Andrew Duff says Europe wins as the political crisis breaths new spirit into the Constitution

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Oct 2004

In a statement from Strasbourg today (Thursday), European Liberal Democrat Euro MP Andrew DUFF said:

"Europe has won this week. On Wednesday the European Parliament decided to reject an inferior European Commission. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe played a key part in forcing President-elect José Manuel Durao Barroso to withdraw his proposed team.

"During the approval process of the new Commission, we identified various concerns about several candidates: political convictions contradicting basic values of the Union; lack of political skill and knowledge and commitment with regard to the portfolio proposed; unresolved problems or unanswered questions concerning conflict of interests or possible involvement in political and legal malpractice.

Commission Reshuffle

"Our decision to rebut Mr Barroso was to do with Mr Buttiglione's proposed portfolio in charge of Freedom, Security and Justice; and certainly not because of Mr Buttiglione's conservative Catholicism. Mr Buttiglione is a large part of the problem and his removal will have to be a part of the solution. I hope Rocco Buttigilione will have the sense to withdraw his candidature and that Mr Berlusconi will not impede him for the sake of the domestic imbroglio.

"A number of other Commission candidates; from all political families; should also be considering their positions over the next day or so.

"Many people doubted that the Parliament had the guts to stand up to the European Council. Never again will critics of the EU be able to claim that the Commission is made up of unelected bureaucrats. Anybody more political than Mr Barroso or Mr Mandelson it would be difficult to find. It is perfectly proper that they are subjected to the rigorous scrutiny of the European Parliament before they take office and throughout their term.

The Constitution

"The political crisis at Strasbourg has breathed democratic spirit into the constitutional settlement which will be signed in Rome this Friday. The Parliament's role in the drafting of the Constitution is well known. It is no accident that the Parliament gains many more powers under the Constitution than it has now ‑ including full budgetary and legislative powers over almost the whole range of EU activity. But all the institutions will be rendered more efficient. And the European Union will have a greatly enhanced capacity to act effectively at home and abroad.

"I hope Europe's leaders gathered in Rome to sign the Constitution truly understand the nature of the parliamentary revolution we are witnessing. Europe is having a good crisis this week."

ENDS

Editors' Note: Andrew Duff is Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). He is Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, and led the Liberal caucus in the European Convention that drafted the Constitution.

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