GREEN Parties from across Europe are to found the first Europe-wide political party at a special congress in Rome in February.
Thirty-one parties - including the Green Party of England and Wales, which boasts two Euro-MPs: Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert, who represent South-East England and London respectively - will sign a charter forming the European Green Party during a three-day congress in Italy.
Dr Lucas said: "The European Green party represents a political 'first', and is a product of the Green's increasing popularity across Europe, and the real progress European Greens have made in developing common policies and ways of working together. "
"This June's elections to the European Parliament will see a strong, unified Green campaign for a Europe of diverse, viable local communities and economies, underpinned by an EU which provides a framework of high common minimum standards on social welfare and environmental protection."
The new European Green Party will represent the first time in the EU's history that parties from each member state will join to form a political 'family' campaigning on a common platform for the European Parliamentary elections in June 2004.
ENDS
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020
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