GREENS CALL ON BELGIAN PRESIDENCY TO INJECT NEW LIFE INTO EU.

The hand-over of the EU Presidency to Belgium on July 1 marks an ideal opportunity to inject new vigour and energy into European Union developments, the Greens/ European Free Alliance Party assert. In the wake of the Irish referendum rejection of the Nice Treaty, the riots at Gothenburg's EU Summit, and claims of a growing remoteness from its citizens, a new impetus to reverse the stagnating situation is called for. Heidi Hautala, President of the Green/EFA Group stated, "Belgium is taking over the EU presidency at a crucial moment ...The EU is in urgent need of a remedy for the spreading Euro blues and we call upon the Belgian presidency to make a great effort." Echoing this view, Ecolo, Belgium MEP, Pierre Jonckheer appealed for the Belgians to initiate an ambitious, high-achieving...