Brussels, 12/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we mentioned (see EUROPE of 5 January, p.9), the first plenary session of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg next week, will be the first entry onto the parliamentary scene of the Swedish Presidency, with the presentation by Prime Minister Goran Persson of his work programme for the first half of the year. The Commission's communication following its weekly meeting will resume its usual place on Wednesday (this took place on Tuesdays during the French Presidency due to the meeting of the French Council of ministers on Wednesdays: Ed.). Romano Prodi will present the communication which should be on the statute and funding of political parties.
The Conference of Presidents of the political groups has made several changes to the agenda (that plenary still has to confirm, Monday evening): (1) the debate on agriculture and the WTO, scheduled for Tuesday has been replaced by reports by Bushill-Matthews on employment and Oomen-Ruitjen on border workers, initially scheduled for Wednesday; (2) a Commission declaration on fisheries negotiations with Morocco has been added to discussions on the common fisheries policy, already scheduled for the Tuesday session; (3) Wednesday, the session will begin with a debate, with Commission and Council statements, on the use of depleted uranium in Bosnia and Kosovo; (4) the Seppanen Report the wood industry, initially scheduled for Wednesday, has been moved to Thursday. The debate on topical issues should relate to: - trials of the "Khmers rouges" in Cambodia; - visas between Russia and Georgia; - human rights; - the International Criminal Court.
On the fringe of the session, on Tuesday, there will be the inaugural meeting of the temporary committee on human genetics.