International

SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard has been nominated by her colleagues in the European Parliament (EP) as 'Euro-Parliamentarian of the Year' in the category 'agriculture'. Re-elected to serve a second term in the EP in June, Liotard has long been active in pursuit of food safety, animal welfare, fair prices for dairy farmers and the improvement of the position of rural women.

Liotard says that she was surprised by the nomination. "I never expected it," she insists. "We've got very many criticisms of Brussels' existing agriculture policies. As far as that goes the SP in the European Parliament is swimming against the tide. This contrary attitude obviously made an impression on my colleagues. I see the nomination as encouragement to keep fighting for a humane and environmentally friendly agricultural policy."

This is the second time in a few months that the quality of the EU-critical SP's Euro-MPs has been recognised by the European Parliament. On his retirement from the EP in May, Erik Meijer, who served ten years in Brussels and Strasbourg, was commended for having been one of the most diligent and hard-working MEPs.