Brussels, 19/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the opening of the Committee on Civil Liberties on Tuesday, Dutch Green MEP, Kathalijne Buitenweg, asked Ms Palacio to withdraw as representative of the Spanish government at the Convention on the future of Europe or at least, give up her role of President to the Vice President of the Parliamentary Commission for the time that the Convention is working. Ms Buitenweg explained, "I feel that Mrs Palacio is undertaking two conflicting tasks. Even more as we are under the Spanish Presidency. This cumulating easily leads to mixing up interests".
As a representative of the Spanish government, Ana Palacio is part of the Presidium organising the work of the Convention, which is also the case with another MEP, Pasok member, Giorgios Katiforis, representing the Greek government. Jacques Santer, a Christian Democrat from Luxembourg will also be representing his government at the Convention.