European Liberals Welcomes new start for Europe

10.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 19th Jun 2004

European Liberals Welcomes new start for Europe

In a statement from Brussels tonight, European Liberal Democrat spokesman on constitutional affairs Andrew Duff welcomed the agreement at the Intergovernmental Conference on the new constitution.

"The success at the IGC will be warmly welcomed by the European liberal family.

"This constitutional settlement has been a long time coming. But our leaders have finally focussed on the common interest of all Europe. They have made a brave new start that will inject vigour into the fight to develop a better society in Europe.

"The constitution will enhance the capacity of the Union to act effectively at home and abroad. It modernises and clarifies our system of government. It strengthens parliamentary democracy and the rule of law.

"To achieve this, all have had to compromise. Now we must explain and justify to the citizen exactly what is in the Constitution, and campaign to win public support for it.

"European Liberals in the European Parliament and in national and regional parliaments will be in the forefront of that effort."

ENDS/...

Editor's Note: Andrew Duff MEP was a member of both the Convention that drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights and of the Convention that drafted the Constitution.