THE EUROPEAN Liberals have launched their manifesto for the European elections and included Fianna Fáil on a 700-strong list of candidates.
Liberals president Annemie Neyts said yesterday that the party’s ruling council would formally confirm Fianna Fáil as members tomorrow and she would welcome its participation on the campaign trail.
“We are happy that an important party like Fianna Fáil has found us sufficiently attractive to join us,” said Ms Neyts at the launch of the Liberals’ manifesto, which prioritises 15 key issues for the electoral campaign.
When asked about the continued opposition of Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley to joining the group in the parliament, Ms Neyts said it might be a case that he is adopting a “negotiating position” – a reference to the post-election divvying up of jobs in political groups.
But she said the European Liberals were confident about Fianna Fáil’s decision to join following talks with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and European Affairs Minister Dick Roche.
The Liberal manifesto includes several points that may cause some unease in Fianna Fáil ranks.
It calls for “an ambitious reform of the common agricultural policy” (Cap) in the framework of the World Trade Organisation talks and a continuing reduction of the Cap budget post-2013.
It also calls for “major new efforts” to strengthen and extend the European security and defence policy, while demanding respect for all the fundamental freedoms guaranteed within the EU, such as upholding the rights of minorities.
Ms Neyts said there was general acknowledgement that on ethical issues Irish political parties took positions that were not necessarily the mainstream EU position, but she said the Liberals had always allowed the party’s MEPs to vote freely following their own freedom of conscience on such issues.
She admitted that the Liberal youth wing wanted to abolish the Cap altogether, but she said this was not the mainstream view of the party. “There are nuances on this and other issues as well,” she told journalists.