Brussels, 24/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Enthusiasm tempered with some criticisms or else total rejection: reactions of Members of the European Parliament to the proposal for a White Paper on reform of the Commission vary from one group to the next.
The Greens/EFA Group announced that it is "satisfied with Kinnock's proposals on staff policies, financial management and auditing", and with the presentation of "tough deadlines". Group Co-Chair Heidi Hautala commented that the "European Commission has drawn the right lessons from the past". She nonetheless considers that the proposals on transparency are "very vague and insufficient" and that measures on equal opportunity "cannot be called over-ambitious".
The plan proposes "an unprecedented wave of change", observed Pat Cox, Chair of the ELDR Group in the EP. "The Parliament too needs reform and cannot insulate itself from this process", said the Irish Member. The plenary nevertheless rejected an amendment tabled by his group for the creation of a committee of independent experts charged with developing reform proposals for Parliament (see EUROPE of 21 January, page 11).
In contrast, the British Conservatives find that Mr Kinnock's proposals "do not stand up to the Conservative ten-point EU reform plan". They therefore intend to "keep up pressure for real change".
"Beautiful words but not much action: the mountain has given birth to a mouse", denounced Danish Member Jens-Peter Bonde, Chair of the EDD Group. The Europe of Democracies and Diversities Group attacked the proposals for "punishing the innocent and rewarding the guilty".