MEPs spoiling for budget fight

The European Parliament will use all its powers to block a power grab by national governments.

Constitution proposals backed by France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK would end EU budget control scrutiny by MEPs putting purse strings firmly in the hands of national treasuries and chanceries.

During a debate on Wednesday MEPs from across the political divides pledged to fight a European constitution that leaves parliament weaker.

Leader of the parliament’s socialists Enrique Barón Crespo warned that MEPs had the clout to cause trouble if governments pick a fight.

“This proposal is quite unacceptable, it is a red line for us,” he told MEPs.

“We will be answering them, we are not going to complain. We have powers and we are going to use them.”

Centre-right MEP and parliament observer at Inter-Governmental Conference negotiations on the constitution, Elmar Brok, also cautioned national capitals.

“The European Parliament can not vote in favour of a European constitution if it’s most important power has been questioned,” he said.

Socialist MEP Klaus Hänsch backed Brok and Baron.

“We simply can not accept any loss of our powers,” he said.

“We are going to use any means at our disposal to fight.”

Green leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit told Europe’s leaders that MEPs could swing constitution votes triggering a crisis during ratification in 25 member states.

“We are in the position to pull referendums over to the ‘no’ side,” he threatened.

“We have the power to be a nuisance.”

European Commission President Romano Prodi vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with MEPs.

"The commission will hold out against any weakening of the powers of the European Parliament, especially in budgetary matters, right to the end," he said.

"How can parliament and the commission be expected to explain and promote to the citizens a constitution which the parliament would have rejected?"

MEPs are set to back a resolution on Thursday which will, it is hoped, lay down a marker for EU democracy in talks where parliament has no real voice.

A looming clash over the EU’s democratic legitimacy and the prospect of MEPs campaigning against a European constitution in fragile national referendums will, parliament sources indicate, ring alarm bells across Europe.

There is a dawning realisation in the corridors of the Brussels parliament that a powerful group of national governments is serious about cutting the current budget policing role enjoyed by MEPs.

Powers to sign off the EU’s annual budget have been the parliament’s most jealously guarded jewel for over 25 years and give Europe’s only directly elected institution real clout.

Officials have confirmed that moves to neuter the parliament are expected to be officially tabled just days before EU leaders meet to seal a European constitutional treaty.

If a final package – due to be published just two or three days before a December 12 Brussels summit – contains the plans Europe will be on the brink of an all out war between EU institutions.

Some national officials dismiss an intervention by MEPs. “These are Inter-Governmental Conference talks, the European Parliament is not a government, it is not at the table,” said one.

But senior parliament figures are threatening to use their existing clout in the five years before a new treaty comes into force to trigger an EU inter-institutional crisis.

Amendments which originated with Europe's finance ministers were dropped by the Italian EU presidency but have been forcefully revived with the backing of a majority of Europe's governments.

Only “Belgium and some others” spoke up for the EU’s only directly elected institution, reveal sources close to the talks.

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