CONSERVATIVE MEPs AND THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT EPP GROUP

Early day motion 961, tabled 31 March 2004 by Chris Bryant (Labour). Signed by 26 members.

That this House notes that, despite their euro-sceptic rhetoric, Conservative Members of the European Parliament have agreed to back federalist candidates for key positions in the European Commission and European Parliament this Summer in exchange for the right to remain within the Christian Democrat EPP group in the European Parliament with their own policies, staff and money; further notes the irony of the fact that Tory MEPs may now end up supporting for President of the European Commission, Jean Luc Dehaene, the man John Major vetoed for the job in 1995 because of his integrationist views; and is shocked at the self-evident opportunism of this move.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 2, Scottish National Party 2, Labour/Co-operative 1.