Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Meeting for the summit of the European Liberal Democrat Party (ELDR), on Thursday in Brussels a few hours before the official opening of the European Summit, the prime ministers of Denmark, Belgium, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria expressed their views on the two points on the agenda: the Constitution and the financial perspectives. On the subject of the Constitution, Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: “I very much regret the results of the referendums in France and the Netherlands”. He suggested there should be reflection on three points. First of all, “each Member State should have the opportunity to express its position on the Treaty”; then “clarification” is required, as “we need to know that the text will not be re-opened”, otherwise the prospect of a referendum “is nonsensical”. Finally, if things are not sufficiently clear, “we should defer” the ratification process and use the time thus gained “as a period for reflection” to ask ourselves how to “make the European public feel engaged” in the debate on the future of Europe and how to “tackle real problems more energetically” (see other article). Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium felt the current situation arises from the fact that, over the past ten to fifteen years, “we have not wanted to open the debate on what should be the final statute of the European project”. The Belgian prime minister said that “good analysis is needed”. He trusts the European Council will reach agreement on the need for such discussion. Andrus Ansip, Estonia's Prime Minister, considered “it is not reasonable to reopen the text of the constitutional treaty”. He recalled that, despite the excellent economic results of his country, the support of his people for the constitutional treaty is on the decline and stands at hardly 25% of the population. “Europe needs more time for ratification”, he went on, recalling that Estonia had chosen parliamentary means for deciding ratification.
“It's the role of politicians to find the best way to communicate and to show the advantages of a strong, enlarged Europe”, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu of Romania said, expressing “great emotion” at being at his first European summit. Simeon-Saxe-Coburg, Bulgaria's Prime Minister, also spoke out in favour of an “analysis” on the referendum results, which seem “to be a sign of growing pains”, and expressed his total attachment to “this wonderful project called Europe, specially for the older ones among us who know what war and poverty mean”.
On the subject of financial perspectives, the Danish prime ministers says that the latest Luxembourg Presidency compromise is “a good basis”, while stating that his country had suggested “doubling” aid in favour of research and education. Guy Verhofstadt welcomed the “enormous effort” made by the Luxembourg Presidency, considering it “essential” for the European Council to be able to “show the public that we are continuing with our work”. “We are not extremely pleased” with the latest compromise proposals but “we are flexible”, Andrus Ansip pointed out, also recalling the need to invest more in research and education. “Very optimistic”, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu hoped that, in order to reach a compromise, the Member States will be able to “think more of general interest than of national interest”.