The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament has warned that the European Union must be wary of anything that could further distance EU voters from Brussels.
In response to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s announcement on February 14 about the future of EU institutional issues, speaking after the announcement, ECR co-chairs Syed Kamall said the EU is at a crucial cross-roads.
“Mr Juncker should be wary of anything which may further distance EU voters from Brussels,” said Kamall. “Any future proposals from Brussels should ask one crucial question: ‘is this what voters really want?’.
“The decisions made here in Brussels should help strengthen our economic growth and our security, and not simply facilitate the favoured projects of a select few,” he added. “We keep hearing the word ‘reform’ from the EU Commission, but we have yet to see sufficient progress, just more of the same old calls for ‘more Europe.”
According to Kamall, ECR believes the EU should find solutions to the migration crisis that all member states can sign up to. He also supported the idea for transnational MEPs, and to increase the exchange of information between countries to improve internal security.
“Europe’s biggest strength is treating all its members equally and respecting the opinions of all those sat around the table,” said ECR Group co-chair, Ryszard Legutko. “The leaders of every EU member state government, representing their voters, must have a say on who will be President of the EU Commission.
“Disregarding those member states with genuine concerns and supporting instead a process where little known European political parties nominate candidates for Commission President, who do not appear anywhere on a ballot paper, weakens the whole EU and further distances it from voters,” he added.
