Leading members of the ALDE group reacted with relief towards the decision of Germany's highest court this morning in Karlsruhe to accept the constitutionality of the eurozone's permanent bailout fund.

Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF, ALDE Vice-president and leader of the FDP delegation, said: "Today's decision of the Constitutional Court is an important cornerstone for finding an end to the debt crisis. It shows that the ESM as well as the fiscal pact are based on a solid democratic and juridical foundation. The ESM must now become operational as soon as possible. The judges have confirmed the pro-European direction which is already embedded in Germany's basic law."

Sylvie GOULARD (MoDem, France) ALDE group spokesperson on the economic and monetary affairs committee, said: "I am satisfied with the court decision. It is very important for the eurozone member states to be able to continue their work. In the future the accountability of the ESM that is not yet an EU institution should be increased through democratic accountability and scrutiny of the Court of Auditors. We will also have to rethink how the admirably high level of constitutional and parliamentary control in Germany may be transferred to the European level, and thus avoid a system in which we could face contradictory views of constitutional courts within the EU on fundamental issues. What would we have done if the Italian or the French constitutional court had ruled on the ESM and given contrasting directions?"

Alexander ALVARO (FDP, Germany), Vice-President of the European Parliament said: "I very much welcome the court decision. The stabilisation of the Euro is unthinkable without Germany, now we can,  in close cooperation with our partners, work on the solution of the problems - this is a good signal for Europe."