Parliament airs its hopes for Barroso term

By Martin Banks

Date: 16/12/04

POLITICAL groups in the European Parliament are preparing battlelines ahead of next month's unveiling of the European Commission's five-year work programme.

President of the EU executive José Manuel Barroso will announce the priorities of his mandate on 26 January. He pledged to involve the Parliament and member states in the setting up of the Commission's work plan, in order to produce a coherent road-map for the Union.

Parliament's political groups are putting forward a 'wish list' of demands they want to see included in Barroso's action plan.

The European People's Party (EPP-ED), the largest political group, has put a "stronger, safer and more competitive" Europe at the top of its list.

It argues that the Commission should commit itself to pressing for economic reform, greater security and personal freedoms.

A text agreed by the EPP-ED group states: "The central objectives of the 2004-09 Commission should be to increase the competitiveness and dynamism of Europe's economy and to make Europe a stronger and more effective force in building a safer and more prosperous world."

EPP-ED leader Hans-Gert Pöttering said: "We want to increase Europe's competitiveness to generate jobs and prosperity, and to improve security of citizens."

Socialist MEPs have expressed fears that social and employment policies will take a back seat in a 25-strong College which is heavy with free marketeers and contains just six Social Democrats.

The Party of European Socialists (PES) has put forward its own plan for the duration of the Commission's term.

PES group deputy leader Hannes Swoboda said: "First, the Commission must promote the European economic and social model with proper regard to sustainable development, full employment and mutual support between countries and regions of the EU.

"Second, we want policies that make the EU a world leader as an area of freedom, security and justice.

"Third, Barroso must bring forward measures to strengthen the Union's role in the world."

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Parliament's third biggest group, highlights three key priorities for the next five years.

Graham Watson, ALDE leader, said: "First, we call for real, concrete progress on implementing the Lisbon Agenda.

"Second, to place a far higher emphasis on strengthening respect for human rights, both within the EU and around the globe.

"And thirdly, to campaign vigorously for the ratification of the constitution."

ALDE urges Barroso to step up the fight against terrorism, review the Stability and Growth Pact as a "bulwark against fiscal irresponsibility" and support an extension of emission trading to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

MEP Monica Frassoni, joint leader of the Greens/European Free Alliance, said that the greens were worried "that the Commission will forget about sustainability in its zeal to increase competitiveness.

"The Lisbon process is becoming ever more disconnected from the objectives which put sustainability on an equal footing with economic development and employment," she said.

"The Commission needs to work on reconnecting those objectives," she added.

Frassoni warned that the Commission's goals must be matched by the allocation of the means to achieve them.

Article reports on the expectations of the political groups in the European Parliament concerning the European Commission's priorities for the 2004-2009 term, to be presented on 26 January 2005.