ED’S OPINION: Yes it’s cumbersome, but Europe matters
Richard Ferrer has been editor of Jewish News since 2009. As one of Britain's leading Jewish voices he writes for The Times, Independent, New Statesman and many other titles. Richard previously worked at the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, edited the Boston Jewish Advocate and created the Channel 4 TV series Jewish Mum Of The Year.
By Richard Ferrer, editor Jewish News
It’s tempting to dismiss the idea that our votes in today’s European Election are important, in a ballot so big, and for a legislative body so bureaucratic and unwieldy.
But cumbersome though it is, the European Parliament does matter.
It not only has power over laws, budgets and admissions, it is also the frontline of the fight on many subjects that we hold dear.
Take brit milah, for instance. The Parliament has witnessed significant debates and two motions that cut to the very heart of what it means to be a Jew, one regarding the “integrity of the child” and another on “freedom of religion”. While there has as yet been no hint of new legislation on the matter, these debates continue – as do concerns.
Some in Brussels argue the EU should follow Norway’s lead, where it is mandatory for a medical practitioner to be present at religious circumcisions.
This would have a significant impact on the lives of Jews in the UK.
Similarly, take shechita, a subject new MEPs will consider later this year when a major report is due on the labelling of meat.
“It could have a serious impact on how people view kosher meat,” says Shechita UK. “We will continue to fight for non-pejorative labelling but having sympathetic MEPs is vital.”
Voting in those sympathetic MEPs may not be as difficult as we imagine.
This month, Britain sends 73 MEPs to Brussels, to take their seats (or not, in UKIP’s case) alongside 750 other elected politicians from 28 countries.
But given that there are just over 750 politicians in total, one tenth of the new European Parliament will come from these shores and from our votes.
Call it the London weighting. And who better to weigh in on politics of Jewish interest than the capital’s Jewish community.
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