"Speak up for the West Midlands" say MEP

10.14.51am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Jul 2006

GIVE West Midlands businesses a louder voice on the big issues in Europe - that is the message from LibDem MEP Liz Lynne to regional business leaders.

Speaking after discussions with the West Midlands Business Council, about strategies for job creation and regional prosperity, Liz Lynne MEP said:

"The West Midlands is already an integral part of the UK economy and has a real presence on the European stage."

"If more local companies can get together to speak with a united voice they can make a bigger impact at a European level. The West Midlands Business Council is an crucial part of this process."

Senior West Midlands Business Council figure and Federation of Small Businesses Regional Policy Unit Chairman, Mike Cherry, said:

"Liz is a good advocate for our business community, with our other MEPs and we are delighted we will be working closely with her for the people of the West Midlands region."

"We have agreed to work towards ending the red tape that firms are mired in when seeking European Research and Development grants and are working to ensure that Midlands firms can get a slice of the European public procurement action."

"We are working to see if we can lever in new venture capital investment into the Midlands, with the help of the European Union."

Liz will be meeting a number of West Midlands Business Council colleagues to ensure that West Midlands' regional businesses can punch its weight in the European market place.

"With advocates like Liz, we can succeed for the people of the West Midlands region".

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The West Midlands Business Council (WMBC) is a UK First - the first time independent business representative organisations have chosen to come together to speak with one voice on the key regional business issues. No other region of the UK has such an organisation;

2. WMBC is an umbrella organisation for the whole West Midlands region - covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, & Worcestershire together with Birmingham/Coventry/Wolverhampton and the West Midlands conurbation.

3. The member organisations of WMBC are:

Asian Business Forum

Association of Colleges

British Ceramic Confederation

Business in the Community

Chartered Institute of Building

Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce

Country Land and Business Association

Engineering Employers' Federation

Federation of Small Businesses

Heart of England Tourism

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

Institute of Directors

Institution of Civil Engineers

Midland Association of Restaurants, Caterers and Entertainment

National Farmers' Union

National Federation of Retail Newsagents

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

West Midlands Co-operative and Mutual Council

West Midlands Higher Education Association

West Midlands IT Association

West Midlands Learning and Skills Councils