12/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, UMP MEP Alain Lamassoure welcomes the European initiatives launched in Brussels last Friday by the UMP President and French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy (see EUROPE 9261). “In the France of today, no programme can be credible if there is no European dimension. Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed his. Let's hope the 'Plan S' will encourage his opponents to do likewise,” said Mr Lamassoure referring to Mr Sarkozy's suggestion for breaking the deadlock on the European Constitution. More moderate in tone, Jan Seifert, President of the Young European Federalists (JEF) and Pauline Gessant, President of JEF-France said that they agreed with many of Mr Sarkozy's ideas, particularly the end of unanimity, Europe-wide party lists for European elections and the drastic overhaul of the Commission's nomination procedure, but added, “Why does Mr Sarkozy propose these reforms for some time in the future instead of supporting them for more than a minimalist mini-treaty at this time?” The two young federalists also have doubts about Mr Sarkozy's praise of “open vanguard” which they believe would make Europe “even more complicated and unnecessarily alienate the small member states”.