Liberal Democrats are the only Party of In

Britain's biggest employers speak out on importance of EU membership for jobs and investment

• Airbus Group UK voiced concerns over the prospect of the UK leaving the EU. The company employs 17,000 people in the UK, mostly at its plants near Bristol and in North Wales. 100,000 jobs are generated in the UK by Airbus wing work, both directly and in the supply chain.
• Unilever warned it may have to cut investment in case of an EU exit. The company employs 7000 people across Britain, including a large number at its dry mix operation in Norwich (see Andrew Duff's press release here)
• BAE Systems, the UK's largest manufacturing employer, has said Britain should stay in the EU to maintain stability
• JPMorgan has said that EU membership increases the UK's clout when it comes to world trade, while Citigroup said its clients were concerned about their ability to use the UK as a regional hub if the country exits the EU
• The Treasury has also warned of the economic risks of leaving the EU and said it would draw up papers on the issue in the event of a referendum

EU membership vital for booming car industry

• UK car manufacturing has hit a six-year high according to statistics published this week by the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders (SMMT). 80% of cars made in the UK are exported, almost half of them to the EU.
• Major car manufacturers including Ford, Nissan and BMW have all warned that leaving the EU would be disastrous for the economy
• The SMMT is now preparing a report on the importance of EU membership for the car industry in the UK which is due to be published in the run-up to the European elections

Liberal Democrats are the only Party of In

• Nick Clegg has warned that the Tories are damaging Britain by "flirting with exit" from the EU during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos
• He commented: "To trade successfully in the modern world, Britain must stay in. As an EU member, we have access to trade agreements with more than 50 countries around the world - and we've launched negotiations with the US…We simply will not be taken seriously by the Americans or the Chinese if we're isolated and irrelevant amongst our own neighbours."
• Graham Watson MEP commented: "Let's not allow the eurosceptics to win the argument and throw economic recovery away. Let's lead the fight to keep Britain in Europe, in work and in the debate on how we reform the EU for the better."
• Sarah Ludford MEP has written an article on why being in Europe is crucial for jobs and living standards

UKIP disown their entire 2010 election manifesto

• On Thursday's edition of the Daily Politics Nigel Farage disowned the entire UKIP manifesto. He added that all UKIP policies were currently under review and that a manifesto would be drawn up after the European elections
• This now effectively leaves the party with no policies in the run up to the 2014 elections.
• Policies in the 2010 manifesto include restricting the number of foreign players on football teams and encouraging people to dress properly in hotels and theatres.

New EU climate targets will allow countries to cut C02 in a way that's right for them

• On Wednesday the European Commission published its proposal for new 40% greenhouse reduction target by 2030. There is also a target for EU countries to produce at least 27% of its energy from renewable sources by the same date.
• The European Parliament and the Council of Europe will likely agree on these proposals ahead of a global climate agreement, due to be concluded in Paris by the end of 2015.
• There are also proposals to reform the EU emissions trading system to make it more competitive
• Ed Davey has welcomed the proposals in an article for the Guardian. He highlighted that the package is ambitious and will allow the EU to lead in the global fight against climate change, while giving more flexibility to individual countries on how they meet their targets

Lib Dems continue the fight for electronic cigarettes

• On Wednesday the Parliament's Environment Committee voted on the Tobacco Products Directive, which included stricter measures to regulate the sale of tobacco such as the ban on flavourings and restrictions on packaging, as well as proposals to regulate electronic cigarettes as consumer products.
• Lib Dem MEPs Rebecca Taylor and Chris Davies both abstained from thevote due to concerns over the final text of the legislation on e-cigarettes.
• In particular, they are concerned that some of the proposed rules including a 20mg nicotine limit are too strict, and could result in many e-cigarette users switching back to harmful tobacco cigarettes.
• Liberal Democrat MEPs are now checking procedural rules to see what further action can be taken on this issue, including tabling an amendment to remove the article on e-cigarettes altogether and calling for a new, more proportionate proposal

Increased pressure on Russia to improve LGBTI rights

• On Wednesday a public hearing took place with the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights to hear evidence from civil society organisations based in Russia.
• Among the various concerns, there was a strong focus on the crackdown of LGBTI rights in Russia. This comes in light of a new law which forbids "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations".
• Last week Lib Dem MEPs pledged to fight for LGBTI rights at the European Parliamentary elections.