Brussels, 08/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Political group leaders in the European Parliament (President Borrell and the presidents of political groups), who meeting in Brussels on Thursday morning, unanimously rejected the first British Presidency compromise on the financial perspectives 2007-2013 (EUROPE 9083 and 9084). In a press release, they specify that they reject the proposal for its “lack of solidarity”. Those present included Presidents Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP-ED), Martin Schulz (PES), Graham Watson (ALDE), Francis Wurtz (GUE/NGL), Brian Crowley (UEN) and Co-Presidents Monica Frassoni (Greens/EFA) and Jens-Peter Bonde (Independence and Democracy).
Martin Schulz stated in a press release that he had phoned President Barroso on Wednesday evening. He added: “I encouraged him to fight. I told him that the Parliament will be on his side. I said that this was the chance for him to win the profile of a leading person in Europe”. Speaking to a small group of journalists, Francis Wurtz stressed the importance of unanimity if the European Parliament wants to make its full weight felt in this matter.
We recall that Tony Blair will be hosting a working lunch with the Conference of Presidents in Strasbourg next Thursday (see other article on the Parliament's programme).