EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEPS' ASSISTANTS PUT FAITH IN COX TO BOOST STATUS.

The European Parliamentary Assistants' Association has recently selected J?rgen M?ller (PES) as its President until 2004. Mr M?ller told European Report on February 8 he believes the election of Pat Cox as Parliament President will help their cause given his past record. He added that Mr Cox's predecessor, Nicole Fontaine, had not done much to improve their situation. The Association is pushing for an Assistants Statute, which would install a standard, permanent salary system for them. Mr M?ller said he favours an internal solution, preferably one thrashed out by the Parliament's Bureau (President and Vice-Presidents) and Quaestors. His association...