Strasbourg, 21/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Whether or not to invite the Libyan President, Colonel Ghadafi, to visit the European institutions was also discussed in the European Parliament this week (see EUROPE of 20 January, p.8, for the EU's request for further written details from Tripoli regarding its acceptance of the Euro-Mediterranean acquis).
Thus, this issue was first raised on Wednesday, at the trilogy between the presidents of the Parliament, Council and Commission; EUROPE has reason to believe that, on that occasion, Council President Jaime Gama wanted an coordinated stance on the part of the different institutions on this delicate question. Then, the Conference of Presidents - EP President Nicole Fontaine and the Presidents of the political groups - broached the problem: EUROPE has reason to believe that several group leaders reiterated their reservations over inviting Mr. Ghadafi under current circumstances (see EUROPE of 20 January, p.4 for the speech by the President of the EPP Group, Mr. Poettering).