Geoffrey van Orden

Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP

Geoffrey van Orden (born 10 April 1945, Waterlooville) is a British MEP from Conservative and Unionist Party for Eastern.

Affiliations

• Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Member, Subcommittee on Security and Defence
• Member, Delegation for relations with Iran
• Substitute, Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Substitute, Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Former Affiliations

• Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Member, Subcommittee on Security and Defence
• Member, Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee
• Member, Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
• Substitute, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with Afghanistan
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with India
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

• This declaration relates to the period 1 January - 14 July.I was a guest to lunch or dinner with the Indian Ambassador on 5 January, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 27 January and the Sri Lankan Ambassador on 4 February and 17 June. The Polish PiS Party provided hospitality and hotel accomodation during my visit to Krakow 31 January - 2 February and in Warsaw on 30 May. The Czech ODS party provided hospitality and accommodation during my visit to Prague 28-30 March and 29 -30 May. The Bulgarian OLJ Party provided hospitality and accomodation during my visit to Sofia 31 May-1 June.I employed 5 Assistants: 2 full-time, 2 part- time including my wife who received payment in the band £0-10,000, and an intern. All payments are made in accordance with the Parliament's rules through a Paying Agent, an independent firm of chartered accountants responsible for all payroll activities including deduction for UK income tax, national insurance etc as appropriate.

Former Declaration of Financial Interests

Paid Functions or Activities:

• Occasional articles in newspapers.

Further Information:

• I received a gift of a framed print from the parents of an American intern who had worked for some months in my office. I was a guest to lunch or dinner on occasions including with the Sri Lankan International Trade Minister on 6 September and BAe on 8 September. I employed 5 Assistants: 2 full-time, 2 part-time, including my wife who receives payment in the band £10,001-20,000, and an intern from NZ. All payments are made in accordance with the Parliament's rules through a Paying Agent, an independent firm of chartered accountants responsible for all payroll activities including deduction of UK income tax, national insurance etc as appropriate.

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Voted against the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• Voted in favour of the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.
• Voted in favour of the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amendment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.
• Voted against the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted in favour of the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.
• Voted against the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• Voted against the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• Voted against the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• BA (Political Science), Sussex University (1969); psc, Indian Defence Services Staff College (1977).
• British Army operational duties worldwide (1964-1985).
• Instructor, German Armed Forces Staff College, Hamburg (1985-1988).
• Chief of Staff and Assistant Chief G2, British Sector, Berlin (1988-1990).
• JIC Assessment Staff, Cabinet Office, London (1990).
• Senior official in the European Commission dealing with foreign and security policy issues (1995-1999).
• Member of the European Parliament (since 1999).
• Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (since 2002).
• Conservative co-spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Human Rights (since 1999).
• European Parliament Rapporteur for Bulgaria (since 1999).
• Member of Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (since 1999).
• Brigadier (Brigadier-General), NATO Headquarters, Brussels (1991-1994).
• Executive Secretary, International Military Staff, NATO Headquarters, Brussels (1991-1994).
• Writer on foreign policy and security issues. Freeman of the City of London; Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers. MBE.

Contact

Address:

Parlement européen

Bât. Willy Brandt

04M075

60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

Phone:

+32 (0)2 28 45332

Fax:

+32 (0)2 28 49332

Email:

geoffrey.vanorden AT europarl.europa.eu

Website:

http://www.geoffreyvanorden.com

This article is part of the MEPedia project of Spinwatch.

Resources

• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Geoffrey Van Orden, 15 January 2009, accessed 05 February 2009.
• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Geoffrey Van Orden, 09 July 2009, accessed 03 November 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Geoffrey Van Orden, accessed 05 February 2009.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.