Brussels, 08/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - Using the press as intermediary there will be a polemic between the presidents of the EPP-ED and ELDR Groups of the European Parliament on the subject of configuring the political groups in Parliament after this week's elections. In an interview with Corriere della Sera on Monday, the president of the Liberal Group, Graham Watson, said he was not sure that Forza Italia and the British Conservatives would remain in the EPP. In his view, this would simplify everything. Mr Watson considers it likely there will be a coalition between the Liberal and Popular Democrats after the elections. Also, he believes, Hans-Gert Pöttering could be president of the European Parliament throughout the whole of the legislature, for five years (whereas hitherto the mandate has been divided in two by agreement between groups). The EPP-ED Group President gives a response in the Corriere della Sera on Tuesday. First of all, Hans-Pöttering announces that he will not be running for EP presidency and that Graham Watson has never spoken to him of a possible alliance with the EPP. On the subject of a possible departure of the Forza Italia Group and the British Conservatives, Mr Pöttering expresses indignation, saying: "This is truly a stupid idea. We have strong and excellent relations with both components". He went on to add: "This is a totally unrealistic prospect. I really cannot understand why Watson said such a thing". In the same paper, Jas Gavronski, European elected member of Forza Italia and former spokesperson for Silvio Berlusconi, commented: "We are a major force within the group, able to influence choices made, and I do not see why we should leave".
In an interview, Mr Pöttering denies having signed an agreement on the entry to the EPP-ED Group of Alleanza nazionale with the leader of Alleanza nazionale, Gianfranco Fini and with Wilfried Martens, EPP President. "There is nothing with AN", the CDU member said.
In his interview with Monday's Corriere, Mr Watson said, moreover, that, at the EP, there will be no new Lista Prodi group. He went on to explain: "I met Romano Prodi before the electoral campaign and Bayrou was there too and we agreed on a text for accession to the Liberal Group which is to be signed by the elected representatives in Italy, France and the United Kingdom". Also, he said, talks are already well underway with a view to membership by the "regionalists", who are today with the Greens/EFA, to the Liberal Group.