Liberal Democrats on Kent County Council

A campaign aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in politics has taken its message to Europe.

Bite the Ballot was in Brussels yesterday to speak to members of the European Parliament about developing links in other EU countries.

Dartford teacher Michael Sani spearheaded the scheme in 2010 after his own pupils told him they were not interested in politics.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who chairs the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has said that the ECB's liquidity operations may save the Eurozone today but at the cost of future generations' livelihoods tomorrow.

Speaking from Brussels today, Ms Bowles said:

"We must face up to the impact of the crisis on the next generation, which is more than just the fact that we have devastatingly high numbers of young jobless.

Commenting on the re-election of Sharon Bowles, Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East of England, as Chair of the European Parliament's influential Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee today, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said:

"Sharon is one of the most influential thinkers and legislators in Europe on financial services and the Eurozone crisis. Her re-election is good news for Europe and the UK.

"As party leader, I am proud that we have a leading Liberal Democrat in such a prominent and powerful position on the international scene. As UK Deputy Prime Minister, I am delighted and relieved to know that the EU financial services brief is in such expert hands.

"In the wake of the financial crisis, it is absolutely right that we undertake a complete overhaul of the rule book governing global finance and banking at the European, national and international level.

"Ministers and industry figures must now redouble our efforts to re-engage across Europe, pro-actively work with our partners to shape EU legislation that builds a more responsible, safe and successful banking sector, and deploy our financial expertise to help resolve the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

"I look forward to working with Sharon over the coming months in addressing these overwhelmingly important issues for the UK and Europe as a whole."

The Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Sharon Bowles MEP, has raised concerns that the European Central Bank is dominated by men.

Ms Bowles, who was recently re-elected Chair of ECON, said:

"The ECB is one of the EU institutions where gender balance is most blatantly disregarded. There is currently not a single woman on the Executive Board, nor the Governing Council or the General Council.

"One has to ask why important and influential EU bodies such as the ECB systematically fail to select female candidates. The argument that there are no qualified women for these positions cannot be taken seriously.

"I call on all parties to consider the institutional shortcomings that lead to the systematic absence of women in this crucial area of EU policy and to remedy this situation now.

Catherine joined fellow Lib Dems on the campaign trail as they work hard to help Vivian Achwal win the Winchester Southern Parishes seat on Hampshire County Council.

She said: "The team was out in force in Wickham on Friday, despite the icy rain, and there was a great deal of positive response on the doorsteps.

Euro MPs last night insisted Governments pay the price for failing to protect biodiversity.

The European Parliament has called for a 'No Net Loss' principle, so countries which damage nature also compensate for the hit.

It came as a report revealed the "silent crisis" of biodiversity loss costs the EU around 450 billion Euros every year.

Under threat Post Offices across the South East have been offered a lifeline, thanks to a new deal announced today.

Liberal Democrat business minister Ed Davey said a ten-year agreement with Royal Mail meant the signs were "extremely encouraging" for the future of the Post Office.

It offers additional certainty to sub-postmasters and covers the full range of Royal Mail products available at post offices such as first and second class post, parcels, air mail, recorded and special deliveries.

Campaigners today told of their disappointment after two people traffickers were ordered to pay back a tiny amount of their ill-gotten gains.

OXCAT (Oxford Community Against Trafficking) said profits from trafficking should be seized and spent on the campaign to stop human exploitation.

Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane ran the Fun Girls in Oxford escort agency, which offered Eastern European women for sex in hotels and clients' homes.

Sharon Bowles MEP, who represents South East England in the European Parliament, has said the filing for insolvency by Petroplus -Europe's largest independent oil refiner - is a blow to the South East.

Petroplus, based in Switzerland, has been hit hard by the financial crisis and in December had $1bn in credit lines frozen - a move that has pushed the company closer to bankruptcy.

Amid fears that David Cameron's veto had isolated the UK in Brussels, MEPs from across Europe and the political spectrum have today re-elected Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles as Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.

The committee, widely regarded as the Parliament's most powerful, is responsible for legislation in the headline areas of economic governance and financial services.