Brussels, 30/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference on Wednesday, the EP's Social group outgoing President Enrique Baron (see above) answered questions about a potential 'technical' PES-EPP agreement over the new President of the European Parliament, saying that the PES did not have any agreement with any one group, but had had exploratory talks with the EPP and were discussing with the Greens, the Liberals and the EUL.
Will this inter-group contact have an influence on the Socialists' vote on the Commission President delegate José Manuel Barroso? No, we will decide on the future President of the Commission 'as a group', said Baron. (The Liberal group will decide its views on the Presidency of the European Parliament at its meeting on 5 July, but its decision on the President of the Commission will depend on the hearing of the President designate at the EP, see above).
There are four Socialist group candidates for the Presidency of the European Parliament, explained Enrique Baron on Wednesday (alongside British Labour MEP Terence Wynn and Spanish Socialist Josep Borrell, there is the Austrian Social Democrat Johannes Swoboda and Slovenian Borut Paho, Ed.).
The first round of the elections to find the successor to Pat Cox will take place on Tuesday 20 July, straight after the plenary is opened at 10 hrs by the most senior MEP.