Stroppy Poles, livid Germans, bouncing Czechs and smug Frenchmen have characterised this week's mid-term European Parliamentary elections. You mean you didn't notice them? Admittedly the election of the new President wasn't full of drama as there was only one candidate with a chance of winning but the internal arguments provoked by changes in the European People's Party (EPP), which the Conservatives have pledged to leave in 2009, will hopefully mark a change of direction for the EU.
Leaving the EPP has been a bone of contention within Conservative ranks ever since David Cameron promised to pull us out of it during his leadership bid. Like the elections, indeed like most things to do with the European Parliament, leaving the EPP is more complicated and interesting than at first it might appear. My position has always been clear: if we were able to create a big enough group to be influential leaving the EPP would be the right option, however I am not prepared to join racist nutters like Jean-Marie Le Penn if that were the alternative (this week Le Penn joined The Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty party also known as TITS).
This week saw a Franco-German stitch-up where an old-fashioned German federalist became the President of the Parliament and a protectionist French farmer became the Chairman of the EPP. Same old story: Germans wanting ever closer political union and the French wanting an everlasting Common Agricultural Policy. With a bit of luck however, this might be the last hurrah of old Europe. A Swedish MEP promising more open markets and an increased focus on the environment nearly beat the French farmer and new member states, particularly Poland and the Czech Republic, have put German noses out of joint by assertively claiming possession of the Chairmanships of the Foreign Affairs and Environment Committees.
I believe these elections could be a turning point and catalyst for a more positive Euro-sceptic agenda of which a new centre-right grouping in the European Parliament outside the EPP will be part. The failure of the EPP to recognise and adapt to public hostility to their cosy vision of the "European project" vindicates the Conservatives decision to leave it. The challenge is to create an alternative vision of the Europe which is positive rather than defining our views on Europe by saying what we don't want. To achieve this politicians need to engage with the public.
Unfortunately nothing German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Strasbourg this week suggested this was going to happen. At a time when a European approach is clearly needed to energy security and climate change Mrs Merkel's speech focussed on re-launching the hated and long-dead constitution. Why Angela?? Why?? It doesn't have to be like this, no one wants a constitution: LET IT GO!!
