What exactly is an MEP?

An MEP is an elected Member of the European Parliament.

With the introduction of the regional list system of Proportional Representation (PR) for the European Parliament elections in the UK in June 1999, MEPs were elected to represent the nine regions of England plus Wales and Scotland, with each political party selecting its own list of candidates for each region.

The nine regions of England are; The North East, The North West, Yorkshire & The Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, The South East and The South West.

Which areas does Arlene represent?

Arlene headed the Labour Party's regional list for the North West and now represents that region along with two Labour colleagues.  Three Conservatives, two Liberal Democratd and one UKIP were also elected.
 
Since the election, the three Labour Euro MPs have taken responsibility for specific areas of the region. Arlene's particular geographic areas are Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Sefton, Stockport, Tameside, Cheadle, Chester, Hazel Grove, Bootle, Crosby, Southport and The Wirral.

To contact the member of  Labour's team for the North West who represents your area go to: Contact Me

What is the role of a MEP?

There is no job description for an MEP and, like the job of MP, their role can depend a lot on their own interests.  In general terms they represent the views of their electorate not just in the European Parliament, but in other forums too.  They might get involved with local campaigns, particularly those with a European connection. For example, it is thanks to pressure from MEPs that laws regarding the transport of live animals have been tightened.  Arlene has also raised the question of why cars cost more in Britain than in Europe, which attracted a lot of media and consumer interest, including an appearance on the BBC's Watchdog programme.

MEPs also have a role to play in highlighting the work done by the European Parliament.  They can help with information about how to access European funds, such as Objective 2 monies for declining industrial areas, or Leonardo funds for students wishing to study abroad.  They can also provide more general information about the EU and what is happening in the European Parliament, in much the same way as an MP provides information about the UK Parliament.

What would a typical week be like for Arlene?

No two weeks are ever the same, although they do follow a four weekly cycle: Committee week (meetings of Parliamentary committees); Group week (meetings of the different political groups); Strasbourg Session (main plenary session, with debates and where votes are taken); the fourth week can be a mix of all of these, with a Brussels part session instead of the Strasbourg plenary.

Generally speaking during a Strasbourg week Arlene will fly to Strasbourg on Monday and return home on Thursday evening. During the week she will be involved in debates in the Parliament and questions to the European Commission. She will also attend other meetings to discuss particular issues - and to brief journalists.

On Friday she will spend be the North West visiting European projects or meeting constituents (individuals or businesses) who have requested meetings with her. Her meetings tend to concentrate on the geographic areas for which she has responsibility.

During non-Strasbourg weeks Arlene will spend more time in the North West, spending maybe two or three days in Brussels. In Brussels & Strasbourg Arlene's day will start in the office at around 8.30am, and will quite often go on until late evening. During Strasbourg sessions debates go on until late into the evening.

How can I check Arlene's declaration of interests?

You can go the the EPLP webpage where the details are kept for Arlene and all other Labour MEPs.

http://www.eplp.org.uk/labmepsingle.asp?fname=Arlene&lname=McCarthy%20MEP

How does the MEP support the general public and community?

By getting involved in local issues. For example, in her former constituency Arlene backed campaigns to stop a meat incinerator being built in open countryside; she also spoke at a local planning enquiry in Tameside to represent the views of the local community and gave evidence on Merseytram in Liverpool.

Arlene can also help with enquiries about funding - especially regional funding - which is one of her special interests; helping to point local groups in the right direction and giving them a voice when needed to help break down sometimes bureaucratic barriers.

What is the typical process undertaken to help people?

When an enquiry is received from a constituent - either an individual or a business - it is reviewed to see if it is something which Arlene as a Euro MP can help with, in which case she will take up the case with the most appropriate person or organisation and lobby on behalf of her constituent.
    
In some cases, following research into the issues raised, it might be decided that more specialist expertise is also required (in addition to the support of the MEP), so  Arlene will also try to put the constituent in touch with someone with more expert knowledge.

Not all enquiries, however, are best dealt with by a Euro MP and these are passed onto someone more appropriate eg a local councillor or MP.  

Contact Arlene's Manchester office by telephone, letter, fax or email (arlene.mccarthy@easynet.co.uk) and ask for more information.

How does a MEP help and support local businesses?

In much the same way as she/he would support an individual ie by offering advice as requested and supplying information about grants that may be available and how to apply for them; or to point them in the direction of someone with special knowledge or expertise in the area.  On occasions Arlene has also written to the European Commission to speed up grants payments, most recently in the case of the Manchester based European Opera Company.

What is the provision of advice and help available for the businesses in the areas she covers?

With a full time staff of only three - two in the UK, one in Brussels - the time & expertise Arlene has available to offer advice and help is limited, so usually she will put the business in touch with an organisation better placed to offer the advice required eg Business Unit of the Government office of the North West; local council economic development unit.

Contact Arlene's Manchester office by telephone, letter, fax or email (arlene.mccarthy@easynet.co.uk) and ask for more information.

What information & advice can a MEP provide on the European Union?

An MEP can provide information on most aspects of the European Union through the many leaflets and booklets produced by both the European Parliament office in the UK and the European Commission office in the UK.

There is also information available via the Parliament and Commission website (www.cec.org.uk/pubs/euglance/glance.htm) - and at a series of local information centres around the UK (www.cec.org.uk/relays/regions.relnw.htm) .

Arlene also regularly sends out press release to the local media about her activities.

What funding opportunities are available for businesses?

Funding opportunities are too many and various to details to list here, and are also dependent on individual circumstances.

Some funding is only available to certain areas of the country eg Objective 1 and 2 funds can only be taken up by people within a set geographic area; other are topic related eg for training and these may then be aimed at young people or helping women return to work.

How can businesses apply for grants and loans?

See below

What links/ organisations do the MEP's put businesses into contact with, when they need specific help, on specific topics?

Government Office of the North West, local council economic development unit, Training and Enterprise Councils, Business Links etc are usually the best people to contact for advice about what funds might be available - and where to get application forms - and further advice. 

Regarding specific help or specific topics, it would obviously depend on the nature of the enquiry.  Sometimes Arlene might refer someone to the department of the European Commission which is dealing with the fund. Or if there is a more appropriate trade organisation or general business organisation, Arlene might suggest contacting them.

Are there any proposed legislation that is going to affect us in the North-West?

Nothing specific to just the North West alone, but almost all European legislation affects the North West in some way. Improvements such as cleaner beaches, clearer food labelling, the European eco-label that now appears on electrical appliances and stricter rules on waste incineration are all as a result of EU legislation.

What adjustments are being made to the single market and how will this affect the North-West? 

The Government line on joining the Euro has not changed since Gordon Brown first set it out in a statement to Parliament in October 1997 - Britain will join when the economic conditions are clear and unambiguous. The Government will produce an assessment of the five economic tests it has set early in the next Parliament.

The Government believes - as a matter of principle - that whenever a decision to consider entering is taken by the Government, it should be put to a referendum of the British people.