So it’s finally done. The new grouping for Conservative MEPs is called the European Conservatives and Reformists group.  It’s a bit of a mouthful, I suppose, but does the job.

Two observations. First – it was a promise made in the leadership campaign, it took a while (somewhat longer than planned, but better to do these things properly than to get put off at the first hurdle), and the campaign pledge has been delivered in full.

Secondly, and I think more importantly for the long-term, it shows a determination to deliver.  And to deliver properly. This new grouping is only the first step.

The point of this pledge was never just to remove Conservative MEPs from a grouping to which British Conservatives generally are ideologically opposed to.  It was to start to reform the way the EU works, and to make sure it does the things it’s supposed to, doesn’t do the things it’s not supposed to, and delivers for Europeans.

That’s the big challenge. This new grouping of ECR MEPs (55 MEPs from 8 countries, with a ninth already announced to be seeking to join) will need to work hard to deliver what they’ve promised. This is a good start, but it’s only the beginning.

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Tags: Accountability, Foreign Affairs

This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm , written by Fiona Melville and is filed under Foreign Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.