31/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a speech delivered in Rome, the president of the Liberal Group of the European Parliament, Graham Watson, criticised the "public outbursts" of Commissioners who criticise each other and thus "undermine the collective responsibility of the Commission" just at a time when it has to face an "intergovernmental attack on the part of many Member States". Mr Watson - who cites the recent letters of Ms de Palacio on fisheries and Mr Patten on external relations, as well as the criticism voiced by Mr Verheugen in February addressed to the Commission to launch a warning to Germany on respect of the Stability Pact - notes that "President Prodi has done his best to defend the Community method in its recent proposals to the Convention".