Brussels, 14/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 16-17 March in Brussels the European Parliament is organising an inter-parliamentary meeting on ways for strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the Lisbon Strategy, an issue which is very dear to the heart of Luxembourg prime minister and president of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker (greater involvement of national parliaments should contribute to “the approval” of the strategy by Member States, on which president Barosso put so much emphasis in his communication on mid term review of the strategy).
Work will begin on Wednesday afternoon with the president of the European Parliament Josep Borrell and president of the Chamber of Deputies in Luxembourg, Lucien Weiler. Following a contribution by Jean-Claude Juncker, Josep Daul (EPP, ED, France), president of the EP's coordination group for the Lisbon Strategy, will make a speech, which will be followed by a debate with MPs from national parliaments. The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barosso will speak on Thursday morning, as well as former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, president of the high level group on revision of the Lisbon strategy.