European Liberal Democrat Leader Challenges Tony Blair to Democratise the EU

1.54.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Jun 2005

Graham Watson, leading a delegation of European Liberal Democrat spokespersons in London for meeting with Tony Blair today, called for Britain to take the lead in restoring confidence amongst Europe's citizens during its six month stint at the EU helm, beginning on 1st July.

"Europe is at a crossroads following the French and Dutch rejection of the Constitutional treaty" said Watson. "It now falls to Tony Blair as the incoming President of the European Council to begin the process of explaining Europe better and justifying the decisions of British Ministers when they meet in Brussels."

Whilst agreeing with the British Prime Minister on the need for reorientation of EU budget priorities, in favour of measures that will raise European competitiveness, he nevertheless called on Blair to lead by example and show a readiness to cap the UK rebate in return for completing further much needed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

"The UK rebate is the key to unlocking necessary EU reforms. It is indefensible in it current form to require Maltese and Latvian citizens to subsidise the UK budget contribution to the EU. It should be capped not scrapped."