Brussels, 09/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Preparatory Group of the Intergovernmental Conference on EU institutional reform chaired by the EU Permanent Representative for France, Pierre Vimont, is to meet next Monday for one last time before the ministerial conclave on 19 November, in Brussels. It will make a general sweep of the main subjects of negotiation: extension of qualified majority vote in Council, enhanced cooperation, reform of Article 7 (on violation of the Union's fundamental values) and, at lunch, the size of the European Commission and the weighting of votes in Council.
During their last meeting in Paris, on 4 November, the French Presidency called on the different delegations to give a written response to the summary document that had been presented to them (a paper which, for now, excludes three essential subjects: vote weighting in Council, reform of the Commission and breakdown of seats at the European Parliament: see EUROPE of 6/7 November, p.4). The work should resume on the basis of this document. The Presidency could also present new written proposals, on the Commission and on vote weighting in Council.