EPP-ED Group:

EPP-ED Group Bureau meeting

11-12 May 2006
Split, CROATIA

Programme

Last update: 04/05/2006

Thursday, 11 May 2006

09.00-10.00

Opening: Hans-Gert POETTERING MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Welcome by: Ivo SANADER, Prime Minister of Croatia

Addresses: Zvonimir PULJIĆ, Mayor of Split
Ante SANADER, Prefect of the County of Split Dalmatia

10.00-12.30

Croatia: on the Road to Accession to the EU

Chairman: Hans-Gert POETTERING MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVÍĆ, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
State of play of the EU membership negotiation process and progress with preparing for membership

Ana LOVRIN, Minister of Justice
Improving the functioning of the Judiciary: State of play of the reform

Damir POLANČEC, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs
Economic progress: facing the market forces in the EU

Franz FISCHLER, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Croatia on EU accession negotiations, former EU Commissioner
Road map of accession of Croatia

Bernd POSSELT MEP, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Member of the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee
EP assessment of Croatia's progress towards membership

Elmar BROK MEP, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The EU enlargement strategy

Discussion

Conclusions: Pál SCHMITT MEP, Chairman of the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee

12.00

Press point with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and EPP-ED Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering

12.30

Keynote speech: Erhard BUSEK, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
Panorama of the democratisation in the region and future perspectives

Friday, 12 May 2006

09.00-12.00

Towards Stability and Stable Democracies in the South-East European Region

Chairman: Othmar KARAS MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Introduction: Doris PACK MEP, Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the countries of South-East Europe

Stefan LEHNE, EU Representative to the Kosovo future status process
Perspectives for stability in Kosovo: what steps in the near future?

Bertrand de LARGENTAYE, "Notre Europe"
Democratisation and political stabilisation in the South East Europe region

Hubert PIRKER MEP, Chairman of the Initiative Against Organised Crime (SPOC) in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
Regional and international co-operation in the fight against organised crime as a factor for stability and democratisation in South Eastern Europe

Antonio TAJANI MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Party, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The EU perspective of the region

Discussion

Conclusions: Mario MAURO MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Parliamentary relations with the 'New Neighbours'

Closing session: Hans-Gert POETTERING MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

12.00-12.30

Press conference