Europese christen-democraten handhaven alliantie met eurosceptische Britse Tories (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European People's Party on Wednesday (1 April) voted in favour of keeping the eurosceptic wing of the group, the British Conservatives, despite grumbles from within its own ranks.

Leader of the EPP, Hans-Gert Pöttering said, "The changes we have agreed mean that the Group is now prepared for EU enlargement and the challenges we will face after the European elections in June".

However, many within in the group see the new deal, which guarantees the Tories and any other parties that want to join that part of the group the right to promote their "own positions on constitutional and institution issues" as a purely cynical move.

The British Conservatives, which currently have 36 seats in the European Democratic part of the EPP-ED, have made no secret of their dislike for the new draft European Constitution and pursue an anti-federalist agenda.

This is in stark contrast to the main body of the EPP which is pro-European and federalist.

"Let's put it this way", one EPP source told the EUobserver, "about 3/4 of the group said themselves, 'okay Hans-Gert's done a deal, let's just vote for it'".

"There was no jumping for joy".

The deal also means the door has been kept ajar for other eurosceptic parties to join the EPP group.

Behave or else

The awkwardness of this EPP-ED (European Democrat) relationship was clearly demonstrated on the issue of whether to censure the European Commission for its behaviour concerning the eurostat frauds.

While most of the Tories yesterday evening were prepared to sign up to the motion - by this morning some 15 had withdrawn their signatures.

This followed a showdown with Mr Pöttering who, according to an insider, issued an ultimatum.

Afterwards, Jonathan Evans, the leaders of the Tories in the European Parliament, sent a letter to the group saying that he was withdrawing his signature from the motion. Some 15 others then followed suit.

A bumpy ride

This glitch in relations is indicative of stormy times ahead for the EPP as it tries to keep itself together going into the European elections in June.

Already French and Italian federalists in the EPP are speaking about breaking away and forming a new "centrist pro-European" group with the liberals.

Similarly, difficult questions will arise if the Tories pursue relations with eurosceptic groups in the Czech Republic and Poland.

The Czech group, the Civic Democrats, raises particular problems with the German Christian Social Union part of the EPP as it continues to defend the Benes Decrees used to expel Sudeten Germans from Czechoslovakia after World War II.

All parties wanting to join the EPP group have to be approved by a majority of EPP members.