Socialist leader attacks Spain’s presidency

Date: 20/06/02

THE Spanish leader of the European Parliament's Socialist group has launched a scathing attack on his country's presidency of the EU.

Enrique Barón says Spain's six-month stint in charge has failed to deliver: 'While most presidencies tend to promise that they will do more than could possibly be achieved in six months, the lack of action from the Spanish presidency has been most disappointing.'

Barón, whose party is in opposition to the conservative administration of Prime Minister José María Aznar, accused the presidency of 'failure to develop new ideas in a period of mounting challenges'.

Its approach to immigration had left a lot to be desired, he said. 'This problem has been crying out for a response. It is the responsibility of the presidency to make progress and the Spanish have failed on this most sensitive issue.

'It is clear to everyone that action on immigration and asylum must be European and not national.'

Barón also accused Aznar of a 'contradictory' approach to the future of Europe debate. He recalled how at the opening of the Convention, Aznar had seemed to back the 'communautaire approach' and 'made the right noises for most of the delegates'. However, Aznar was heard to mutter in Spanish 'what a load of crap that was' at the end of his speech, unaware that the microphone was still on.

Barón said Aznar's call for an EU president was incompatible with his supposed commitment to the communautaire approach.

'The proposal may sound reasonable to some but, in reality, it is an argument for rule by the powerful: a kind of Holy Roman Empire for the 21st century.' The sole area in which Spain progressed was in closing chapters with applicant countries in the enlargement negotiations, added Barón.

The Spanish leader of the European Parliament's Socialist Group, Enrique Barón, has criticised his country's presidency of the EU, January-June 2002.