ALDE offers Barroso "A licence to get to work" but promises close scrutiny of new Commission

12.00.00am GMT Thu 18th Nov 2004

"The approval process for this Commission does not end here," ALDE Leader UK MEP Graham Watson MEP told Commission President José Manuel Barroso in a debate today before the vote in which the European Parliament confirmed the new Commission. A majority of the ALDE voted to confirm the Commission, with some abstentions.

Mr Watson said that the ALDE would continue to insist on a new agreement between the Commission and the Parliament that increased the power of Parliament to hold Commissioners to account. He told Mr Barroso:

"Today you get your driving licence, tomorrow we start on the rules of the road."

Offering Mr Barroso "a licence to get to work", Mr Watson said his group would offer "constructive partnership". Mr Watson welcomed the willingness of Mr Barroso to strengthen the Framework Agreement between Commission and Parliament in Parliament's favour, saying:

"We do not want to tie your hands or hold you hostage but parliamentary oversight without some possibility of sanction is paper tiger democracy and we want something better."

Mr Watson said that the ALDE would closely scrutinise the work of the new Commission:

"The motion for resolution tabled today makes it clear that we do not take the issues of propriety, or competence or conflict of interest for any commissioner, in any portfolio, lightly."

The new Commission was approved by 449 votes to 149 with 82 abstentions.