Strasbourg, 23/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - On a proposal by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, German Christian-Democrat Elmar Brok, and the Irish President of the Liberal Group, Patrick Cox, the Conference of Presidents of the political groups decided last week that, from the first plenary session in October, The European Parliament would hold annual debates on enlargement. This decision was adopted against the opinion of the Socialist Group opposed to setting a precise timetable already attributing roles to the different Parliamentary committees.
The decision of the Conference of Presidents, indeed, hands an exclusive competency to the Foreign Affairs Committee, responsible for preparing the thirteen reports to be discussed in October: a report for each of the candidate countries and a general report involving all horizontal issues. This comprehensive report will be drawn up with contributions from other Parliamentary committees on: convergence and stability in the candidate countries; - the rule of law in candidate countries and the adaptation of the internal market; - employment and social aspects; - environmental aspects of enlargement; ; - health and consumer protection; - agricultural aspects; regional policy; - transport policy and tourism; - equal opportunities and enlargement. Other annual debates should each time comprise 12 reports drawn up from the European Commission's progress reports regarding the candidate countries. These Commission reports having to be published in November, the second annual debate could come before the end of the first half of 2001.