Berlin/Paris/Brussels, 06/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Council President Guy Verhofstadt and the President of the EU Council Louis Michel where in Paris on Friday, for meetings with President Chirac and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Hubert Védrine.
The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel, after a visit to Ankara (see EUROPE of 5 July, p.6), began a tour of EU capitals. On Wednesday, after a meeting in Madrid with his counterpart Josep Pique, Belgium and Spain have decided to "coordinate their efforts" in view of a European arrest warrant.
On Thursday, in Berlin, Louis Michel met Joschka Fisher, with whom he raised in particular the debate over the future of Europe, both with regards to the method as to the content (in particular, the allocation of competences to the various EU levels) and the security and defence policy.
In Berlin, Louis Michel also had a meeting with the Israeli Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon, to whom he assured, according to a press release, the Belgian Presidency's desire to "retain a balanced attitude" over the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and to contribute towards the restoring of a climate of peace and confidence and the continuation of the peace negotiations. Mr Michel will go to the Middle East with Mr Verhofstadt during this six months.
On Thursday in Luxembourg, Louis Michel met with his counterpart Lydie Polfer, over the preparation of Laeken, ESDP and the Durban conference against racism.