Strasbourg - 18, 19 and 20 November 2002

Now at the beginning of the 21st century, the fifth and the most significant enlargement of the European Union aims to reconcile the old continent,to reunite it peacefully and to extend the area of stability and prosperity of Western Europe to the new members.

The European Parliament, as a promoter of enlargement amongst the European Institutions with its crucial legislative and budgetary role in the enlargement process, intends to clearly profile the success story of the negotiations with an unprecedented event during its November plenary debate on enlargement. This debate, for the European Parliament, will be the opportunity to adopt its position on the final country reports which the European Commission drew up in October 2002, concerning the readiness for accession of each candidate state.

For the first time, this debate will be chaired by the Presidents of the major European Institutions: Pat Cox for the European Parliament, Romano Prodi for the European Commission and Anders Fogh Rasmussen for the European Council. A second major innovation will be to invite parliamentarians from the accession states to take their places in the plenary within their chosen political family and to actively participate in the debate.

For the first time national members of Parliament from the candidate countries will take part in a full debate on enlargement. This event will involve simultaneous interpretation into 23 languages. This special session will be the forerunner to a 2004 European Parliament.
With hosting more than 60 members from the candidate countries the EPP-ED group will remain the largest political force in Parliament.


Photos of the event (276 KB)


Itinerary for an enlarged Europe or the EPP-ED Group and the process of enlargement to the countries of Central, Eastern and Mediterranean Europe (1993-2003)