Press Release

23/06/2007

European Agreement: EU out of crisis with the means to achieve its ambitions. Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group

The Chairman of the leading European Parliamentary Group, Joseph Daul, has congratulated Chancellor Angela Merkel who has been able to turn a new page and take Europe out of two years of paralysis and blockage and provide the basis for an agreement on a new European Treaty. He also thanked the Member States who used their influence so that the Union won out over division.

"The 27 have, despite the great difficulty involved, succeeded in finding a balanced agreement. Overall, the new treaty will contain the main innovations of the original text, and will facilitate decision-making in the Union – increase in qualified majority voting and strengthening the role of the High Representative for foreign external policy – as well as avoiding the most criticised aspects such as the word Constitution", declared Joseph Daul.

"Now, the timetable must be respected: Intergovernmental Conference in the first month of the Portuguese Presidency; drafting the new treaty before the end of 2007; then ratification by all Member States so that the new treaty can enter into force before the European Elections in 2009."

"With this agreement, Europe will have the means to play a full role in a globalised world, promoting its values and using its full weight in challenges such as the environment, climate change, migration, energy policy and the fight against terrorism. We must leave past disputes behind us, grasp this opportunity and unite in a constructive spirit – this is what Europeans want now", concluded the Chairman of the most influential political Group in the European Parliament with 278 Members from all 27 Member States.

(Translation from the original French)

For further information:
Joseph Daul MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845525
Antoine Ripoll, Chairman's Spokesman, Tel: +32-475-856290