Brussels, 27/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is expected to adopt on Wednesday a communication from Romano Prodi on follow-up action on the annual political strategy for 2003, which reviews the legislation to be adopted and actions to be taken next year to bring enlargement to successful conclusion. The Commission states in the document that enlargement of the EU to ten new Member States will require the recruitment of 3,900 civil servants. To prepare for enlargement, the Commission had planned to create 500 new posts, but these were turned down in July at the Council's first reading of the draft budget 2003 (see EUROPE of 20 July, p.7).
The Commissioners are also expected to discuss, based on a memorandum by Mr Prodi, the Commission's political priorities to the end of 2002, and in particular its role in the debate on the future of Europe. The meeting of the College is expected to permit the preparation of an upcoming Commission seminar on this subject.