12/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Hans-Gert Pottering says he is optimistic that the vast majority of British Conservative MEPs will remain members of the EPP-ED group he chairs at the European Parliament. He said there was 'no manoeuvre for negotiations' with the Tories because the EPP-ED had already pulled the stops out to take account of the Tories' interests by changing its rules of procedure and name (to EPP-ED) and letting the Tories take a different view on issues like the constitution, Pottering told reporters on Thursday. He said he was disappointed with public statements by the new Conservative leader, David Cameron, that his party may leave the EPP-ED (Cameron did not discuss this with the leaders of the EPP-ED ahead of making the statements).