Yesterday I wrote to 11 MEP's and 1 MP in the East Midlands and South West areas, using a modified version of Simon's original text (thanks). This is the first non-automated response that I've received.
I'll try and get the contact details for the committee members and post them here. We can then send our own personal messages of concern.
Dear Adrian,
Thank you for the message.
As I understand the situation, the Commission only produced its formal proposal on 13th July.
When the standing committees of the European Parliament reconvene in the third week of September, the Commission proposal will be sent to one of them - perhaps to the Transport Committee (of which I am not a member).
The chosen committee will debate it in public, listen to views from lobbyists and the public, write and report, and sometime (perhaps next spring) will vote its recommendations in public to the full parliament. Then there will be a big parliamentary debate in public and a vote on amendments proposed - which will be end of the the First Reading stage.
The other EU legislative chamber (the Council of Ministers) will then react to ours by holding its First Reading and proposing its amendments. Then the parliament has a second reading and so on...
The key for yourself is to make sure that your views are heard by members of the committee. You can do it yourself, or an umbrella organistion (such as "ACE" I believe) should do it for you on a bigger scale.
So a long way to go, and lots of open-ness for the discussions.
All good wishes
Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP
www.newton-dunn.com
Gravity is a myth - the earth sucks !!!