Liz Lynne MEP New Year Message

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 27th Dec 2004

This time last year I looked forward to 2004, mentioning issues of concern like Iraq, Kashmir, equal rights for disabled people and airport expansion. At the end of 2004 these issues are very much still at the top of the news agenda.

Lets start with the positives. I very much welcome the Government's commitment to having a new Disability Discrimination Bill before the General Election. The new Act will make sure Transport companies are subject to the Disability Discrimination Act, which finally became law this year.

In the coming year I will continue to press the new EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Vladimir Spidla for a Disability Directive throughout the EU.

Another positive is the step forward in peace negotiations on Kashmir. As many of you will know I have long been involved in trying to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Three years ago relations between India and Pakistan were at an all time low but now there is a new sense of hope. For the sake of the people of Kashmir I hope the dialogue will continue in 2005.

Iraq on the other hand has been the disaster many of us warned it would be. I was glad that the Black Watch were allowed home for Christmas but I'm well aware there are many within the West Midlands Region that will not have their relatives with them throughout the Festive season. Even those of us who opposed the war hope that the planned elections in January go well. Let us hope that the Iraqi people can have a free and fair election.

The European Union has been in the news this year more than any other year since I became an MEP. From the 10 new countries joining us in May to the elections in June, the rejection of the new commission in October and the new EU constitution agreed in November. Next year will also be a busy year with discussions with Romania, Turkey and Croatia who all want to join the EU.

2005 is a big year for Britain both at home and on the International stage. Here we will almost certainly have a General Election where the Liberal Democrats look set to make significant advances especially in the West Midlands. Recent Parliamentary and Local Government By-Elections have seen great results for the party in West Worcestershire, Bromsgrove and of course Birmingham. I look forward to next year where we hope to increase the number of Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians in the Region.

On the International stage Britain becomes both President of the G8 and EU. It is important we take this opportunity to influence Governments around the World to tackle poverty and climate change.

Once again it has been an exhausting year and I would like to thank the voters of the West Midlands for re-electing me to represent them in the European Parliament for another five years. I will continue to argue for better legislation and for decisions to be taken as close to the people they affect as possible.