Brussels
The Group was in Brussels this weekend for a very useful series of meetings with MEPs and members of Commission staff on issues as wide ranging as agriculture, higher education, convergence funding and local government concerns. We reduced our carbon footprint by taking the train and Brynle reduced his footprint by refusing to climb the mount at Waterloo. He and Jonathan Morgan were also disciplined by the Chief Whip for drinking in Bonaparte’s Bar. William, in fact, frog marched them off for an ice cream in the Wellington Café which was straight opposite. It has all gone down in William’s little black book I have no doubt.
I always come back from Europe realising how vital the link with Brussels is, determined that we should make more of it. In fact it is a lesson the whole Assembly needs to learn. We ignore the European dimension at our peril.
