cities of Oxford, Canterbury and Hastings; and the many beautiful market towns that lie scattered between.

For farmers, residents and tourists alike, the environment is an important part of our daily lives in the South East. In total 47% of the region is protected by some form of environmental designation and farming accounts for 62% of land.

The South East has a strong and vibrant economy. Given its proximity to London the South East is a popular destination for business and industry. Many hi-tech companies base themselves in the South East, such as Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and Oracle.

The South East has excellent travel links to Europe and beyond. The Eurostar connects to the region to the continent; ships from Dover ferry people to France and Belgium; while Gatwick, Heathrow and smaller regional airports fly visitors here from all over the world. In addition, Portsmouth and Southampton contain two of the oldest and most strategically important ports in all of the UK.

I have produced a European funding guide detailing the various streams that organisations in the South East can look to gain funding from the European Union.

Download my Funding Guide here.

Please see below the latest news about my work in the constituency.

Bite the Ballot rallies EU support

Article: Feb 2, 2012

A campaign aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in politics has taken its message to Europe.

Bite the Ballot was in Brussels yesterday to speak to members of the European Parliament about developing links in other EU countries.

Dartford teacher Michael Sani spearheaded the scheme in 2010 after his own pupils told him they were not interested in politics.
On the campaign trail

Article: Jan 30, 2012

Catherine joined fellow Lib Dems on the campaign trail as they work hard to help Vivian Achwal win the Winchester Southern Parishes seat on Hampshire County Council.

She said: "The team was out in force in Wickham on Friday, despite the icy rain, and there was a great deal of positive response on the doorsteps.
Biodiversity destruction is costing EU 450 billion Euros every year

Article: Jan 25, 2012

Euro MPs last night insisted Governments pay the price for failing to protect biodiversity.

The European Parliament has called for a 'No Net Loss' principle, so countries which damage nature also compensate for the hit.

It came as a report revealed the "silent crisis" of biodiversity loss costs the EU around 450 billion Euros every year.
Lib Dems unveil deal to help save post offices

Article: Jan 25, 2012

Under threat Post Offices across the South East have been offered a lifeline, thanks to a new deal announced today.

Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey said a ten-year agreement with Royal Mail meant the signs were "extremely encouraging" for the future of the Post Office.

It offers additional certainty to sub-postmasters and covers the full range of Royal Mail products available at post offices such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.
Disappointment at payback order for sex traffickers

Article: Jan 24, 2012

Campaigners today told of their disappointment after two people traffickers were ordered to pay back a tiny amount of their ill-gotten gains.

OXCAT (Oxford Community Against Trafficking) said profits from trafficking should be seized and spent on the campaign to stop human exploitation.

Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane ran the Fun Girls in Oxford escort agency, which offered Eastern European women for sex in hotels and clients' homes.