Brussels, 29/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Conference of Presidents of the Political Groups in the European Parliament has altered the already weighty programme (see EUROPE of 28 September, p.13) of next week's plenary session in Strasbourg. Here are the main changes that concern neither Monday nor Tuesday morning, devoted to debates on the preparations for the Biarritz Summit and the statute of the future EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (see other article, page 6). Tuesday evening, question time has been cancelled to leave time for discussions on 13 reports relating to enlargement (7 hours of debates are scheduled). Wednesday, the discussion on the White Paper on food safety has been removed, the Bowis report not yet having been adopted in committee. Still on Wednesday, Commissioner Philippe Busquin will present the Commission's Communication on the future of research policy (with guidelines for the 6th framework-programme and the development of a European Area of Research). Thursday morning, Parliament will examine the Ana Palacio Report (Spanish, EPP) on the customs' code. Other than human rights, the debate on topical issues should turn to Peru, Afghanistan and the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). At 17.00 hrs., the High Representative for Cfsp, Javier Solana will make a statement in plenary on the elections in Yugoslavia. A little earlier, Solana will, as Secretary General of the Council, have participated in a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the EP on access to documents. He will give a press conference on the same subject from 18.00 hrs.. Two other issues have still to be added to Thursday's programme, the material for the vegetative propagation of the vine (Klass Report, German, EPP), and Friday, the rights of language teachers (oral question of the Commission)
EP President Nicole Fontaine will meet United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on Tuesday, who will be on an official visit to the Council of Europe the same day. A press conference for Mr. Annan is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Ms. Fontaine will also meet Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC President, on Thursday, and the latter will give a press conference with the yachtswoman Theresa Zabell (Spanish, EPP, the same day.