BETA

38 Written explanations of Nathan GILL

Ongoing hearings under article 7(1) of the TEU regarding Poland and Hungary (B9-0032/2020)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative resolution. Principally, The Brexit Party oppose the EU’s infringement proceedings against any sovereign nation. We believe that the governments of these nations, who were democratically elected unlike many EU lawmakers, have the right to enact the policies that they have elected on. For these reasons, we voted against calls for further hearings with Poland and Hungary.
2016/11/22
Activities of the European Ombudsman in 2018 (A9-0032/2019 - Peter Jahr)

Brexit Party MEPs voted abstained on this non-legislative, non-binding report. The European Ombudsman has done a decent job on investigating issues within the Commission and EU institutions. The report praises the Ombudsman and lightly calls for more transparency with the EU structure.
2016/11/22
Protocol to the Agreement between the EU, Iceland and Norway concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Iceland or Norway regarding the access to Eurodac for law enforcement purposes (A9-0053/2019 - Jadwiga Wiśniewska)

The Brexit Party have voted to abstain on this legislative report. Whilst we support the principle of cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly when this concerns combatting serious crime and terrorism, we cannot support this being facilitated via the EU. As we believe these agreements should be conducted bilaterally, we abstained on this report.
2016/11/22
EU-China Agreement on certain aspects of air services (A9-0041/2019 - Tomasz Piotr Poręba)

Brexit Party MEPs have abstained on this consent vote. This is a technical amendment to bring the agreement in line with EU rules, and therefore we felt it most appropriate to abstain.
2016/11/22
Common system of value added tax as regards the special scheme for small enterprises (A9-0055/2019 - Inese Vaidere)

Although the Brexit party opposes EU tax harmonisation, and does not support EU legislation over the UK, these provisions would reduce the scope of VAT and so we abstained.
2016/11/22
The European Green Deal (RC-B9-0040/2020, B9-0040/2020, B9-0041/2020, B9-0042/2020, B9-0043/2020, B9-0044/2020, B9-0045/2020, B9-0046/2020)

Brexit Party MEPs voted against this motion for a resolution. We do not support the EU spending trillions of euros and harmonising laws and targets. If Member States wish to achieve climate objectives, it should be on their own terms and not the EUs. Brexit Party MEPs voted on a number of amendments, in order to reduce the extent of targets and increases in EU legislation.
2016/11/22
Implementing and monitoring the provisions on citizens’ rights in the Withdrawal Agreement (B9-0031/2020)

The Resolution regrets the loss of Freedom of Movement and seeks to reverse the burden of proof for Settled Status, accordingly the Brexit Party voted against.
2016/11/22
Annual report 2018 on the human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union's policy on the matter (A9-0051/2019 - Isabel Wiseler-Lima)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative report. Whilst we respect the importance of the human rights issues raised within this report we are opposed to the European Union becoming involved. We are firmly opposed to the increasing use of serious human rights issue abroad as justification for the enhancement of the EU's foreign policy apparatus.
2016/11/22
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy (A9-0054/2019 - David McAllister)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative report. We are opposed to the development of the EU's strategic autonomy and the further transfer of foreign policy decision making to the EU level.
2016/11/22
Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (A9-0052/2019 - Arnaud Danjean)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative report. We are opposed to the development of the European Defence Union. Defence of the realm is fundamental to nation-state sovereignty and should remain the responsibility of the member-states.
2016/11/22
European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (B9-0036/2020, B9-0037/2020, B9-0038/2020)

The Brexit Party MEPs abstained on this non-legislative, non-binding resolution. While there were elements in this report we opposed such as calling for transnational lists for EU elections, along with our concern this conference will just be an echo chamber for EU elites to convince themselves there needs to be greater centralisation of powers and spending of money at EU level, as the UK is leaving it wasn't our place to be part of those discussions.
2016/11/22
Financial assistance to Member States to cover serious financial burden inflicted on them following a UK's withdrawal from the EU without an agreement (A9-0020/2019 - Younous Omarjee)

Brexit Party MEPs voted against this legislative report, which concerns amending the European Union Solidarity Fund to cover the ‘financial burden’ that a no-deal Brexit could represent for Member States. We believe that this is highly political, as it is likening no-deal Brexit to a natural disaster, whilst also taking away funds from genuine natural disaster victims. For these reasons, we cannot support this report.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: partially granting an authorisation for a use of chromium trioxide (Cromomed S.A. and others) (B9-0151/2019)

