Brussels, 03/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's political parties are negotiating the membership of the 24 or 26 intergroups (cross-party groups) in the new European Parliament for this term of office. Using a highly complex procedure, each intergroup draws up its own list of priority themes from suggestions made by its members. Of the selection of 46 themes, the EPP has opted to prioritise: - Small and medium-sized enterprises; - The Santiago of Compostela Pilgrimage; - Winegrowing, Fruit and Vegetable Tradition and High Quality Food; - The Family and Children's Rights; - The Sky and Space; - Youth; - Urban Affairs; - Mountainous regions, islands and low population areas; - The Social Economy; and Bioethics. The Social Democrats have opted for: - Ageing and Solidarity; - Anti-racism; - Housing; - Gay and Lesbian Rights; - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises; - The Media; - Public Services; - The Social Economy; and - Youth. The Liberals and Democrats have opted for: - Age and Inter-generational Solidarity; - Animal Welfare; - Anti-racism; - The Arctic; - The Baltic; - Cancer; - Climate Change and Biodiversity; and - Bicycles. The Greens have opted for intergroups on: - The Social Economy; - Tibet; - The Sea and Coastal Areas; - Animal Welfare; and - Gay, Lesbian and Transsexual Rights.
When the EP takes up office, only intergroups with the backing of at least three political parties will be set up. The final list will be approved by the EP Conference of Presidents on 10 December.
In a message sent to EUROPE, the current chair of the Extreme Poverty Intergroup, Inigo Mendez de Vigo, said that the continuation of this intergroup is backed by the EPP (13th in the EPP's list) but regrets lack of support from the S&D and ALDE. He called on Martin Schulz and Guy Verhofstadt to back the intergroup, especially given that 2010 has been called the European Year of Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion. Quizzed by EUROPE, a spokesperson for the Socialist group said that the Socialists favoured the continuation of an Extreme Poverty Intergroup. (O.J./transl.fl)