26/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – While the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarias, hoped for an imminent agreement on the inter-institutional declaration laying the foundations for the Conference on the Future of Europe (see EUROPE 12664/15), the week beginning Monday 1 March could be decisive. The ambassadors of the Member States to the European Union (Coreper) will discuss this issue at two meetings, Monday 1 and Wednesday 3 March. If an agreement is reached in the Council of the EU, it will be discussed in the Conference of Presidents of Political Groups (CoP) of the European Parliament on Thursday 4 March. Parliament’s proposal to allow all political groups (three full members and four observers) to participate in the Conference’s Executive Committee is at the heart of the negotiations. (MB)