04/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Klaus Welle of Germany, who is currently Head of Office (cabinet) of President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering, is to become the new secretary general of the European Parliament as of 15 March 2009, to succeed Harald Romer. The decision was taken unanimously by the EP Bureau on 4 December. In a letter to President Pöttering dated 25 November, Italian MEP Marco Cappato (ALDE) expresses surprise that the internal call for candidates (the EP Bureau having decided not to make a call for applicants outside the institution) published on 22 October does not mention the professional qualifications required or give a description of the post. Those interested were in fact simply invited to send a letter of interest to the president of the European Parliament and a detailed curriculum vitae as well as any other information they felt would be useful to bring to the Bureau's attention. (H.B./transl.jl)