Brussels, 03/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and the President of the Council, Ramon de Miguel, are taking part at the Summit that the Chairmen of EPP-ED Parliamentary Groups at the European Parliament and in the Member States are devoting, on 4 and 5 April in Brussels, to the future of Europe and enlargement of the European Union.
During the morning of 4 April, the work will be introduced by the chairman of the EPP-ED Group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, and by MEPs Luis de Grandes and Manuel José Silva i Sanchez of the Spanish Parliament. During the afternoon, the chairman of the European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, and Wolfang Shäuble (Bundestag) are presenting the EPP document entitled "A Constitution for a Europe that Works", to be discussed and adopted by the EPP Congress scheduled from 17 to 19 October in Estoril (See EUROPE/Documents N: 2264, dated 14 December 2001). Then, the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, will speak of the Commission's expectations with regard to the work on Union reform. His speech will be followed by those of various parliamentary groups.
The discussion on enlargement will begin during the evening of 4 April with a speech by European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler on reform of Common Agricultural Policy. During dinner, the European Commissioner for Institutional Reform, Michel Barnier, will speak of "parliamentarisation of the Union", and Secretary of State Ramon de Miguel will, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency, give a presentation of Council reform (after the presentation of the Solana Report at the Barcelona Summit, the group of representatives of the EU Heads of Government must come together to draw conclusions for the European Council in Seville, in June).
During the morning of 5 April, there will be a debate on enlargement, with an introduction by Françoise Grossetête, first Vice-Chairperson of the EPP-ED Group at the European Parliament responsible for relations with national parliaments. Gunter Verheugen, Commissioner for Enlargement, will then take the floor, followed by Ramon de Miguel and by the chairmen of the parliamentary groups.
On 5 April, discussions will also cover the issue of professional qualifications and mutual recognition. Forza Italia member Stefano Zappalà has just been appointed rapporteur on the new directive aimed at simplifying the regulations regarding mutual recognition. European Education Commissioner Viviane Reding will take part at the debate.