Watford Grammar students join Tory MEP Geoffrey Van Orden in Brussels (From Watford Observer)

Watford Grammar students join Tory MEP Geoffrey Van Orden in Brussels

12:11pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009

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Sixth form students from Watford have had the opportunity to get an insider's look at the European Parliament this week.

Conservative MEP for the East of England, Geoffrey Van Orden, welcomed students from Watford Grammar School for Girls into the Parliament yesterday.

They heard first hand about the workings of the EU institutions, Conservative policies on Europe and the work their MEP does.

Mr Van Orden said: "I am always delighted to engage with young people, answer their questions and hear their views.

"It is extremely important they develop a critical understanding of what goes on in the EU; there is much that the British people don't like, but it impacts on all our lives and we need to take it seriously.

”I feel people in the East of England ought to be aware of how they can influence the process. I hope we can begin to shift the EU in a different direction.

"We discussed a number of topical issues including the impact of the Lisbon Treaty, which came into effect on the day of the visit and which we strongly opposed, and the Conservatives' new group in the Parliament - the European Conservatives and Reformists.

"One student asked what David Cameron would do as future Prime Minister if faced with another EU attempt to claim more power. I explained the Act of Parliament that a Conservative Government intends to pass to make a referendum legally necessary before new powers were transferred to Brussels, and our intention to repatriate certain key powers that had already been handed over."

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