Brussels, 17/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - In France, where the new electoral set up is not in their favour, the Greens are the only group to have chosen their candidates for the European elections, which are often described as the third round of the regional elections. All the other parties are expecting the results of these elections, which are taking place on 21 and 28 March. As set out in the lists, the first Green candidates in the new French regional elections, excluding those in overseas territories are:
North/West: - outgoing MEP, Hélène Flautre (46 ); - Jean-Pierre Lancry (52 ), ANT collaborators, body responsible for jobs and training for people from overseas.
West: - former MP Marie-Hélène Aubert (47 ), teacher; - Gérard Borvon, activist for environmentally friendly farming in Brittany.
East: - outgoing MEP Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin (48 ); - illustrator Yann Wehrling (33 ), assistant of Gérard Onesta during this term.
South West: - outgoing MEP Gérard Onesta (44 ), architect and vice-president of the current EP; - Marie-Christine Boutheau (43 ).
South East: - Jean-Luc Bennahmias (50 ), former journalist and ex-national secretary of the Greens; - Nicole Guilhaudin (58 ).
Loire-Massif central: - Dominique Normand (52 ), pensioner who worked in national education; - Florent Grospart (29 ).
Ile-de-France: - outgoing MEP Alain Lipietz (57 ), economist; - outgoing MEPs Alima Boumedienne-Thiery (48 ), legal expert; - Sébastien Leplaideur, assistant for Greens group at EP.