Cameron and Merkel unite to push a one-sided political agenda say Greens

Commenting on the outcome today of the meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Sweden, Rebecca Harms, president of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, said: “Just because four Northern European leaders decide to hold a photo opportunity together in a boat, doesn’t mean they are entitled to impose their agenda on the rest of the European Union for the next five years.

“Angela Merkel and her colleagues from Sweden, Great Britain and the Netherlands have not taken the time to seriously evaluate the results of both the European elections and the EU’s management of the economic crisis. Unlike the four politicians in the boat we believe that the EU doesn’t need only a common market but also common social policies. In addition, the EU should clarify on those areas in which Europeans want closer integration and those where Brussels should not be involved.

"David Cameron's arrogant attitude towards Jean-Claude Juncker, the successful top candidate of the centre-right EPP in the European elections, is totally unacceptable. In so doing, he disregards the fact that the European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by EU citizens. It's not just a question of who gets the job. The EU needs a European Commission president who feels accountable not only to EU leaders but also to the European Parliament and consequently EU citizens. It’s only by increasing the visibility of its decision-making and policy that the EU can win back citizens’ trust in its policies and politicians. The procedure on the election of the President of the European Commission, which was collectively agreed before the elections, must be respected by all.

"Any decision by the Greens/EFA group on who to support for the Commission presidency will be determined by the candidates’ positions on core political priorities. We are prepared to invite Jean-Claude Juncker to a hearing in our group and to decide after that."

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