Future of Europe: European Council called upon to address the constitutional crisis

12.00.00am GMT Tue 5th Dec 2006

Speaking this morning during the closing remarks at an inter-parliamentary conference on the future of Europe, held over two days in the European Parliament in Brussels, Graham Watson, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, warned his parliamentary colleagues against the risk of stagnation which threatens the European Union since the double "no" vote by the French and Dutch to the draft constitutional treaty "We no longer urge, but require the European Council to address the constitutional crisis seriously"..

Remarking on the different working groups that contributed to this conference, Mr Watson underlined "the potential of the European Union" whilst regretting the institutional obstacles to its development. "Until we sort through the 'organised confusion' that reigns between NATO and the EU, we will remain a limited player", he declared regarding foreign policy and common security.

Similarly Watson considered that European energy policy needs "instruments" and not to become dependent on the current treaty "which does not fully involve the European Parliament and needs unanimity for any decisions".

Andrew Duff (UK, Lib Dem) and ALDE spokesperson on constitutional matters also outlined his views to the parliamentary forum:

"The German presidency has a duty to broker an agreement on the calling of a new IGC to renegotiate the constitutional treaty. The mandate of the IGC should ring-fence the Preamble, Part I and Part II of the 2004 package from any change."

"Matti Vanhanen is right to insist that a 'mini-treaty' is unacceptable. 'Cut and paste' solutions are simplistic. The European public will not be convinced by textual conjuring tricks -- but, rather, by the EU addressing their genuine concerns about economic and social policy, climate change, enlargement and finance."