Brussels, 28/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - At its first plenary session of 2002 in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will elect its new President, successor to Nicole Fontaine. Parliament will begin work in the new year with Committee meetings on 7 and 8 January already. Thus:
In the afternoon of 7 January and morning of the 8, will meet: - the Legal Affairs and Internal Market Committee, which is to have a discussion, open to all parliamentarians, Monday morning on the statute of MEPs (the rapporteur is the German Social-Democrat, Willi Rothley); - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, which, Monday, will hear I particular the new President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Miguel Arias Canete; - Economic and monetary Committee, which on Monday will have an exchange of views with the new President of the EcoFin Council, Rodrigo Rato; - Employment and Social Affairs Committee, which will turn to the outcome of the Belgian Presidency with the outgoing President of the Council, Laurette Onkelinx; - Culture, Youth, Education and Sports Committee;
8 January the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy will meet to discuss the Nobert Glante Report (German, Social-Democrat) on the Galileo programme (development phase, joint enterprise).
May we remind you that the schedule for the 2002 plenary sessions provides for the following sessions:
- from 14 to 17 February, in Strasbourg; - from 4 to 7 February, in Strasbourg; - 27 and 28 February, in Brussels; - from 11 to 14 March in Strasbourg; - from 8 to 11 April, in Strasbourg; - on 24 and 25 April, in Brussels; - from 13 to 16 May, in Strasbourg; - 29 and 30 May, in Brussels; - from 10 to 13 June, in Strasbourg; from 1 to 4 July in Strasbourg; - from 2 to 5 September, in Strasbourg; - from 23 to 26 September, in Strasbourg; - 9 and 10 October in Brussels; - from 21 to 24 October, in Strasbourg; - 6 and 7 November, in Brussels; - from 18 to 21 November in Strasbourg; - 4 and 5 December, in Brussels; - 16 to 19 December in Strasbourg.