Brussels, 19/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 18 November, Dutch Minister Frans Timmermans referred to his proposals for a “manifesto” for new EU governance, to include a reduced European Commission based on a few key members and portfolios. Amongst other things, the minister stressed at this briefing the differences of position between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom as regards EU relations. If the “Europe of Monnet”, as the minister described it on 14 November in an open letter to the Financial Times, is no longer right for the 21st-century and needs to be revised, for Amsterdam there is no question of unilaterally redefining its relations with the EU, but instead of arriving at “a political agreement between all 28 on a reform of the system”, Timmermans explained. “The first main difference is that we do not see any need to change the Treaties”. Everything the minister proposes “can be done in the framework of the existing Treaties”, hence the idea of a “manifesto”, he continued. Although the minister has tabled the idea of reducing the number of commissioners and portfolios, to deal with only the major dossiers, such as the single market and economic policy, there is no question of undertaking a full revision of European policies. Indeed, Timmermans added, “we actually need more Europe on banking and regulation”. The minister went on to express his desire for the United Kingdom to remain central to the EU. “We are at the heart of the EU and we want to have this debate at the heart of the EU”, Timmermans said. (SP/transl.fl)