By Martha Moss - 24th June 2009
MEPs risk jeopardising Europe's climate change strategy in the run-up to Copenhagen if they fail to approve José Manuel Barroso as commission president, according to EPP member Peter Liese.
Liese, who sits on parliament's environment committee, told reporters on Tuesday that a strong commission was needed ahead of December's climate change conference.
The meeting will see 15,000 officials gather in Denmark's capital to try and secure a follow up to the Kyoto protocol.
"The European parliament is not able to act at the moment because we are dealing with our own business," he said, speaking as part of the annual Green Week event.
"We are also running the risk that the commission is not able to act in this critical point of history. Before Copenhagen we need a strong parliament and a strong commission."
The German MEP said he "put a lot of trust" in Denmark and Sweden's commitment to tackle global warming, but that he didn't have "enough trust" in other governments.
"If we don't have a strong parliament and a strong commission to push the council in the right direction before Copenhagen we may have a big risk," he warned.
EU leaders endorsed Barroso - currently the only candidate to have put his name forward for the presidency - for a second term as head of the EU's executive at last week's summit in Brussels.
The EPP is backing Barroso, but the Socialists and Greens have said they will not support him should a vote be held in July's plenary session in Strasbourg.
The centre-right EPP group now needs the backing of the ALDE group to secure a majority when Barroso's candidacy is put to a vote in parliament.
Liese added, "The problem I see is that most of the groups in the parliament see themselves in opposition.
"There could be a more ambitious climate strategy, but if you just say 'I don't like this man' and don't propose another, this could also affect Copenhagen.
"This is very much worrying me and I hope we can turn this around. I am not for Barroso without condition.
"But as long as we don't have another candidate we need to force him to promote the right agenda and to support Denmark and Sweden, and not to let other member states water down the European agenda on climate change."
