Brussels, 25/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The two main groups of the European Parliament - EPP-ED led by Hans-Gert Pöttering and PES led by Martin Schulz - do not draw the same conclusions from Thursday's vote in Strasbourg on the European Commission's legislative programme for 2005 during which, contrary to the consensual tradition of compromise resolutions on a large number of tests adopted in plenary, the Socialist Group maintained its own proposal and voted against the compromise proposal from the EPP-ED, ALDE and UEN Groups (yesterday's EUROPE, p.4). The result was that the Socialist resolution was rejected and the centre-right resolution was adopted, but only with 264 votes to 201 and 37 abstentions.
The Socialist Group demonstrated that it failed to win a majority for its positions, Hans-Gert Pöttering says in a press release. The group's vice chairperson, Françoise Grossetête of France, expressed disappointment that the Socialist Group “has once again failed to support the Commission and has been unable, because of internal divisions, to participate in the normal work of drawing up Parliament's position”.
The PES Group sees things differently. After the vote, Martin Schulz warns in a press release: “It is clear that the support of the Socialist Group is necessary for future legislation. The right-wing today failed to muster a simple majority of members - 364 - that will be needed for legislation to be adopted”. (Schulz is referring here to the number of votes needed in the Parliament of the EU25 - namely “the majority of members making up the Parliament” to amend or reject a Council common position at second reading, or in the event of assent).