Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - During the European Parliament's plenary session on 22 and 23 March in Brussels, MEPs will above all discuss the European Commission's political strategy for 2007 and the EU's energy supply security (a major theme for the Spring Summit to open on 23 March). They will also discuss criteria for EU peace operations, such as that in DRC (see EUROPE 9155), and the European political parties (the Leinen report calls for the adoption of a statute for European parties - which number ten at present - and the presentation of transnational lists alongside national lists at the 2009 European elections). Details of the agenda are as follows:
Wednesday 22 March (15-22h00): - declaration by President Barroso on the Commission's political strategy for 2007, followed by a debate (attended by Budget Commissioner Grybauskaite and Interinstitutional and Communication Commissioner Wallström); - oral question by Giles Chichester on the EU's energy supply security; - Council declaration followed by a debate on the criteria for EU peace operations, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo; - oral question from Max van den Berg on revision of the Cotonou Agreement which links the EU to the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the fixing of the amount of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF); - Morgantini report on the impact of economic partnership agreements with the ACP States on development in these countries; - and the Leinen report on European political parties.
Thursday 23 March (9-13h00): - Bushill-Matthews' report on demographic challenges and solidarity between generations; - Parish report on the promotion of non-food crops; - voting.