Date of release : 26-01-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : Visit by the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament

The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union met the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament at the Maison du Luxembourg in Brussels on 26 January 2005. The Luxembourg Presidency was represented by the Luxembourg Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Jean Asselborn, and by the Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Nicolas Schmit.

Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament, led the Conference of Presidents. He was accompanied by members of this Conference, Hans-Peter Poettering (PPE-DE), Martin Schulz (PSE), Graham Watson (ALDE), Monica Frassoni (Greens/ALE), Francis Wurtz (GUE/NGL), Johannes Bonde (IND/DEM) and Brian Crowley (UEN).

During this meeting, Jean-Claude Juncker, Jean Asselborn and Nicolas Schmit submitted the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency. Among the subjects discussed were a mid-term review of the Lisbon process, financial perspectives for the period 2007 to 2013 and the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact. The parties also touched on means of cooperation between the Presidency and the Parliament.