In a reply to EUROPE during talks with journalists on Tuesday 24 January, Bas Eickhout MEP (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) denounced the attitude displayed by liberals in Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) on the subject of the revision of the regulation on motor vehicle monitoring and approval.
The draft rapporteur, Daniel Dalton (ECR, United Kingdom), is attempting to unravel the Commission proposals on the subject and prevent any transfer of powers at a European level (see EUROPE 11664). According to Mr Eickhout, this approach does not come as any surprise, given that Mr Dalton is a Tory and as such is not very keen on strengthening the Commission’s competencies.
According to the Greens MEP, the problem is in fact due to the support Mr Dalton would receive from the liberals, particularly the shadow rapporteur, Ms Dita Charanzová (Czech Republic). We have been informed that the position of the liberal MEP would block any real progress towards a more ambitious text.
The Green MEP also says that he has noticed a change in the Liberals’ behaviour since the conclusion of the agreement with the EPP during the election for Parliament's presidency (see EUROPE 11705). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)