Who we are
As MEPs in Europe’s strongest political family - the mainstream centre-ground and centre-right party, the EPP European People’s Party - we will restore London’s strong voice in the European Parliament.
Europe’s leading city, London, Europe’s leading party, the EPP. In this election, we offer a strong team with real business experience and in-depth know-how on getting results in Brussels. We have a full list of eight candidates standing in London for election to the European Parliament on Thursday 22 May 2014 in the following order: |
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Dirk Hazell |
Born in London, Dirk is a longstanding London resident. After schools in London, he went to Cambridge and then qualified as a barrister.
In the 1980s, at the Institute of Directors, he wrote what became the source document for Europe’s single market programme, adopted by the European Commission and British Governments. Having been the European Legal and Compliance Director of a large investment bank, he then ran the body for the London-based international capital market, leading it through the first wave of European law for the sector. He later ran the body for the environmental services sector, a period in which Britain’s recycling quadrupled, again seeing the sector through to the current safer generation of EU environmental law. A London councillor for eight years, he was responsible as Chairman of the London Conservatives for the only region making significant gains in the 2005 General Election. He left the Conservatives when the Conservatives left the EPP. Dirk is a Freeman of the City of London. |
“After working on the information campaign for the first elections to the European Parliament in 1979, I then saw what a positive force directly elected British MEPs could be for Britain when they cooperated within the EPP family of parties.
The British both made the European Parliament much more democratic and, starting with lower air fares, led the drive to a European single market. It’s barely reported in Britain, but leaving the EPP has been a disaster. In the next five years, London needs a constructive and strong voice to protect Londoners’ jobs as Europe embarks on the next wave of reform. Within the European Parliament that voice can only be inside the EPP. That is the place to protect Londoners’ future jobs as Europe is reformed. If you elect us, that is what we will do in the interest of all Londoners who want to work and who need the public services which only a strong economy can secure.” |
NoelleAnne O’Sullivan |
NoelleAnne was born in Belfast, grew up in Co. Donegal and Northern Ireland and has lived in the UK and Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy.
She has a degree. in Italian from the University of London and a doctorate on citizens’ communication rights from Dublin City University. Currently a digital communications consultant, she has worked since 1995 with a range of EU institutions– from the European Parliament, to the Commission, to national governments, in Brussels and in Dublin. She also lectures at the University of Kent in Brussels. NoelleAnne speaks fluent French and Italian. A keen sailor, when out of the office, NoelleAnne races boats of all sizes. |
“As a university lecturer, I know students need to be able to think independently and construct an argument, and they also need the practical tools to make them employable.
As an MEP, I will work to increase the ties between educational institutions and the private sector, to increase collaborations helping students find jobs. One key to finding work in Europe is speaking foreign languages: the more the better. As an MEP, I would like to help more London students access the EPP-backed Erasmus Plus scheme to learn languages in the country of origin. London's global leadership skills in financial services, media and communications are all easily transportable over digital networks. As an MEP, I would also like to help London’s technical and digital sectors, by making sure the EU provides the right legal environment to help Londoners buy and sell and do business online in a wide open digital single market across Europe over the next 5 years." |
Geoff Gibas |
Having grown up in Nottingham, with his English mother and Polish father (Free Polish Army exile), and having completed his studies at Aston and Warwick Business School, Geoff came to London and EMI Records.
He brought performers from around the world to Abbey Road Studios, working with Sonny Okosun and John Mackie on “Fire in Soweto”. Geoff received a Gold Tape for sales of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”. Geoff then became head of marketing and communications with Honeywell EMEA. A team of Europeans under US ownership grew the business 500% to $3 billion. Honeywell became a world leader in different technologies in each of Germany, Scotland, France and Holland. For an industrial film, Geoff received a Silver Award at the New York Film Festival. Geoff has since developed an academic career, including Boston University and lecturing both across the EU and developing markets. His current job is based in Switzerland. He is a guest lecturer at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and a founder faculty member of MBA and Master in European Business at Solvay Business School, Brussels. Geoff speaks English, Polish, French, Dutch, Spanish and is learning German. A UEFA qualified coach, Geoff has worked with Nottingham Forest, AS Monaco, RJ Wavre and Lausanne Sport working with both grass roots football and the football academy elite. |
“I learned so much about Europe at Honeywell, working with the Commission and speaking to the European Parliament on e-commerce laws and to the Economic and Social Committee on the single market.
