Watson urges "ambition and imagination" from EP President in reforming Parliament and selling constitution

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Sep 2004

"Liberals and Democrats in this House urge imagination and we expect ambition" Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrat/UK), leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) told the new President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell in a debate on Mr Borrell's Presidency priorities in Strasbourg today. In particular, the ALDE leader urged Mr Borrell to pursue reform of the European Parliament and to campaign vigorously for the European constitution.

Mr Watson told Borrell: "When you speak impartially for this House, when you are a credit to its standing and a defender of its prerogatives, you can count on our backing. The stature of this Parliament is growing, and the stature of its Presidency must grow with it. You have inherited a House larger by some eight dozen MEPs and richer by nine new official languages. It is a machine of four and a half thousand parts, speaking twenty languages. The parts must move in time, the machine must stay in motion. You must make sure it does."

Mr Watson said the Borrell Presidency had to focus on reform of the Parliament and winning the referenda on the European Constitution:

"We welcome your emphasis today on the Member Statute. The package agreed at the end of the last session is not an end but a point of departure. We cannot hide behind it. We must call the bluff of European governments and go straight back to work. For our voters, the price of legitimacy is open and ambitious reform, nothing less."

On the Constitution, Mr Watson said Liberals and Democrats expected Mr Borrell "to lead a concerted campaign across the continent. So renew your frequent flyer programme, as Europe has never had a more important product to sell."

Mr Watson concluded: "Political institutions rise and fall by the respect they command. For a quarter of a century this chamber has gathered powers and asked European citizens for respect, for trust. We must wake and work and sleep as if that trust must be won anew every day. In wishing you well for your Presidency, may I say, as our President, we expect nothing less from you."