I abstained on this resolution because it should be a decision made at nation state level and not by the EU for all 28 Member States.
2016/11/22
Effects of the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook Group (RC-B9-0118/2019, B9-0118/2019, B9-0119/2019, B9-0120/2019, B9-0121/2019, B9-0122/2019, B9-0124/2019)

The Brexit Party MEPs voted against many of the amendments on this motion for resolution concerning the effects of bankruptcy of Thomas Cook Group. Many of these are calling for more EU action to be taken and funds to be created in the event of similar events happening in the travel and tourism sector. We also voted in favour of any amendments that would reduce any future harmonisation in this area. Whilst we are of course sympathetic to those who have been affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook, more EU legislation is not the answer.
2016/11/22
State of play of the disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches - public country-by-country reporting (B9-0117/2019)

Brexit Party MEPs voted against this motion for resolution, which calls on the Council to break its deadlock and allow legislation on the CBCR proposal to progress forward. We voted against this because we do not want the European Union to continue making more legislation, as this is the prerogative of Member States.
2016/11/22
The Turkish military operation in northeast Syria and its consequences (RC-B9-0123/2019, B9-0123/2019, B9-0125/2019, B9-0126/2019, B9-0127/2019, B9-0128/2019, B9-0129/2019, B9-0133/2019)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative and non-binding resolution. We do not support the EU developing its foreign policy, as it is superfluous and often counter-productive. The EU should not be involved in the current crisis nor the political resolution post-conflict.
2016/11/22
Search and rescue in the Mediterranean (B9-0130/2019, B9-0131/2019, B9-0132/2019, B9-0154/2019)

The Brexit Party believes that the best way to stop the tragic loss of innocent lives in the Mediterranean is to strongly combat people smugglers who lure migrants onto unseaworthy vessels. We believe that decisions on asylum claims should be conducted under relevant international law and nation states could, as a sovereign state, choose to accept genuine refugees to enter their country.Brexit Party MEPs voted against this non-legislative resolution on the issue of search and rescue in the Mediterranean. We condemn all parties who are responsible for the unacceptably high death toll in the Mediterranean, particularly people smugglers and traffickers who facilitate dangerous and illegal crossings.The Brexit Party strongly maintains that the issue of search and rescue and securing borders is the sole competence of a Member State. We oppose the principle of the EU developing a refugee distribution mechanism, as it should be the right of a sovereign state to govern whom it allows onto its territory. We also oppose the attempt by the EU to establish legal frameworks to distinguish what forms of assistance should not be criminalised, as this is a clear infringement of the principle of subsidiarity.
2016/11/22
Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (B9-0155/2019, RC-B9-0156/2019, B9-0156/2019, B9-0157/2019, B9-0158/2019, B9-0159/2019, B9-0160/2019, B9-0161/2019)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative and non-binding resolution. We are opposed to further expansion of the European Union and are pleased to see the vetoing of further progression for these countries. We are opposed to expansion whilst the UK is currently a member of the EU, in any future transition or whilst we retain financial liabilities towards the EU. We think the EU is a poor choice for other Member States but after the UK makes a clean exit from the EU and at a time when we have no liability it is for those states to decide themselves.
2016/11/22
Draft general budget of the European Union for 2020 - all sections

The Brexit Party voted against any increases to individual EU budget lines and voted in favour of any cuts to EU budget lines. This vote was a series of amendments to the actual figures and size of each EU budget for the year 2020. Before it arrived in Parliament for amendment, the Commission had initially proposed a budget worth EUR 168.3 billion (+1.3% compared to 2019). The Council then adopted its position of EUR 166.8 billion (slightly lower). Now it was Parliament’s turn, which ended up being much higher than either the Commission or the Council positions. There will now be a negotiation period with the Council to find a compromise. A full UK contribution for 2020 is included in the proposal.
2016/11/22
General budget of the European Union for 2020 - all sections (A9-0017/2019 - Monika Hohlmeier, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative, non-binding resolution on the EU budget for 2020. The resolution was a shopping list of what MEPs wanted from the EU budget in 2020, with many calls for radially increased funding in many areas of EU policy. The Brexit Party voted against any calls to increase the EU budget and voted in favour of any amendments to decrease the budget.
2016/11/22
Discharge 2017: European Asylum Support Office (EASO) (A9-0011/2019 - Petri Sarvamaa)

