Davies listed for top Euro award

AN Oldham politician has been nominated for a prestigious award.

A panel of leading opinion formers have identified Chris Davies as a Euro-MP who has most influenced the EU’s agenda over the last year.

The judges, who include former prime minister of Belgium Wilfried Martens, selected the Lib-Dem as a contender for Euro-MP of the Year for blowing the whistle on expenses abuses earlier this year.

The European Voice Newspaper Awards acknowledge and celebrate the work of politicians and EU officials within five categories — national politicians, European commissioners, Euro-MP of the Year, EU officials, and inspiration of the year.

Notable nominees include President Sarkozy of France and Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank.

Mr Davies said he was delighted to be in such prestigious company and that his name had been put forward for such an important award.

But he described progress on improving the financial accountability of Euro-MPs as mixed.

He explained: “For every two steps forward we take, at least one is taken backwards by those who seek to obstruct improvement.”

New arrangements for the employment of Euro-MP staff in Brussels are due to be introduced next year and details of the expenses available to parliamentarians are now published on the internet.

However, Mr Davies said it was deplorable that those responsible for the finances had refused to support plans for accountants to carry out spot checks on Euro-MPs.

They had also failed to require receipts to be kept for office expenses, and still left the conditions for the employment of other staff opaque.

He said: “We have a very long way to go before the procedures are as tight as one might expect of well managed public organisations.”

The closing date for voting is November 16 and the winners will be announced on December 2.