Paris, 01/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Assembly of the Western European Union, from 4 to 7 December in Paris, will mainly turn to the future of WEU following developments in the Esdp. Details of the agenda are as follows:
Monday 4 December: - address by the President of the Assembly, Mr Bühler; - report on EU crisis management capabilities; - address by French Defence Minister, Mr. Richard, representing the WEU and EU Presidency.
Tuesday 5 December: address by a Swedish Minister for the future EU Presidency; - reports on the professionalisation of armed forces, and on Russia and European Security; - address by a Russian Minister; - election of the President of the Assembly; - address by Mr Solana, WEU Secretary General.
Wednesday 6 December: Report on Esdp and on WEU's future role; - addresses by Mr Van Aartsen, Dutch Foreign Minister, for the forthcoming WEU Presidency, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Greek Defence Minister Mr Tsohatzopoulos, for the Western European Armaments Group; - reports on mergers in Europe's defence industries, transatlantic cooperation on anti-missile defence, nuclear armaments control and Esdp, and the gap in defence matters between Europe and the United States.
Thursday 7 December: reports on the parliamentary dimension of sub-regional organisations in Central and Southern Europe and on international policing in south-eastern Europe; - address by Mr Eggleton, Canadian Defence Minister.