Madrid, 03/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The reflection group set up by EU heads of state and government in December 2007 to give thought to “Horizon 2020-2030” will begin its work on Thursday 4 December with a first meeting in Brussels, under the chairmanship of the former prime minister of Spain, Felipe Gonzalez. It is planned that the 12-member group meet once a month, before submitting its final reporting in June 2010, according to the terms of the remit adopted by the European Council. EUROPE has learned from someone close to Gonzalez that he intends to present the group's conclusions and recommendations slightly ahead of schedule at the European spring summit in March 2010 so that the European Council in June can “draw the first operational conclusions, at least on the broad thrust”. On 2 December, Gonzalez was at the Party of European Socialists (PES) Congress in Madrid, where he spoke briefly about the group's work. He said he wanted to present recommendations that were as concrete as possible, proposing “ambitious” political guidance for Europe, in particular on modernising the “European model”, increasing competitiveness, sustainable development, world security, migration, energy, climate change and combating international crime and terrorism. He wants to avoid any abstract discussion on the philosophical or geographical definition of Europe. “What is Europe? We haven't found an answer to that question in 3,000 years, and we will not be able to do it in this report,” he said. The EU should be open to any country that is ready to commit itself to the European project and which meets the accession criteria, he added. The reflection group's remit (drawn up by the European Council) does not allow it to discuss institutional issues (the working framework assumed is the one established by the Lisbon Treaty) or to review existing policies or the next EU financial perspective. Gonzalez said he intended to take a “flexible” interpretation of the mandate. He was a retired man, he was free - if anyone wants to restrict my freedom as chairman of the reflection group, I am quite prepared to resign, was the substance of his message. (H.B./transl.rt)