Strasbourg, 17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Jacob Söderman will be 65 in March 2003. He has announced that he wants to retire on 1 April next year, although his mandate does not expire until October 2004. The retirement of the European Mediator will lead to the European Parliament soon launching a search for his successor in November, leading to an lelction in December. The new recruti will need time to move to Strasbourg to begin his new role.