Brussels, 16/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On the afternoon of Monday 15 June, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso met a group of 27 young Europeans (one for each member state), calling for his re-appointment as head of the Commission. In a manifesto, Youth for Europe calls on the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to appoint Barroso quickly in order to “prevent Europe from entering another era of political uncertainty”. The young people pay tribute to the achievements of the Barroso Commission, which, they say, “always looked for the common interest”. “The stability of the Commission is a central factor in promoting progress in Europe and fighting the current global economic crisis,” Youth for Europe says. The manifesto is available at: http: //http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/manifesto27
Speaking on behalf of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe), Samuele Pii calls on the Parliament to act on behalf of European citizens and become involved in the debate on the Presidency of the incoming Commission. “Even if the EPP is the party that won most support throughout Europe at these elections, Mr Barroso does not yet have the majority he needs to be elected,” says Young European Federalists Vice-President Jessica Chamba. She says that it is very important that candidates for the presidency of the Commission be interviewed and supported by the Parliament. “It would be neglect of democracy if the president of the Commission were to be appointed next weekend during the European Council,” she argued. The Young Federalists, then, call for a real debate in Parliament on the various political options for the next Commission. “We need the president of the European Commission to be accountable to the European citizens, represented by their elected MEPs,” states JEF Europe. (I.L./transl.rt)