Barroso ‘regrets’ Tories’ EPP exit
By politics.co.uk staff
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has admitted he regrets the Conservatives’ decision to leave the European parliament’s EPP group.
The European People’s party (EPP), a Christian democratic, conservative party, is the largest such group within the European parliament.
But last week the Tories announced they would withdraw from the EPP and establish a new grouping after this year’s elections, which take place on June 4th.
Speaking in Downing Street this morning, Mr Barroso – himself a supporter of the EPP – expressed his regret at the move.
“Of course I regret the decision because in European we have many political parties in the main political families, that shape the European agenda,” he said.
“These are the most influential families in the European parliament.”
Mr Barroso added he had spoken with Tory leader David Cameron about the issue many times and that, as a result, “he will not be surprised. [that] I regret the decision”.
Speaking at his monthly press conference this afternoon Mr Cameron said the Conservatives hoped to set up a new centre-right grouping which closely reflected his party’s domestic policies.
“I believe profoundly. we’ve got to have in politics a sense of you say something in Westminster – and you say the same thing in Strasbourg and Brussels,” he explained.
“We would be friendly and happy neighbours [with the EPP] rather than angry and unhappy tenants.”
