Brussels, 13/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a letter sent to the Heads of State and Government of the EU, Romano Prodi indicates what the European Commission expects from the Laeken Summit, when underlining in particular the importance of a strong and operational Laeken Declaration (see yesterday's Europe, p.3). In his letter, Mr Prodi raised in particular: - the need to reaffirm the unfailing commitment to fight against terrorism; - Afghanistan: the Commission will work alongside the Presidency in the framework of the Steering Group; - Justice and home affairs: Mr Prodi proposed for the Heads of State and Government to support the action plan from the Committee on the fight against illegal immigration (which notably suggests creating a European service for external borders). Moreover, he insists for the next IGC to take institutional provisions to facilitate the establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice. This agenda must not be seen as repressive, added Mr Prodi; - Enlargement: Mr Prodi announced that the Commission would present, at the end of January 2002 a proposal for a coherent framework to finance enlargement (while respecting the decisions taken in Berlin) and that it would report to the Seville Summit, on 21 and 22 July, on its action plan in view of strengthening the administrative and legal structures in the candidate countries; - the economic and social agenda: in Laeken, it will notably require underlining the need to resolutely continue the Lisbon strategy, and give the go-ahead to the Galileo project, by allowing the creation of a joint venture and freeing the financing necessary for initiating the development phase next year; - the seats of new agencies: the Commission insists over the need to keep in mind considerations of a budgetary and efficiency nature.
European Parliament plenary session