Brussels, 08/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - As we have already reported, the 8 May meeting of the Praesidium of the European Convention, chaired by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, provided its Members with an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Convention plenary on 23/24 May and also to assess progress since the inaugural meeting in February and the first two plenaries in March and April. At their first whole-day meeting the thirteen participants (including Alojz Peterle, representing the Slovenian parliament) were able to hold a brainstorming meeting in the morning on issued covered by Members of the Convention although in this start-up phase, the Praesidium deliberations focussed on organising work and procedures.
In the afternoon the Praesidium prepared for the 23/24 May plenary. After debating the tasks to be allotted to the European Union, the plenary will discuss power sharing in order to enable the tasks to be carried out. As it did before exchanging views on the tasks that should be carried out at European level, the Praesidium will send Convention Members a questionnaire and three information documents, one of which elaborates on the document already presented on the current power sharing set up (see EUROPE of 8/9 April, p.9), another looks at legal instruments required to exercise power and the third on the role of national parliaments.