ALDE open discussions with future German EU-presidency

14.10.2006 Meldung ALDE-Fraktion im Europäischen Parlament

At a meeting in Berlin with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, (A.d.fdp-koeln.de-Redaktion: an dem u.a. der Kölner Bundestagsabgeordnete Werner Hoyer und die Kölner Europaabgeordnete Dr. Silvana Koch-Mehrin teilnahmen) Liberal and Democrat MEPs opened discussion on the topics that will dominate her presidency in the first half of 2007. "How can we overcome tensions between the Christian and Islamic world ?" asked Graham Watson, Liberal group leader in the European Parliament. Recent conflict in the Middle East, the war on terror and misunderstandings and violent reactions resulting from newspaper cartoons and comments from the Pope mean that this issue will remain high on the political agenda for some time to come. Mrs. Merkel considered that the risk of misunderstanding is very high and both sides should make efforts to deepen understanding of each other's history and beliefs if this climate of suspicion and tension in future is to be transformed into a climate of trust. The MEPs also engaged the German Chancellor in a reflection on the future of Europe's Constitution which the in-coming presidency hopes to revive with a political declaration on the 50th anniversary of the founding Treaty of Rome on 25th March 2007. Mrs. Merkel acknowledged that resolving Europe's institutional questions would not be easy, given the current state of public opinion, but considered the matter could not be postponed indefinitely. She nevertheless underlined her scepticism that cherry-picking from the existing constitutional text would result in a better outcome and suggested that Liberals and Christian Democrats would continue to differ over the degree to which European politics should remain purely secular. Responding to questioning on transatlantic relations, especially in seeking solutions to global problems and threats, she shared the view of ALDE members that the EU needs to speak, and be seen to be speaking, with one voice. Hier geht es zu weiteren Meldungen und Initiativen der FDP zum Thema Außen-, Europa- und Sicherheitspolitik.