Federalists Demand Key Commitments From Barroso II

2.45.00pm GMT Mon 26th Oct 2009

The Union of European Federalists, meeting in Berlin on 24-25 October, has set out its key demands for the programme of the new Commission.

The UEF proposes the setting up of a new committee of enquiry, along the lines of the original Delors committee, to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the current arrangements of Economic and Monetary Union.

Other demands include a radical reform of the EU's financial system and the establishment of a strong External Action Service attached to the Commission for administrative and budgetary purposes. Needless to add, the federalists insist on a quick signature of the Lisbon treaty by Mr.

Klaus.

Andrew Duff, President of the UEF, said:

"This week's European Council must make it clear that its own future President should be a person with a proven track record in political integration. It needs to press ahead with the package deal of appointments to the Commission, including urgently the nomination of the

Foreign Minister-Vice President.

Once the Lisbon treaty is in force, there will be an opportunity to review the success of the euro and to strengthen, in the light of experience, the powers of the Union, and in particular the eurogroup, with respect to fiscal and economic policy making. The first Delors committee, which led up to Maastricht, was a good model which we can follow again."

END