Britse Tories werken aan vertrek uit Christen-Democratische fractie EP (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The London leadership of the UK conservatives has stepped up efforts to detach its MEPs from the 'federalist' EPP faction in the European Parliament - but the quest for new partners is proving difficult.

The tories' shadow foreign minister and former party leader William Hague was in Brussels on Tuesday (30 January) for talks with potential partners to form a new, centre-right but anti-EU integration group in the European Parliament.

The visit was part of intense efforts to withdraw UK conservative MEPs out of the pro-European EPP group as soon as possible, a key pledge of the party's new leader David Cameron, who was elected in December.

Tory circles supportive of the move in December described the pull-out as a matter of weeks rather than months following the Cameron election.

But the project is facing hurdles both within the UK conservative party as well as among envisaged Czech, Polish and other partner parties necessary to form the new anti-federalist faction.

Daniel Hannan, one of the conservative MEPs backing the withdrawal from the EPP, told EUobserver that chances for a free market eurosceptic group are still "100 percent," but other conservative sources pointed to difficulties.

A majority of tory MEPs is still said to be unconvinced by the initiative, despite London's pressure.

While an estimated five of the 26 conservative MEPs are strongly resisting the move, a larger number of parliamentarians are sceptical about the possibilities of finding potential partner parties in a new grouping.

Quest for allies

European Parliament rules prescribe a minimum number of 19 MEPs from 5 different parties for the new eurosceptic faction to be recognised.

So far, only the Czech ODS party of president Vaclav Klaus has emerged as an uncontroversial 'key ally' of the tory project, as one source termed it.

Jan Zahradil, the leader of ODS MEPs, told EUobserver after meeting Mr Hague in Brussels "We expressed our mutual will to work towards the establishment of a democratic, centre-right but non-federalist group," adding that there is "no internal opposition" to such a scheme within the ODS delegation in the parliament.

But the profile required by UK connservatives of "pro enterprise, mainstream and against EU constitution," as decribed by Mr Hannan, is more difficult to meet for other parties.

The other main partner floated as a key ally in December, the ruling Polish Law and Justice party, is known for its uneasiness with free market economics.

Geoffrey Van Orden, an MEP who supports a pull-out from the EPP, indicated "While some might seek a very quick decision on this matter I understand the sensitivities and complexity of establishing a serious new group in the parliament, potentially the fourth largest, that will be sustainable and meet our expectations."

"It will take some months, not weeks or years," he added.

Not before June

However, no breakthrough is on the cards before the Czech elections in June.

Mr Zahradil said "We are now not able to offer enough energy and commitment to the formation of a new group, as we need to focus on the election campaign."

One insider said the ODS fears an early retreat from the EPP would be unpopular among Czech voters, who according to recent polls have grown more pro-European.

But Mr Zahradil said the ODS will press ahead with the new group project, stating "this year is the best opportunity to do it and if we miss it the whole project might not come about at all."