Biographical details for John Bowis:
His varied career includes:-
Conservative Member of the European Parliament for London since 1999.
- Member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and Party Spokesman on Health and Consumer Affairs
- EPP-ED Co-ordinator and Spokesman on the Environment/Health/Food Safety Committee
- Substitute Member of the Development and Cooperation Committee and its Group Spokesman on Human Rights
- Member of the EP Delegation to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
He was previously International Policy Adviser to the World Health Oranisation and Member of Parliament for Battersea 1987-1997 when he was Minister for Health and Minister for Transport.
He was born on 2nd August 1945 and educated at Tonbridge School and Brasenose College, Oxford (MA Philosophy, Politics and Economics). He is married with three children.
John Bowis was welcomed by CFCC Chairman, Sir Ronald Halstead. He was pleased to be among long-established and very dear friends. In his speech he would look at aspects of the European Parliament.
He felt that the European Parliament was an exciting parliament. With new members joining in May last year he felt that here was real Europe coming together. Quite the opposite of Sir Edward Grey’s (British Foreign Secretary) statement in 1914 that:
"The lights are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."
John’s mother is 100 years old. She had thought that the lights came on again after World War 2 – but many think that they have come on again now. The Borroso Commission gives an opportunity to move Europe forward to become “an outward-looking, caring Europe.
The word/jargon is LISBON – this has come to mean the Barroso Agenda (José Manuel Barroso is president of the European Commission): a centre right competitive agenda, getting rid of red tape.
The pre-requisite to a healthy economy is a healthy people in a healthy and cleaner environment.
His last year has been dominated by Margot Wallström (European Commission Vice-President responsible for institutional relations and communications strategy) – a blonde Swede who is very green and left wing. We are woefully ignorant about chemicals. There is a mutual interest in raising standards cross-border and to share good standards. This is what Europe does at its best.
Europe does not run health services but will give guidance as to the map of Europe in terms of needs etc.
Bio-terrorism – it is perfectly possible and it is necessary to prepare against the possibility. Also the flu pandemic and bird flu are current concerns. It is important to smother the spread of flu if we can with the development of vaccines. We have egg-based vaccines and can’t develop them till we know exactly what strain of flu. It takes 6-8 months to develop vaccines. The DNA vaccine can be turned in days.
Diabetes - he has been trying to create a framework for good practice.
However, Aids, TB and malaria are 'sexy areas' and is where the money goes.
EPP/ED Group – David Cameron has been wanting to get out of it but we aren’t members of the EPP. We are in the ED taking decisions on tax and constitutional affairs. John is waiting to hear of an alternative way forward from William Hague who went to see them recently – there is no rush or sense of panic.
We are looking for a different sort of Europe now with the new Member States
Mr Bowis was thanked warmly by Vice Chairman, Ian Raitt, for the very measured way in which he spoke; he had been very constructive.