The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says the
merging of an EU-wide school milk and fruit and vegetable scheme could cost more than
necessary. The European Parliament last week adopted a new draft law to ensure
children in the EU benefit from better-funded combined school milk, fruit and
vegetable schemes. While supporting the plan, Matt Carthy says the scheme could
be jeopardised because of unnecessary costs.

Out words: administration costs

Dur: 0.35

A minute’s silence was held in the European
Parliament’s Agricultural Committee this week to mark the number of farmers
across the EU who have taken their own lives because of the crisis in the
agricultural markets. The EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan was also
present. The minute’s silence was held after a French MEP Jose Bove (Greens/EFA,
FR) requested
it to highlight the desperation of farmers over falling prices for their
produce. The Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly, who attended the event, said it
highlights the difficulties farmers are enduring across the EU.    

Out words: to the crisis

Dur: 0.27

The European Parliament this week adopted
draft rules designed to improve the efficiency of EU maritime ports. The
measures include cutting the costs of port services, such as towing, moorage
and bunkering. In addition MEPs called for more transparency of public funding
of ports and the fees charged for using their infrastructure and services. Speaking
from the European Parliament,  Fine Gael’s
Sean Kelly said transparency is essential when it comes to the operations of
our ports. 

Out words: every port

Dur: 0.21