Prodi urges new 'pro-European' parliament group

European Commission President Romano Prodi yesterday called for a new "pro-European" group to counter the influence of Eurosceptics in the next European Parliament to be elected this month.

In an interview with Reuters, Prof. Prodi also defended his active role in the European election campaign in his native Italy, which has prompted calls for his resignation, saying his predecessors had also remained active in national politics.

"What is important is that in the European Parliament you need a driving force, and not (to) be paralysed by the Eurosceptics which, inside the parties, oblige the parties not to take positions."

Prof. Prodi has been involved in efforts to create an enlarged centrist force grouping European federalists and liberals in the assembly to be chosen in pan-European elections on June 10-13.

Such a group could draw some traditional Christian Democrats away from parliament's main right-of-centre grouping out of frustration at the influence of Britain's deeply Eurosceptical Conservative party.