Brussels, 27/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The first part of the session of the Western European Union - European Security and Defence Inter-parliamentary Assembly is scheduled for 2-4 June in Paris, at the Palais d'Iéna. The opening speech will be delivered by the president of the Assembly (and president of the Belgian Senate), Armand De Decker.
Discussion will follow on reports on the following issues: consequences of EU and NATO enlargement for security and defence policy in Europe; EU stabilisation missions in South East Europe; biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism; projected land forces; European Defence Agency; aerospace cooperation between European and China; and better information for the public on defence.
The German minister for defence, Peter Struck, was one of the speakers invited for the 3 June session. According to an Assembly press statement, he is expected to present his views on European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and on plans to reform the German armed forces so that they are more effective in UN, NATO or European Union-led international crisis management operations.
Other speakers include ministers representing the current Irish EU presidency and the WEU presidency (Spain), as well as the future WEU/EU presidency (Netherlands).