Graham Watson MEP

European Leaders need a pep talk from their liberal-minded team manager Tony Blair today if they are to regain their form

Published on Thursday 27th October 2005

At a press conference this morning at Hampton Court ahead of the European Council informal summit discussing how Europe's social model needs to face the challenges of globalization, Annemie Neyts (President of the European Liberal Democrat Party) and Graham Watson the leader of the European Parliamentary group of Liberals and Democrats and Charles Kennedy (UK Liberal Democrat leader) outlined their vision for Europe's future:

Liberal Prime Ministers this morning expressed their optimism that a new sense of direction is emerging on how to steer Europe out of its current economic malaise. They will be encouraging Tony Blair today at the EU summit to press ahead with his liberal and reformist agenda and address the consequences of globalization head on.

"Europe's leaders today must set out a clear and unequivocal vision on how they intend to modernize our economic structures. Although no formal decisions are expected from the summit, the message nevertheless must be united and one of uncompromising determination. Prosperity and social solidarity are two sides of the same coin. Without the former one cannot finance the latter," said Annemie Neyts.

Graham Watson pointed out that "Blair made another fine speech in Strasbourg this week to MEPs and suggested four concrete areas where the EU can work together on its long term growth prospects - doubling funding for R&D, developing a common energy policy, creating a network of world class university and strengthening our collective security arrangements. But like the manager of Liverpool football club, Raphael Benitez, Blair needs to give his team today a serious pep talk that will enable them to find the form that won them the European championship."

Charles Kennedy, leader of the UK Liberal Democrats expressed his view that "I hope that this summit will kick start a constructive debate on what is needed to rejuvenate Europe's economy. I take encouragement from the fact that many of the Liberal Prime Ministers at our pre-summit meeting used to be in opposition but are now in Government in their respective countries. It shows that liberals are winning the arguments across Europe as well as in the UK."