The European People's Party and the British Conservatives

The open Euroscepticism of the British Tories has produced some tremors in the European Parliament. The leader of the socialist group, Enrique Baron Crespo, has called on the Parliament to examine whether the participation of the Conservatives in the EPP-ED Group is compatible with the Parliament's rules and whether the lack of affinity between the EPP and the Tories makes the EPP-ED just a technical group.

We believe that Baron Crespo's comments are fair and legitimate. The EPP is in effect made up of two groups, the group of Christian Democrats (EPP) and the conservative European Democrats (ED).

Hence its real nomenclature is EPP-ED. But the British Conservatives who make up the bulk of the smaller ED component, have made reservations on practically all the main policy goals of the Christian Democrats related to European Union.

So the bigger EPP, whose fidelity to Europe is unshakable, cohabits with the smaller ED group whose infidelity towards Europe is just as unshakable. This relationship between the two has always been tenuous but the recent swerve of the UK Conservatives towards reinvigorated Euroscepticism has made them more at odds with the EPP.

In the document explaining the priorities of the EPP-ED group for 2004-2009 one finds a short note stating: "The UK delegation makes known its general reservation on the Priorities Paper in line with its special position within the Group, as recently communicated again in a letter to the Group."

We wonder what the position of the Nationalist Party is on this issue? We are sure it stands four-square with the EPP on all issues. But does it have a position? The British Conservatives have a lot in common with the Christian Democrats. But on many salient issues and not least over Europe, the British Conservatives are very much like our local CNI (Campaign for National Independence) - in thought, words and deeds.

The European Movement (Malta) recalls that Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was one of those who did not support Malta's EU membership. Her successor, John Major, did not do much better for us though perhaps he was more decent.

Europe needs to send the British Conservatives a clear and unambiguous signal: you cannot be all things to all men. You are either in the EU or out of it. The EPP must also rethink its embarrassing alliance with the ED. It is much better to be smaller in the new European Parliament than to be tainted by an alliance with a group which is diametrically opposed to its values on all major counts.

If the Conservatives wish to convince Britons to get out of the EU that's fine with us, if Britons buy it. But then the logical consequences of such a move must be followed to the end.