The Brexit Party voted to refuse granting discharge to the Asylum office. The discharge procedure is a process by which the European Parliament looks at the individual budgets and spending of each EU institution to give a positive or negative appraisal.In this specific case, the asylum office has had a number of problems, such as errors in payments amounting to EUR 7.7 million, breaches of procurement procedures, misappropriation of funds, mismanagement, abuse of position in human resources issues, breaches of data protection rules, harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards staff.The Brexit Party voted to refuse discharge due to all these problems, along with our principled position that we oppose British taxpayers’ having to pay for all these EU institutions and agencies.
2016/11/22
Discharge 2017: EU general budget - European Council and Council (A9-0010/2019 - Isabel García Muñoz)

The Brexit Party voted to refuse granting discharge to the Council. The discharge procedure is a process by which the European Parliament looks at the individual budgets and spending of each EU institution to give a positive or negative appraisal.Historically the Council refuses to cooperate with the Parliament in this discharge procedure, as it contests the legal base for the Parliament to oversee its budget and 2017 was no different.We voted to refuse discharge as we believe there should be more transparency in how the Council spends its budget, along with our principled position that we oppose British taxpayers’ having to pay for all these EU institutions and agencies.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Assessment of the impact of plant protection products on honeybees (B9-0149/2019)

I abstained on this resolution because it should be a decision made at nation state level and not by the EU for all 28 Member States.
2016/11/22
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) (A9-0015/2019 - Vilija Blinkevičiūtė)

The Brexit Party have voted to abstain on this legislative report. Firstly, we do not believe that a no-deal Brexit would lead to significant job losses. That being said, as the UK would have left the EU by the time this legislation takes effect, and the UK would therefore have no legal obligation to contribute to this fund, the decision should be a matter for the remaining Member States to take as to how they wish this for this fund to be utilised. For this reason, the Brexit Party abstained on this report.
2016/11/22
Fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters (A9-0014/2019 - Chris Davies)

. ‒ The Brexit Party voted against this legislation for access to waters between the EU and the UK because the proposed arrangement is in practice very one-sided: the EU gets far more benefit than the UK and would therefore be able to continue to plunder UK waters, just as it has for decades.
2016/11/22
Implementation and financing of the EU general budget in 2020 in relation to the UK's withdrawal from the EU (A9-0018/2019 - Johan Van Overtveldt)

. ‒ Brexit Party MEPs voted against this piece of legislation. This proposal is to allow the UK to continue making full budgetary contributions to the EU in 2020, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The UK will have to meet a number of conditions such as adhering to a deadline to inform the Commission in writing that payments will be made, that the payment schedule is made on time and into a specific bank account, that the UK allows OLAF and EU auditing of EU funds on its territory.This will mean the UK can still get EU funding for 2020, that UK entities can bid for most (but not all) EU public tenders, and ensure payments for EU contracts to public and private entities in 2020 continue. However, some rights for the UK will be curtailed such as not having representation on management committees or expert groups.The Brexit Party voted against as we want a clean-break Brexit to stop making full budget payments to the EU and we believe that the UK Government should make up the shortfall for UK entities and universities that are currently receiving EU funds.
2016/11/22
Periods of application of Regulation (EU) 2019/501 and Regulation (EU) 2019/502 (Committee on Transport and Tourism)

. ‒ The Brexit Party voted in favour of this urgency procedure. The report seeks to ensure that air and road travel is not disrupted in the case of a no-deal Brexit by updating the date of implementation to take into account the seven-month extension, as the dates in the original legislation will soon be expiring. The Brexit Party voted in favour as we support the European Parliament’s efforts to prepare for no-deal by putting contingencies in place to ensure that air and road travel is not disrupted, despite the European Union’s insistence that this would not be possible, and therefore proving that future and sincere cooperation is feasible in a no-deal scenario.
2016/11/22
Periods of application of Regulation (EU) 2019/501 and Regulation (EU) 2019/502 ( - Karima Delli)

. ‒ The Brexit party voted in favour of this urgency procedure. The report seeks to ensure that air and road travel is not disrupted in case of no deal Brexit, updating the date of implementation to take into account the seven months extension. The Brexit party voted in favour as we support bringing forward this report in order to prepare for Brexit.
2016/11/22
Eurojust and Serbia Cooperation Agreement (A9-0009/2019 - Juan Fernando López Aguilar)

