Brussels, 07/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The two main political families that together hold a majority within the new European Parliament - the European People's Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (PASD) Group - concluded a technical agreement on Tuesday 7 July on how the assembly's presidency should be carved up. The EPP candidate, former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, will be elected on 14 July for a period of two and a half years. During the second half of the legislature, he will be replaced by a Socialist representative. Before the European elections, Martin Schulz of Germany said he was interested in the post but has not reiterated his candidature recently, explained a spokesman for the Socialist Group. The question of the Socialist candidate will therefore remain open until 2011. “We have time. There is a time for everything”, another source from the Socialist Group said. Discussions are also underway between the EPP, the Socialists and the other groups on how the chairs of parliamentary committees should be distributed, but these talks are not yet over.
Speaking before the press on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Buzek briefly spoke of his priorities as future EP president: - the taking into account of citizens' wishes, energy solidarity and supply security in the EU, the environment, migration policy and demographic issues, implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, cooperation with the EU's “neighbours” and entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. He also said he hoped the new Parliament would take as many decisions as possible by “consensus” between the pro-European forces. Although he did express opposition to coalition with Eurosceptics, the future EP president nonetheless considers it is important to listen to what they have to say. “We must listen to the Eurosceptics to better understand the views of our citizens”, Mr Buzek said. (H.B./transl.jl)