press release from the office of Richard Corbett MEP |
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24 November 2004 |
no picture attached to this release
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Greens give green light to EU improvements |
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The Green group in the European Parliament has thrown its weight enthusiastically behind the proposed EU constitution, adopting a text entitled Yes to the European Constitution. This expression of support from the group representing Green parties across Europe contrasts sharply with the negative position adopted by the UK Green party. Richard Corbett, Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and the Socialist group's spokesperson on the constitution, said: "In the light of this ringing endorsement, our own UK Green party looks curiously isolated. "In the past, they tried to suggest that the new constitution is somehow unacceptable to Green politicians. This claim has now been blown out of the water completely as their sister parties from across the EU have rallied around it. "In fact, Europe's Greens not only welcome this improvement to the EU's rulebook, but are already talking about how it can be further developed in the future! "I can't imagine why the UK contingent should insist on taking such a negative line - unless they are trying to score quick political points at home from the UK's eurosceptic tabloids. I wonder how they would explain this to their colleagues from other countries?"Notes for editorsThe Greens' document Yes to the European Constitution is available here: http://greens-efa.org/en/documents/detail.php?id=103 The UK's two Green MEPs are part of the 42-strong 'Green/European Free Alliance' group in the European Parliament. Richard Corbett MEP is the spokesperson in the European Parliament for both the Labour Party and the entire Socialist Group, consisting of Socialist parties from the 25 member states of the EU. He is also Parliament's co-rapporteur on the proposed EU constitution, responsible for steering the debate through Parliament. More informationContact Toby Wardman, Press & Communications Officer for Richard Corbett MEP phone 0113 245 8987 e-mail toby@richardcorbett.org.uk |
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