23/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - During the last plenary of the European Parliament, the Council President, Bertel Harder, responded to Mihail Papayannakis (United Left, Greece) during question time by saying that he could not, because of the Danish opt-out on the matter, give an opinion on defence issues, and that, on such issues, it was necessary to address written questions to Greece (see EUROPE of 1/2 July, p.7, on the subject of the arrangements provided for the treating of "defence" issues under Danish Presidency). Mr Papayannakis denounced this "institutional void" and, noting that the MEPs may put additional questions to the Presidency, he felt that it one should be able to invite a Greek minister to respond in plenary to questions on defence. The Conference of the Presidents of the EP political groups could take a stance on this issue, states a press release from the GUE/NGL.