By Martin Banks - 13th May 2009
I expect us to have between 55-65 members
Geoffrey van Orden
The British Conservatives have said they are "well on track" to forming a new political grouping consisting 55 to 65 MEPs in the next parliament.
It is claimed that political parties from "at least" seven member states have signed a declaration committing themselves to joining the new group.
Under parliamentary rules, this meets the threshold for forming a new group.
The group is already virtually guaranteed the minimum 25 elected representatives.
According to UK Tory deputy Geoffrey van Orden, most of the members will come from the British Tories, the Czech ODS and Polish Law and Justice parties.
He declined to name the other parties from four member states said to have committed themselves to the new group, which will be called the European Conservatives and Reformists.
Van Orden has been spearheading negotiations along with Tory Europe spokesman Mark Francois and Tim Kirkhope, leader of the Conservative group in parliament.
He said, "We have firm commitments from parties in at least seven member states. Each have signed a declaration agreeing to join the new group.
"This means we have already passed the threshold for forming a new group. The information will be passed to the relevant parliament authorities after the European elections."
"I am confident we will have sufficient numbers of suitable partners with the prospect of more joining us after the election. We are well on track although it is up to invidivual parties to say whether they have joined.
"At the end of the day, I expect us to have between 55 and 65 members and to be the fourth biggest group in parliament, behind the EPP, PES and ALDE."
The move to set up a new group follows the Tories' decision to withdraw from the EPP group after the 4-7 June poll.
The decision - honouring a commitment by party leader David Cameron - has been criticised by some including parliament's president Hans-Gert Pöttering, who claim it will leave the Tories out of the European political mainstream.
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