Brussels, 08/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following on from the agreement between the EPP and the Socialists on the presidency of the European Parliament (EUROPE 9937), the EPP Group on Tuesday 7 July concluded a further technical agreement - this time with the Socialists (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats) and the Liberals (ALDE) - on the dividing-up of the main presidencies of the Parliamentary committees. Under the terms of this agreement, EPP members will chair the committees on foreign affairs, budget, legal affairs, regional development, constitutional affairs and culture. The Socialist Group will take on the chairmanship of the committees on agriculture, the environment, employment, transport and civil liberties, justice and home affairs. Liberal MEPs (ALDE) will be at the helm of the committees on economic and monetary affairs and international trade, and the Greens will chair the committee on development and the sub-committee on human rights. The chairmanship of the six other committees may go to the other political groups.
In the meantime, the UK member Graham Watson (ALDE) announced on 8 July that he was to withdraw from the race for the presidency of the EP. In a press release, he explains that he intends instead to support Jerzy Buzek (the EPP candidate for the first half of the presidency), thus giving the Polish MEP "a clear mandate of support from Parliament's three major political families". (H.B./transl.fl)