Barroso wins back hearts of MEPs in EU budget plea - but too late

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Dec 2005

Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrat Group leader) congratulated President José Manuel Barroso in Strasbourg today on his passionate and forceful retort to the current UK attitude to future budget plans which was received by MEPs with the longest and most sincere applause of the year.

"In his defence of Europe, its ideals, hopes and ambitions for the future, President Barroso has risen to the occasion and shown leadership, vision and defence of the interests of the Union as a whole that is the duty and privilege of the European Commission but it came too late to influence the latest UK budget offer," said Watson

Graham Watson highlighted in his own intervention this morning to the UK Europe Affairs Minister:

"No deal is better than a bad deal which compromises our long-term interests. We must remember this is not just a budget for tomorrow but a budget framework that will bind us right up until 2013. The latest British proposals are more an attempt to meet the lowest common denominator for a deal. They may end up finding a minimal consensus but they are a long way from providing the sort of budget Europe needs to raise its game and respond to new challenges. The European Parliament will not be satisfied with this latest offer."

Anne Jensen MEP (Danish Liberal) and ALDE budget spokesperson added that "It is not the end of the world if there is no agreement on the Financial Perspectives. It would not be the first time that Parliament and Council have managed with annual budgetary planning as provided for in the Treaties. It just makes life that bit more complicated. If the European Council reach a deal this Friday we must remember that this is not the final word as it still needs to be underwritten by Parliament. We will seek to improve on the proposals in negotiations in the New Year."