New EP president pushes Constitution

Hans Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, yesterday emphasised the need for the EU to resolve its current stalemate over the constitution.

Delivering his inaugural speech during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he insisted that the way forward on a new EU treaty must be found by June.

"We need thorough reform of the institutions if we want to move forward. I do not understand people who on the one hand criticise 'Brussels' but at the same time reject the constitutional treaty, which is the very instrument we need to help eradicate and rectify the perceived deficiencies."

Emphasising that 18 member states have already approved the treaty, he said agreements by member states should be respected.

Mr Poettering's first official address to the chamber since his recent election was attended by the President of the European Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. Both underlined the importance of moving forward on the constitution.

Mr Poettering said that during his two-and-a-half year mandate he will be concentrating on the promotion of a dialogue of cultures and religions and on the need of an EU common policy on energy and immigration.

"Above all, we need a Europe that believes in itself, that wants to be a player on the world stage," he said to sustained applause from MEPs.