MEPs scold Barroso for lacking ambition

By Simon Taylor

Date: 18/05/06

Senior MEPs have given a mixed response to the European Commission's plan to concentrate on delivering key policy objectives while preparing the ground for a new discussion on the EU constitution in a few years' time.

Most leaders of the Parliament's political groups accused Commission President José Manuel Barroso of lacking ambition in the "citizens' agenda for Europe" that he unveiled last week. But there was support to end national vetoes over policies to fight organised crime and terrorism.

In a debate at the Strasbourg session on 16 May, Socialist group leader Martin Schulz said Barroso had "given up" on the constitution. "The Commission president - more than anyone else - should be fighting harder for the constitution," he said.

Graham Watson, ALDE group leader, said he had "expected more" from the Commission in its proposals. "I can't think of a Commission that has taken a "more minimalist approach to its role as guardian of the treaties," he said, adding that he wished Barroso had "taken a stronger and more robust position on the future of the constitution".

The leader of the centre-right EPP-ED group, Hans-Gert Pöttering was the strongest supporter of Barroso's plan. Spanish EPP-EP MEP and constitutional expert ê-igo Méndez De Vigo also backed Barroso's wish to see national governments signing up to a "commitment to deliver on a policy-driven agenda" but said the Parliament wanted a hand in drafting the declaration.

But there was support from all group leaders for Barroso's bid to make decisionmaking on police and judicial co-operation subject to majority voting and to give the Parliament equal powers with the Council.

Article summarises reactions at the European Parliament to the European Commission's 'Citizens' Agenda' [COM(2006) 212] a document suggesting to concentrate on key policy issues given the absence of a constitutional settlement. The paper had been adopted on 10 May 2006 and the European Parliament debate on it took place at the plenary session on 16 May 2006.

• Primary Source

European Commission: COM(2006) 211: Communication from the Commission to the European Council. A Citizens' Agenda - Delivering Results For Europe, 10.5.06 http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/pdf/com_2006_211_en.pdf

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