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Barroso "Finds Convergence" in ALDE Hearing at EU Parliament

640 views · Published 9 September 2009 · 2:25 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: Euractiv · 2009 · News & Politics

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Jose Manuel Barroso, putting in extra hours this week to ensure the European parliament will approve his second term as European Commission President next week, looks visibly exhausted as he exists today's hearing with the liberal ALDE group in Brussels.

From EBS:
José Manuel Barroso, EC President expresses himself after his exchange of views with the EP Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group (ALDE), the third largest group in the European Parliament.

President Barroso says that he found a great degree of convergence between the programme he is proposing and the priorities of this group. He announced his intention to have a commissioner for fundamental rights, anti-discrimination and justice. And he also insisted on his commitments to preserve the internal market. 

This meeting took part in the framework of a series of encounters of President Barroso with deputees as he tries to persuade Parliament's main political groups to back him for a second term. He needs the backing of a simple majority of MEPs if he is to retain the post.

This encounter could be crucial for his re-election, as the ALDE group remains undecided on whether to back President Barroso. 

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Journalists waiting the end of the meeting 
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José Manuel Barroso, EC President, leaving the meeting room and SOUNDBITE (English): It was a very good meeting, in fact. I think with a great degree of convergence, of course. Now it is up to each member of the Parliament to take the decision in his or her own conscience. But I found here a great degree of convergence between the programme I'm proposing and the priorities of this group, namely in the committeemen to fight anti-discrimination, the need to have respect for fundamental rights. I announced my intention to have a Commissioner for fundamental rights, anti-discrimination and justice. And also of course the commitments to preserve the internal market that is a fundamental element for our prosperity and also for the European project. So I find a great degree of convergence, of course not on all issues. I had very good discussions with this group, but then of course is for each of them which is the best solution. 
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SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) José Manuel Barroso: I think that I can get the majority support of this group, but this is just an analysis and of course the vote is secret, and I respect the democracy. 
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SOUNDBITE (French) José Manuel Barroso: In this Parliament any group has the majority and I think that in Europe it is important to rally the pro-Europeans, this is the European ethic, the European values. Opportunism would be to say thing on which I don't believe, but I believe in this vision of Europe that rallies the pro-European forces. I want a political Commission, but I don't want a partisan Commission. So, those are values on which I believe. 
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