European Parliament Socialist group leader, Martin Schulz, today denounced the European Council's attempt to fast-track the reappointment of Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, as a political, legal and institutional outrage.

 

Mr. Schulz warned that his group will vote against the reappointment if the issue is put to a vote at next month's session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

 

Said Mr. Schulz "The Council's wish to run this past a meeting of the European Parliament leaders at the end of June, followed by a vote in July, rather than to have a full and official consultation of the Parliament, is wholly unacceptable.

 

"Deciding on Mr. Barroso appointment on the basis of the current EU treaty of Nice when the Lisbon treaty may soon be ratified causes needless legal uncertainty. In addition, the Parliament has just been elected and in July it will be unable to give the appointment the full consideration it needs.

 

"My group objects to the indecent haste with which the Council is trying to rush through Mr. Barroso's appointment and we will certainly vote against him".

 

Tony Robinson
tony.robinson@europarl.europa.eu
+ 32 2 284 30 61
+ 32 475 25 74 10
www.socialistgroup.eu