Philip is Chairman of the Inter Parliamentary Delegation for relations with Canada and is spokesman on Regional Policy and Local Government for the UK Conservative MEPs. He is also a long serving Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, and is currently acting as Opposition Spokesman on the following draft legislation:

Air Transport Agreement between the USA, EC and its Member States, Iceland and Norway

Agreement between the EC and Canada on civil aviation safety

Towards a European road safety area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020

Proposal for a Directive on the use of Passenger Name Record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime

Within the region Philip takes responsibility additionally for Justice and Home Affairs and Agricultural Policy.

He has been actively involved in blocking EU legislation on Common Immigration and Asylum Policies within the EU and has campaigned actively for powers currently with Brussels to be returned to UK control. He won a victory for local farmers to have bio fuel crops included in the EU Research Programme. He has been very active in steering through legislation for common Aviation Security rules to be approved by the EU to ensure the highest standards for security across Europe's airports.

A strong Atlanticist, Philip is keen to promote better relations with the United States and is a strong supporter of the development of a transatlantic open market.

What do MEPs do?

MEPs represent their constituents in the European Parliament as MPs do at Westminster. Additionally, they liaise with officials from other European Institutions, listen to national governments, industries and lobbyists. However, MEPs do not sit according to their national delegation but by their political affinity, better known as a Multinational Political Grouping. In the case of the British Conservatives, they are currently part of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.