Blair has six months to convince Europe that he offers a viable alternative

3.56.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Jul 2005

"Blair has promised a shake-up of the EU, beginning with the budget but prompting a wider debate about how it has gone about trying to protect the social model that differentiates it from the US. The liberal economic agenda combined with social justice he espouses is music to the ears of many of us who have long argued that a sustainable welfare system and efficient public services require a prosperous society to fund them." said Graham Watson (UK, Lib Dem), leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

"Blair now has six months to convince his European partners that he offers a viable alternative model and to convince the British public that Europe can offer added value and is capable of reform if it has the right leadership."