Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee had a free and frank exchange of views with representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It was clear that misunderstandings still exist, especially over support for terrorists. Unfortunately they talk in the name of Islam, they have hijacked Islam. We are the cradle of Islam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we have been very successful with efforts by government and the people to eradicate this evil, also with the help of our friends in the West. Safer off-shore oil and gas exploration, that’s the aim of a report adopted by the Environment Committee. The man who wrote it wants to ensure that Europe never sees a disaster on the scale of Deepwater Horizon. This danger is now, in any case, decreased. To eliminate it would of course be our dream. In any case we can sleep more soundly now. The Good Food March comes to the Parliament. It’s a noisy campaign aimed at influencing MEPs as they decide how to reform the Common Agricultural Policy. They want to see the emphasis put more on small, and young, farmers. This is a protest for small scale farmers and against industrial big farmers who get all the subsidies. The small scale farmers are here to feed the world which the big farmers can’t do. Europeans have to understand that. 70% of EU farmers will soon retire. Where are the farmers of the future coming from? And how do you make it possible for young people to get a foothold in farming? The demonstration coincided with a farmers’ market just outside the EP, offering a selection of artisan foods and drinks direct to the consumer. If Europe wants to go against its agricultural heritage in everything, the customer has to go to the farmer once again. It’s good for the farmer’s wallet and the customer’s.

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