Conservative EU deputies seek new partners

The British Conservative Party stepped up its efforts to form a breakaway political group in the European Parliament by wooing the eurosceptic Civic Democratic Party (ODS) from the Czech Republic.

In November, new Conservative Party leader David Cameron promised to pull his party out of the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED), the largest group in the EU Parliament.

Such a move could alter the voting dynamics in the European chamber, narrowing the gap between the EPP-ED and the Socialists to just four or five members.

Mr Cameron has said he wants to redefine his party's role in Europe and align himself with parties of a similar outlook - more reforming and against the proposed EU Constitution.

Former party leader William Hague has been given the task of negotiating the withdrawal and setting up a new group.

Ironically, it was Mr Hague who masterminded his party's membership of the EPP in 1999.

"We have been assured that the Conservatives still intend to leave the EPP," Josef Zieleniec, leader of the ODS in the EU Parliament, told Reuters following his meeting with Hague.

"We will continue to negotiate, but we are very interested in what is being offered."

According to the latest opinion polls, the ODS, currently in opposition, is expected to win June's general election.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus comes from the ODS. "We have a general election in June, so we told him (Hague) that we could not move before then, but would possibly be willing to do so after that," Mr Zieleniec said.

The meeting took place as EPP-ED leader and German MEP Hans-Gert Poettering said the group had no plans to negotiate with Mr Cameron to try to keep the British in the group. "There is no manoeuvre for negotiation and Cameron should have talked to us first before making promises," Mr Poettering told a news conference in Brussels.

Hague is expected in Brussels on January 31 to discuss the issue with his own members and other parties interested in joining his new alliance.

Some of his own party may need more convincing than those outside the party, with at least seven of the 27 Tory MEPs said to be in favour of staying put.

Besides the ODS, Poland's Law and Justice party, currently in government, is also being targeted. It currently sits in the group of the Union for Europe of Nations (UEN).

"We are ready for talks and details first need to be hammered out," a spokesman for the party said.

"It is not the case that we are becoming more eurosceptic but the new group would gather parties, some from the EPP, that oppose the EU Constitution in its current shape.

"Our target is to eventually have 60 members. The next financial cut-off point for funding is March 31, so that we hope to have agreement by then," a senior Conservative MEP said.

"The Poles have told us they are ready to move and we also have assurances from some French, Swedes and Lithuanians."