Brussels, 04/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The presidents of the parliaments of Spain (House/Senate), Belgium (House/Senate) and Hungary (National Assembly) are to sign a “declaration of cooperation” in Brussels on Wednesday 5 November with a view to the successive presidencies of the European Union that their respective countries will hold in 2010 and the first half of 2011. The aim of the declaration of cooperation is to give a parliamentary dimension to this “presidential trio” of the EU that has to date only existed at governmental level. In concrete terms, the parliaments of the three countries will organise debates on the joint priorities of the presidential trio as well as consultations on the exact implementation of the parliamentary dimension of cooperation between the three countries. In the event of bilateral discussions with the European Parliament on matters relating to the EU Presidency, the parliaments of Spain, Belgium and Hungary will keep each other mutually informed. The presidents of the parliaments of these three countries will also hold working meetings and/or informal meetings on the occasion of interparliamentary meetings within the EU. A joint meeting of presidents on developments relating to EU-Presidency matters has already been scheduled for spring 2009. The Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian governments have already begun working on a joint 18-month programme to ensure maximum continuity in the rotating EU presidencies in 2010 and 2011. (H.B./transl.jl)