President Barroso to attend ECR Group meeting this evening
Posted, September 07, 2009 @ 13:00
Brussels, 7th September 2009 -- The European Conservatives and Reformists are to be the first political Group in the European Parliament to hear President Barroso's agenda for a second term when they meet with him this evening.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, ECR President Michal Kaminski MEP said:
"We are honoured to be the first group to discuss President Barroso's agenda.
"Our Group is well disposed towards President Barroso, but this time we would like to see him adopt a more ambitious centre-right agenda. The next commission should deliver less and better regulation, reform of the EU's institutions and reform of the European Union so that it better serves the priorities of the people.
"The European elections were a victory for the whole centre-right. Our message to President Barroso is that he can forge a centre-right alliance in Europe and confine socialism to the fringes - but our group's votes will be crucial."
ECR Deputy Chairman Timothy Kirkhope MEP - who will chair the group meeting this evening - said:
"Ours was the only group to consistently and openly support a quick confirmation of the Commission President. We believe that, with the economic crisis and crucial climate change talks coming up, we cannot afford a leadership vacuum in the EU Commission.
"We want to see a European Union that respects the sovereignty of the member states and which heeds the wishes of the people. President Barroso must be willing to lead a European Commission which is more accountable to our European Parliament and pursue an agenda of reform and deregulation in the next five years."
ECR Vice-President Jan Zahradil MEP said:
"We cannot allow the EU to adopt socialist policies that will make it more difficult for our small businesses and entrepreneurs to bring us out of the economic slowdown. In exchange for our support we will expect President Barroso to give us a commitment that he will not concede ground to the left.
"The ECR, the EPP and many members of the ALDE Group have a great deal around which we can rally and create a consensus for open markets, freer trade and reform of the EU. We are the only mainstream parliamentary group to oppose European federalism but where we have common objectives we will work with other groups for the benefit of our electors."