Euro Socialists criticise Poettering's comments

The Party of European Socialists yesterday laid into comments made by the leader of the European People's Party during his visit to Malta last weekend.

Hans-Gert Poettering had told The Times the MLP could have problems with its European allies unless it was committed to the process of European unification.

This remark, the Socialists said, was "stunning in its hypocrisy".

"No sooner had Mr Poettering spoken when it emerged that his own group is to be the subject of a formal parliamentary inquiry," they said.

The inquiry, announced by European parliament president Pat Cox, will focus on the EPP Group's alliance with anti-Europeans such as the British Conservatives.

Under European parliament rules, political groups can be formed by members who have "political affinity".

A recent deal between Mr Poettering and British Conservative leader Michael Howard, allowing Tory MEPs to pursue their anti-European agenda, led to protests by PES Group leader Enrique Barón that the EPP was merely a "technical group".

An inquiry could lead to disbandment of the existing EPP Group and undermine its claim to public funding, the Socialists said.

PES secretary-general Tony Beumer said: "I was astonished by (Mr Poettering's) allegation. It is not the PES or the MLP that have problems - it is the EPP itself that is split from top to bottom.

"The EPP has formed unholy alliances with British Conservatives and Berlusconi in Italy that now threaten to tear the whole organisation apart."

Mr Beumer said that Mr Poettering was trying desperately to hold together a forced marriage of European integrationists, euro-sceptics and anti-Europeans.

He said the MLP was a full and active member of the PES. It shared the values and priorities of its sister parties in the 25 countries of the new EU and "we are proud to work with it".

"We are confident that the people of Malta will know that the MLP is the party they should support at the European elections in the interests both of Malta and of Europe."