The Brexit Party have voted to abstain on this report. Whilst data exchanges and cooperation, particularly for the purpose of combatting serious crime, are very important we do not support this being facilitated at EU level. However, if the sovereign nation of Serbia wishes to participate it would not be appropriate to block their decision. Therefore, as we support the underlying principle of cooperation and data sharing to combat serious crime, but not the EU facilitating it, we felt that abstaining was most suitable.
2016/11/22
Draft amending budget No 4/2019: reduction of commitment and payment appropriations in line with updated needs of expenditure and update of revenue (own resources) (A9-0012/2019 - John Howarth)

The Brexit Party voted against this budgetary proposal. We would have supported the original Commission proposal as it reduced the amount of money in a number of EU budget lines and would lead to a reduction in Member States’ contributions for this year, thereby saving British taxpayers’ money. However, the rapporteur UK Labour MEP amended this resolution to redeploy the savings, meaning it would be spent in other areas of the EU budget instead of saving taxpayers’ money, so we voted against.
2016/11/22
Adjustments to the amounts mobilised from the Flexibility Instrument for 2019 to be used for migration, refugee inflows and security threats (A9-0013/2019 - John Howarth)

The Brexit Party voted in favour of this budgetary proposal. The original Commission proposal was to reduce a payment plan for future EU spending in the field of migration and security. This proposal was linked to the Draft Amending Budget Number 4, which should have led to a reduction in Member States’ contributions; however, a Labour MEP managed to make amendments to reverse this. In this case, however, the proposition was to support the original proposal to cut EU funding, not the amendments by the rapporteur, so we voted in favour.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Active substances, including flumioxazine (B9-0103/2019)

The Brexit party abstained on this motion for resolution on active substances including flumioxazine. The report criticises the Commission, as they continue to extend regulated acts on allowing this substance when there are concerns as to how safe it is. The Brexit party believe that the Commission should not act in an undemocratic way without being held accountable; however, we cannot support the motion as it also calls on the Commission to create new legislation.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Genetically modified maize MZHG0JG (SYN-ØØØJG-2) (B9-0107/2019)

I voted against this resolution because it should be a decision made at nation state level and not by the EU for all 28 Member States.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Genetically modified soybean A2704-12 (ACS-GMØØ5-3) (B9-0105/2019)

I voted against this resolution because it should be a decision made at nation state level and not by the EU for all 28 Member States.
2016/11/22
Objection pursuant to Rule 112: Genetically modified maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 × DAS-40278-9 and genetically modified maize combining two, three or four of the single events MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017, 59122 and DAS-40278-9 (B9-0106/2019)

I voted against this resolution because it should be a decision made at nation state level and not by the EU for all 28 Member States.
2016/11/22
Foreign electoral interference and disinformation in national and European democratic processes (B9-0108/2019, B9-0111/2019)

The Brexit Party has voted against this non-legislative resolution. The Brexit Party wholeheartedly supports free and fair elections, free speech and democratic accountability. These principles, in part, are integral in our cause to leave the European Union. We believe that reports of Russian electoral interference have already been exposed as baseless propaganda in order to shut down debate and discredit legitimate democratic exercises, such as the UK referendum. Furthermore, the Brexit Party voted against the third amendment because it maliciously – and incorrectly – stated that the Leave.eu campaign received funding from foreign actors despite the National Crime Agency clearing Leave.eu of these allegations in September.
2016/11/22
Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and own resources: time to meet citizens' expectations (B9-0110/2019, B9-0112/2019, B9-0113/2019)

The Brexit Party voted against this non-legislative, non-binding resolution. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the long-term budget for the EU. The resolution called for an MFF of over €1.3 trillion and more EU action and funding in areas such as defence, climate change, migration, foreign affairs to name a few. They will also be seeking to phase out national rebates and bring in new ways to fund the EU budget such as ‘Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base’ and a single use plastic tax.
2016/11/22
Employment and social policies of the euro area (A9-0016/2019 - Yana Toom)

The Brexit Party has voted to abstain on this non-legislative report. Whilst we fully support many sentiments of this report, such as the need to tackle unemployment, poverty and inequalities, we oppose the EU’s vision on how to resolve these issues. Moreover, with Brexit on the horizon and the fact that the report largely focusses on the euro area, which the UK is not part of, it felt more appropriate to abstain on this vote.
2016/11/22