Brussels / Madrid, 10/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels, on Thursday, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine received Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of the Convention that is to prepare the next IGC. In answer to questions, Mr Giscard d'Estaing said he was not on a tour of the capitals but that he had begun a series of personal meetings before the Convention is set up. On this occasion, in agreement with the Conference of the Presidents (of the political groups), it was decided that the Conference of Presidents would receive Mr Giscard d'Estaing on 6 February before the Convention's constituent session on 28 February. The Convention will hold its plenary meetings in Brussels, at the European Parliament, and Mr Giscard d'Estaing agreed that the Parliament should be represented at the Convention's Secretariat.
In response to a question on Italy, Mr Giscard d'Estaing said that "Italy's contribution is absolutely necessary for the future of the Union" (Mr Giscard d'Estaing will be in Rome on Friday).
On Wednesday, Mr Giscard d'Estaing had said after a meeting with José Maria Aznar in Madrid that the Convention will, from its very first meeting, be identifying the "request for Europe on the part of the different peoples" and that it intended to listen to what the Europeans have to say about their "expectations for the 21st century, after having welcomed the new European single currency with so much enthusiasm". Mr Giscard d'Estaing announced that the Convention's first conclusions will be presented at the European Summit of Seville on 21 and 22 June.