Brussels, 25/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - The uncertainty surrounding the apportioning of chairmanships of Parliamentary committees within the European Parliament is beginning to disappear, though further surprises are not to be excluded. Spanish Socialist MEP and former EP President Josep Borell could take the development committee chairmanship, currently held by Louisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL, Italy) and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP-ED, Poland) is tipped to succeed German Christian Democrat MEP Elmar Brok. The plenary session of 31 January will confirm the make-up of all the Parliamentary committees. Constituative sessions will be held thereafter.
On Thursday, the Christian Democrat group (EPP-ED) announced its candidates for the eight chairmanships to which it is due, in addition to foreign affairs: German Reimer Boege for the budgets committee, Czech Miroslav Ouzký for environment, German Angelika Niebler for industry, research and energy, Spaniard Gerardo Galeote for regional development, Briton Neil Parish for agriculture, Italian Giuseppe Gargani for legal affairs, Slovak Anna Zaborska for women's rights and gender equality, and Karl von Wogau for security and defence. The D'Hondt system finally won the day in the allocation of posts. A plan allowing Mr Soryusz-Wolski to become deputy leader of the EPP-ED group and Mr Brok to retain the foreign affairs committee was unsuccessful.
The Socialist group (PES) opted for minimum change. Apart from Mr Borrell and Austrian Social Democrat Herbert Bösch, who are expected to take on development and budgetary control respectively, no change is to be expected in the other committee chairmanships which it holds; Frenchwoman Pervenche Berès will stay at economic and financial affairs, German Social Democrat Jo Leinen at constitutional affairs, British Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy at internal market and consumer protection, Greek Nikolaos Sifunakis at culture and education and Swede Jan Andersson at employment and social affairs.
For the Greens, Frenchwoman Hélène Flautre will definitely be retained as chairwoman of the human rights sub-committee, which is to be made up to a full Parliamentary committee before this summer. According to the information reaching us, the GUE/NGL group - which is to give up the chairmanship of the development committee - will receive in return the chairmanship of the international trade committee. The name of German Helmuth Markov was being mentioned on Thursday as successor to Enrique Barón Crespo, who will remain as leader of the Spanish Socialist delegation. There is no change in prospect for the Liberals (ALDE): Frenchmen Philippe Morillon and Jean-Marie Cavada are expected to remain at fisheries and civil liberties respectively, with Italian Paolo Costa at transport. (mb)