European Parliament group leaders have just decided this morning to accept an invitation from the President of the European Council to participate in drawing up the new Treaty.  They have appointed three representatives - Guy VERHOFSTADT, President of the ALDE group, Elmar Brok (EPP) and Roberto Gualtieri (S&D) as Parliament's negotiating team on the new draft Treaty which was decided upon by 26 Member States at the EU summit last Friday.

Guy Verhofstadt commented: "The new Treaty, which has to be formalised by March, must be based on the Community method, guarantee full respect for the Community Institutions (especially Commission, Parliament and Court of Justice) and perfect compatibility with the Lisbon Treaty."