EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: COMPROMISE IN SIGHT ON INSTITUTIONAL TIMETABLE FOR ENLARGEMENT.

This debate on the scope for formally respecting the procedure for the investiture of new Commissioners has divided Parliament, with certain factions going so far as to call for a modification of dates for European elections (see European Report 2734 for further details). However, the Conference of Presidents of political groups has always remained unanimous: in spite of practical questions regarding the organisation of this procedure within the given deadlines, the European Parliament cannot allow a precedent depriving it of one of its institutional prerogatives. President Pat Cox therefore wrote to the President of the European Council, Costas Simitis, and the two discussed the issues face to face in Strasbourg on the fringes of the Greek Prime Minister's presentation of his Presidency's programme (see European Report 2743 for further details).

The Parliament President, who is not demanding early elections, has identified several options. Parliament has confirmed its determination to stage hearings of the ten prospective Commissioners from the candidate countries who are due to become members without portfolio of the out-going Commission from May 1, 2004. Parliament's proposal would involve skipping protracted hearings, since the new incumbents will not have any precise responsibilities, but rather examining candidates' motivation to become European Commissioners, their commitment to Europe and their political and professional experience. The aim would be to get to know the candidates better since the same ten names will probably by put forward by their Governments on the appointment of an entirely new Commission just a few months later.

The question of scheduling remains to be resolved. The last session of the current legislature is set for April 2004 and the accession of the ten new Member States for June. Regarding hearings per se, a...

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