In April this year, the Danish and British Conservatives, who made up the European Democratic Group, joined with their colleagues from the European People's Party to form the second largest political grouping in the European Parliament. Christian Democracy (the dominant tradition within the EPP) and Conservatism are the most successful non-collectivist political philosophies of modern Europe. Already, their new alliance in the European parliament has proved a striking political and administrative success. The Maastricht Treaty rightly stresses the role of European political parties in the future European Union. The expanded EPP Group in the European Parliament gives practical expression to this aspiration. Both Mr Kohl and Mr Major have lent, over the past eighteen months, their personal support to this consolidation of the co-operation which has already existed in Brussels and Strasbourg between Conservatives and the EPP Group. As the powers of the European Parliament increase over the coming decade, nation

al governments will be looking more and more for support from, and cohesion among, their political allies in the European Parliament. In the first instance, the new arrangement between the EPP and Conservatives is exclusively at the European Parliament level. I hope the day will not be long delayed when the British and Danish Conservatives Parties join the EPP as observers and eventually full members. Six months of close collaboration have reinforced my view that very little of substance separates British Conservatism from Christian Democracy: the central importance of the individual, social responsibility and the free market are core values that Conservatives and Christian democrats have long shared. Our rhetorical traditions are undoubtedly distinct, but even here the process of convergence is taking place; "subsidiarity" is as familiar a concept today in London as in Bonn or Rome. I believe that the alliance of Conservatism and the European People's Party in Strasbourg is an important part of the European

Parliament's political evolution. The Parliament will gain in solidity and effectiveness from this concentration of forces. Its ability to mirror Europe's political debates and differences will be enhanced. And this enhancement is not incompatible with an openness to compromise; indeed, compromise can often be achieved more easily between a limited number of negotiators. By speaking with one voice, Conservatives and Christian Democrats in the European Parliament will achieve more than they would speaking separately - a principle which has been at the very root of all the European Community has achieved in the past thirty five years!.

Sir Christopher Prout QC

ED Group Former President