By Martin Banks - 8th November 2007
A major parliamentary conference on Europe’s future has been branded “little more than the EU institutions talking to themselves”.
The two-day event, which started on Thursday, brings together over 500 civil society representatives for a debate on the future of Europe and the controversial EU reform treaty.
They were invited by parliament to take part in a debate ahead of the expected ratification of the treaty by EU leaders in December.
However, some MEPs have criticised the so-called ‘Citizen’s Agora’ event in parliament’s main debating chamber, as a waste of time and money.
UK Tory MEP Roger Helmer said that most of the participant organisations listed on the Agora website are “strongly pro-EU” groups and in receipt of EU funds.
“With names like Euronet, Europe Etudiant and European Citizens’ Initiative, the bias is evident in their very names,” he said.
“This debate amounts to little more than the EU institutions talking to themselves. They are paying pseudo-independent bodies to tell them what want to hear. It defies democracy.”
He likened the event to a “Soviet-show trial” in which the action is carefully staged, the participants hand-picked and the outcome determined before the event.
“The EU has a track record of similar events. In November 2004, the European Economic and Social Committee hosted a similar debate on the European constitution which was later voted down in French and Dutch referenda,” he said.
“At that event, every participating organisation was receiving EU funding,” he said.
His claims were dismissed by two MEPs involved in the event.
Speaking at a news conference, French MEP Gerard Onesta, a parliamentary vice president, said, “This is the first time parliament has staged an event on this scale and, despite the criticism, I am sure it will be a success.”
His comments were echoed by German Socialist Jo Leinen, chairman of the constitutional affairs committee, who said, “I accept that there are similar events being held but this is a genuine attempt to get a better feel of what ordinary people think about the EU."
He said the results of the debate would be taken on board by parliamentary committees and the plenary in the New Year.
A similar event, on climate change issues, will be held in the spring.
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