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MEP Leader Says Spring European Council Must Take Tough Decisions
Wednesday March 9, 2005
Speaking in a debate on the forthcoming Spring European Council, Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, said:
"The Spring European Council will, of course, be dominated by the mid-term review of the Lisbon agenda. I want to emphasise today the support of my colleagues in the European Democrats for strong action to reinvigorate the agenda. We want to see a stronger commitment by national governments to real and enduring economic reform. The Commission President has our full support for his vision of an enterprising Europe committed to growth and prosperity, and I underline our support for this objective.
I am, however, concerned about some recent developments, including the need for Commission President Barroso not to weaken his stance on EU market liberalisation by in any way undermining the Services Directive. It is a fundamental part of the recently re-crafted Lisbon agenda.
The question of the British opt-out from the Working Time Directive has also reared its head again this week. The European Parliament will shortly debate a proposal to end it. It is fundamental to our vision of a prosperous Europe that employers and workers should themselves decide on their own working hours, and not have governments or the EU decide for them. It goes against the whole spirit of economic liberalisation and flexibility that many of us believe there needs to be if Europe is to prosper and compete in the future.
Conservative MEPs and an incoming Conservative Government in the UK will pledge to work to keep the current blocking minority in the European Council on this matter."
ENDS
