Duff calls for European Parliament to be more radical

12.00.00am GMT Wed 17th Nov 1999

Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Andrew Duff has today called on the European Parliament to be more radical in its approach to building democracy at the European level.

Introducing the views of the European Liberal Group in the debate on the next Inter-Governmental Conference, Mr Duff said;

"We certainly need stirring up. At present the European Parliaments draft position is in danger of being more conservative than that of the Commission.

"We will continue to press for a more radical focus to the Parliaments approach to the next IGC.

In his speech to the European Parliament, Mr Duff called for the adoption of four key themes. Mr Duff introduced these four themes by saying;

"First, we wish to give the citizens better access to the European Court of Justice so that they can enjoy the same privilege of litigation as the EU institutions, member states and commercial companies.

"Second, we want to change the Treaty revision procedure in those areas where competence has already been transferred or pooled at the European level. It is crazy to have to undergo this ponderous and protracted amendment procedure every time we want to reform a common policy. It is also wrong to exclude this Parliament from that process.

"By lightening the Treaty revision procedure for political matters, we can entrench it for constitutional matters. This proposal should not only calm public fears of a continuing leeching of sovereignty but also excite more of a public response to EU politics on a day-to-day basis.

"Third, we want to initiate a real process of informal conciliation between the Parliament, Commission and Council as part of the preparation of the formal IGC.

"Fourth, we want us to take another look at the so-called flexibility clauses of Amsterdam so that they can in fact be deployed to allow certain Member States to deepen their integration in certain areas without jeopardising the acquis communautaire."