Madrid, 17/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on the subject of the Convention's stability pact on Wednesday, in the framework of the EPP-ED's political workshops held on Wednesday in Madrid, the Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar provoked some serious ill feeling at the French delegation of the EPP-ED.
In the framework of the debate on the competitiveness of the European Union, Mr Aznar regretted that the "European economy had still not made the leap" between the gap separating the USA and the EU. The Spanish Prime Minister thought that they had to find "structural solutions to structural problems of the EU" and in particular, respect the stability pact. Mr Aznar declared that, "there are two types of politician and country: those who are serious and those who are not. Those who are serious stick to their commitment. European should be a serious enterprise. In order for Europe to be competitive, it should respect the stability pact. Obviously irritated, the President of the French delegation, Margie Sudre (UMP) immediately reacted, "President Chirac reasserted France's position yesterday, saying that he supported the stability pact. She was keen to point out that, "France had been plunged into 16 years of socialism" and requested that they take into account the "difficult" situation" occurring in the country. Mr Aznar said that this had some truth in it, "I do not doubt France's commitment but the stability pact is sufficiently supple to take on board the difficulties of the situation".
The Spanish Prime Minister then expressed strong criticism about the Convention. He said he was seriously concerned about its results which, he regretted, bring the "Nice consensus" into question. Desperately clinging to the Nice Treaty, Mr Aznar considers that "the Convention reached a balance when we reached 25". Mr Aznar believes the Convention is a point of departure and certainly not an end in itself. "If I am told that one should not touch the Constitution then the Intergovernmental Conference serves no purpose", he concluded. During a press lunch, Gerardo Galeote Quecedo, the head of the Spanish delegation of the EPP-ED, explained Mr Aznar's position. Spain is "generally very pleased" with the results of the Convention except for two points: the reference to Christian values and the institutional chapter. "The Convention is a good base but there are points of disagreement which should be discussed", he added, concluding that "the Convention presented a proposal and the Heads of State and Government will decide" at the IGC. Margis Sudre said "Spain keeps taking us back to Nice as the Convention does not give it the weight that it would like in Council". The French MEP said, moreover, that she was very surprised by Mr Aznar's remarks as "at the EPP-ED there had been an almost unanimous agreement on the Constitution". These comments were confirmed by EPP-ED Group president Hans-Gert Pöttering, from Germany, who specified that "most of the group is in favour of the Convention's results", although he added that "the Spanish have the right to discuss it". He went on to say he was pleased "Mr Aznar has undertaken to finalise the work of the IGC by the end of the year".