European Parliament session 3-5 May 2004
The European Parliament meets for the first time next week in the newly-enlarged EU. MEPs will be in Strasbourg for the final session before the European Parliament elections in June.
Highlights of next week's agenda:
- Formal opening of enlarged European Parliament (Mon)
- Future of the EU - constitution (Tues)
- Motion of censure on the European Commission (Tues)
- Vote on new members of the European Commission and Court of Auditors (Weds)
European Parliament in the enlarged EU
When the EU enlarges to 25 Member States on 1 May, the European Parliament will gain 162 new Members from the ten accession countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Malta).
These new MEPs have been nominated by their Member States to serve only until the new European Parliament meets in July for the first session after the elections.
In an official ceremony on Monday afternoon, the speakers of the national parliaments in the 10 new Member States will formally present their national flags to EP President Pat Cox. Also present will be Lech Walesa, former President of Poland.
The new, enlarged European Parliament will then be officially inaugurated.
Full information can be found at: http://www.europarl.eu.int/press/index_publi_en.htm
Monday - Formal opening ceremony of the enlarged European Parliament
Tuesday
The future of the EU - and progress in negotiations on the proposed EU constitution - will be the main topic for debate on Tuesday morning. MEPs will discuss statements from the European Commission and the Irish Presidency of the EU.
At the end of the morning, MEPs will vote on a motion of censure against the European Commission. The motion was debated at the last Parliament session, on 21 April. Those proposing the motion cited in particular the Commission's failure to take political responsibility for the Eurostat affair. (Full debate in the original language of the speakers here). To be passed, this motion requires a two thirds majority of those voting and an absolute majority of MEPs. If adopted, it would result in the removal of the European Commission from office.
Tuesday afternoon sees debates on the enlarged Europe, freedom and security, and the European economic and social model.
Wednesday
MEPs turn their attention to the proposed new European Commissioners on Wednesday. Commission President Romano Prodi will present the nominees for post of European Commissioner from each of the ten new Member States, as well as the Commissioners from France and Spain nominated to replace Michel Barnier and Pedro Solbes. All Commissioner-candidates have appeared before the relevant parliamentary committee in public hearings earlier this month.
At the end of the morning, MEPs will vote on approval of the new Commission line-up as a whole.
There will also be a vote on the appointment of ten new members of the Court of Auditors, following a hearing of nominees before the parliament's Budgetary Control Committee.
The European Parliament then rises and will not sit again until after the elections on 10 June. The first sitting of the newly-elected European Parliament will start on Tuesday 20 July 2004.
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