14/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting with EPP-ED politicians from Member States on 12-13 November in Brussels, Hans Gert Pöttering, President of the EPP-ED group at the European Parliament, reaffirmed the need to "strengthen Community Europe and not simply inter-governmental co-operation". Participants at the meeting included the President of the KF group at the Folketing, Knud Erik Kirkegaard, the President of the CDU/CSU group at the Bundestag, Angela Merkel, Jacques Barrot, President of the UMP at the French National Assembly and President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens. Inigo Mendez de Vigo and Elmar Brok reviewed the work of the European Convention (Vice President, Jean-Luc Dehaene also attended). Several European Commissioners made contributions at dinner on 13 November: Romano Prodi, Loyola de Palacio, Viviane Reding, David Byrne, Franz Fischler, Mario Monti and Chris Patten.