By Martin Banks - 25th November 2009
I refer particularly to those who, for the sake of having something to say, discredited themselves with irresponsible statements
Joseph Daul
The leader of parliament's biggest political group says member states should "stop declaring national victories over their EU partners as soon as they're back from Brussels."
Speaking in a debate in parliament on Wednesday, EPP leader Joseph Daul said EU capitals should also "stop blaming Europe for all evils."
The French deputy said he also "expects the council not to change its position depending on who is presiding over it."
Daul said, "This is what I expect from the first permanent presidency of the council."
His comments came during a debate on the election of former Belgian PM Herman Van Rompuy and EU president and Catherine Ashton, formerly EU trade commissioner, as its foreign policy chief.
Both choices took many by surprise, particularly that of Ashton, a former junior government minister in the UK who has never occupied an elected office.
Daul, who comes from the same centre/right political family as Van Rompuy, said the presidency job would "obviously be very difficult" and deplored the "facile" criticisms of the nominations of both Van Rompuy and Ashton.
"I refer particularly to those who, for the sake of having something to say, discredited themselves with irresponsible statements."
Daul predicts that Van Rompuy's term will be notable as one "without dramatic gestures, but effective."
Meanwhile, Wales MEP Jill Evans, who was also speaking at the Strasbourg plenary on Wednesday, called on Van Rompuy to recognise the role nations like Wales, Scotland and Catalonia have to play in the EU.
The Plaid Cymru MEP said that many people across Europe feel more distant than ever from the EU and blamed the 'missing link' that exists between the EU and the people's of Europe.
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