Mr Blair should put people first in Europe

12.00.00am GMT Sun 13th Feb 2000

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for Eastern England, has welcomed the opening of a fresh round of negotiations to reform the European Union (the Intergovernmental Conference).

"From today we have a new chance to strengthen European parliamentary democracy, and to give the Union a more effective and efficient system of government. I and my European Liberal colleagues will be working in close partnership with the European Commission to give the Union an enhanced capability to work well at home and abroad."

Speaking in Strasbourg, Andrew Duff MEP, who leads for the European Liberals on constitutional affairs, outlined the key reforms he seeks. They are:

• to make the Parliament a full partner with the Council of ministers in all EU law-making, reserving unanimity for only the most controversial issues;

• to write into the Treaty the new Charter of Fundamental Rights;

• to improve direct access by the European citizen to the Court of justice;

• to rationalise and simplify the Treaty by dividing it between entrenched basic law on the one hand, and policy chapters more open to future reform on the other.

Duff added:

"If the prime minister embraced these changes he would be putting the interests of the British people first within Europe."

"Mr Blair should put people first in Europe."