Berlin Declaration: Keep it short and keep it simple

2.41.17pm GMT Wed 14th Mar 2007

The European Parliament debated this morning the context and likely content of the Declaration to be approved on 25th March in Berlin and signed by the three principle EU institutions - Council, Commission and Parliament.

Graham Watson, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats underlined the importance of keeping the text both short and accessible:

"Birthday's are always a welcome celebration. 50 years is a landmark anniversary that merits a moment to look back as well as forward. The EU is the basis of our security, prosperity and opportunity and our economy and society is more open than ever before, in large measure due to the determination of the Union to bring down obstacles to free movement."

"The Declaration must be short and simple - the kind of text one might nail onto a church door in Wittenberg. It must reflect our pride in the past but also our determination for the future."