Federal big guns hold merger talks

Date: 04/03/04

SECRET talks about forming a federalist-minded political group in the European Parliament took place yesterday (3 March) on the margins of an international affairs conference.

European Commission President Romano Prodi, head of Italy's Margarita alliance, discussed the prospects for a "pro-European" group with Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal MEPs, and François Bayrou, president of the Union for French Democracy (UDF).

Insiders say the trio are open to launching such a group after the June European polls, provided they can find a common platform.

Various European politicians have held meetings to discuss setting up a federalist-minded political group after the June 2004 European Parliament elections.