Brussels, 05/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the fringe of the PES meeting, a group meeting under the auspices of the "Club of the European Social Republic" again criticised the attitude of Tony Blair who, with Silvio Berlusconi, on 15 February signed an appeal to accelerate liberalisation. For them, "Tony Blair has not only fallen short of the most elementary solidarity with the Italian Left at a time when it was resisting attempts to place back into question social rights and gags on freedom, the media and justice by the Berlusconi Government. He also helped, on the eve of the Barcelona Summit, the offensive of the right-wing governments (..) to secure the opening up of the market to a greater number of sectors of a general interest". This text was, notably, signed by the French Minister of State for Housing, Marie-Noelle Lienemann, German deputy Detlev von Larcher, the Vice-President of the Italian Senate, Cesare Salvi and six MEPs, including France's Harlem Desir. Blair's attitude had already led to reactions by the Socialist Group (see EUROPE of 1 March, p.8) and President Baron was to have written to him on the subject, but should finally make do with a phone conversation.