(Founded by CEE)     

"I regard the setting up and smooth running of EFE as a not widely known success story. Now in its second full year's programme, this business liaison group was launched by me in Autumn 2000. The response from British business and industry representatives in Brussels has been very positive. I am pleased to have founded this forum for Conservative MEPs to listen to business. It is particularly satisfying that British businesses and industries are now keen to talk to us. It serves to underline the important influence we can have on European legislation which affects businesses at home."

Conservative Enterprise Europe (CEE) is the group of Conservative MEPs serving on the Committees of the European Parliament which deal primarily with commercial, industrial and business issues:

• Industry, External Trade, Research & Energy; Legal Affairs & the Internal Market; Employment & Social Affairs; Environment, Public Health & Consumer Policy; Economic & Monetary Affairs.

We meet regularly to pool what is happening on each other's committees and to link up with out counterparts in the House of Commons via the Trade & Industry Liaison Group. One of our primary aims is to be the interface with British business and industry interests in Brussels.

We launched Enterprise First Europe (EFE) in October 2000 as the vehicle for forging links and maintaining a dialogue with British business, industrial and trade organisations. This provides a forum for discussing general and pre-legislative issues in a different context from lobbying contacts about specific matters. The objectives defined at our launch dinner debate were "to establish a channel for dialogue between British business and Conservatives in the European Parliament and their allies to discuss issues and policies that will enhance competitiveness, reduce barriers to business and promote enterprise."

A programme of activities has been agreed in the form of five or six dinner debates per year with a particular theme. Business members of EFE can offer to sponsor individual events, and nominate the theme and venue, although the European Parliament is generally the preferred location. In view of the volume of legislation originating at European level, business members of EFE seek to debate with Conservative MEPs from the full range of policy areas and committees which have some dealings with business issues and to invite speakers to the dinner debates according to the subject. EFE intends to include an MEP from other national delegations within the European People's Party- European Democrats (EPP-ED) as appropriate to the dinner debate theme. We also co-operate with our UK counterpart, the Enterprise Forum, to organise their seminars in Brussels.

Click image for larger view
Chairing dinner discussion of Enterprise First Europe (Conservative MEPs Business Liaison Group) in Brussels.

24 January,

21 March,

2 May,

27 June,

19 September,

21 November.

Membership of EFE is open to all sectors of British business and representatives of professional associations and organisations located in Brussels. EFE does not seek subscriptions and there are no mailings or publications. A 'virtual committee' has been established for administration and communication purposes via E Mail. Participating organisations undertake to be part of a wider mailing/distribution network for meetings and events. EFE Secretariat organisation will be run from my office in Brussels.

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