Key Vote for Liberals

Written by Andrew Duff and published in Liberal Democrat News on Fri 4th Mar 2005

The European Union cannot work without a strong executive authority working to a coherent political strategy and answerable to the European Parliament. It is good news, therefore, that the new Commission of José Manuel Barroso is settling down.

In a key strategy debate last week, the European Parliament approved the Commission's annual work programme. The Liberal Group negotiated a joint resolution with the European People's Party, on which, absurdly, both UK Tory and Labour MEPs abstained. It is curious to find our two main opponents joining forces albeit obliquely on such a key vote.

The Parliament as a whole is backing Barroso's efforts to boost investment in R&D and in pressing member states to continue with structural reforms of their labour markets. Controversy surrounds the Commission's proposals to extend the single market to the fastest growing sector of the European economy, namely services. It is easier to pay lip-service to integration in the field of services than to formulate law at the EU level that liberalises the market, enhances growth and respects workers' rights.

MEPs, including the Liberals, insist that the Union needs the financial resources to match the scale of its work programme. The UK government wants to cut EU spending to one per cent of gross national income. This is a risible policy. It would mean a cut in the 2005 budget of € 11 bn. Gordon Brown is prepared to end all EU social and regional spending in the UK to achieve this. Liberal Democrats should oppose him and stick up for the European Union. We support EU spending where it has coherent objectives, proven added value, draws on best practice and enhances regional and social solidarity. In the European Parliament, only the Tories, UKIP and the Czech nationalists voted for the cuts. Even British Labour MEPs voted against their own government.

Andrew Duff MEP led for the ALDE Group on the Commission's programme.