My work with joint projects on the European Strategic Programme on Research in Information Technology (Esprit) and creating the European Commercial Communications Network makes me really passionate now for the EPP’s urgent ambition for a single European digital market: it’s absolutely crucial for young Londoners starting out on their career. I am so pleased the EPP was able to beef up the Erasmus + scheme by 40% to include more young people, now even with provision for sport. I want all Londoners, whatever their background or post code, to be able to access this brilliant project to bring on the next generation.” |
Aline Doussin |
Born in Paris and a French national, Aline has been living in London for four years.
Aline is a lawyer based in the City of London, specialising in European and International law. A high-profile European practitioner, Aline’s experience includes work with Europe’s former Trade Commissioner, Pascal Lamy, and the Internal Market directorate of the European Commission as well as the French Ministries of European Affairs, and Justice . |
"I am passionate about EU law and politics and regularly speak on trade and EU law and policy at universities, and schools, including London’s Charles de Gaulle French Lycée.
Having studied and lived in the UK, France, and Belgium, I see myself as a true European-rooted Londoner." |
Andrew Bell
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Born into a long line of Londoners, Andrew lives with his wife in North London and has an adult daughter and son.
He graduated in Economics at the University of London and has an MBA from the University of Warwick. Andrew has senior experience with leading City organisations, specialising in asset finance and private equity markets. He helped with the funding of public sector works such as Croydon Tramlink, and Manchester Trams and of Freightliner and numerous shipping transactions. Since leaving the City in 2008, he has shared his experience through non-executive directorships to help businesses grow. |
“We have a priceless asset in London with our financial services and service sector but all my professional experience tells me that if the UK decided to leave the EU, inward investment into the UK would dry up.
China, Germany Japan, and the USA would no longer view the UK as a ideal route to service EU markets: over time this would damage jobs and the standard of living in the UK. Britain’s commercial reality is that our place in the future world order is not as a satellite hung between the EU and the USA, with diminished influence on both, but as a fully engaged leader within the EU.” |
Deborah Phillips |
Mother of three teenagers, Debbie Phillips, started her working life in the music business before developing her career as an international marketing communications and public relations consultant. Her experience spans global clients and she has held senior positions at leading European PR agencies.
Four years ago, she founded her own marketing communications company specialising in emerging markets, with a particular expertise in brand communications in the fast developing African countries. Debbie is a co-founder of StARTupEU – a newly formed, not for profit, foundation based in Brussels to empower young up and coming talent in the arts across Europe by helping the turn their creative skills into successful and sustainable careers. |
"Working both across and outside Europe tells me from my own experience how important it is for Londoners' jobs for London to be clearly heard where it matters within the EU.
Inside Europe, if we get it right, Londoners get the best of both worlds. Opportunity both inside the world's largest economy, ours in Europe, and also, as with my business, in fast developing countries outside. I love meeting wonderful people from many different walks of life and diverse cultures wherever I go." |
Royston Flude |
London born and with London family roots going back centuries, Royston believes strongly both in London’s marriage with Europe and also in London’s SME businesses and community development.
His transatlantic business experience includes an Internet Incubator in New York. Over the last ten years, he has focussed on helping long term unemployed people. He is President of a United Nations Accredited NGO, CSPOC, helps people in developing countries to secure their personal route to independence. He is also a Governor of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and an active Rotarian with a particular interest in how we should better respond to natural and complex disasters including pandemics. Royston is a Freeman of the City of London. |
"Having experienced both poverty and wealth, I believe first hand in the EPP’s combination of a strong economy with support and dignity for the vulnerable.
I believe politics should not simply be transactional but should project values such as compassion, patience, tolerance, humility: a society of caring relationships where everyone is helped to have their personal dream come true. To try to do something about the extreme difficulty young people in London can have in getting on the housing ladder, I am currently working with a potential consortium including a world leading British architect to develop new concepts for affordable housing." |
Brendan Donnelly |
A former Conservative Member of the European Parliament, Brendan left the Party in response to its deepening scepticism.
A graduate of Christ Church, Oxford, Brendan worked on the staff of Lord Cockfield at the European Commission as the single market was being put in place. Since 2003 Director of the Federal Trust - a research institute studying the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government and founded in 1945 on the initiative of Sir William Beveridge - Brendan has published numerous articles. He relaxes by watching cricket. |
“Despite the publicity that surrounded it at the time, Mr Cameron’s speech in January 2013 failed to end controversy surrounding Britain’s place in Europe until the next General Election.
The speech was a response to mounting pressure on his own position as leader of the Conservative Party rather than a coherent long-term approach to Britain’s position within the European Union." |