Economic Policy and Employment

International conference of the EPP parliamentary Group in Luxembourg (9-11.07.1997)

Programme

"Economic policy and Employment" is the topic of an inter-parliamentary conference, which has been organised by the Group of the European People's Party (EPP/ Christian Democrats) in the European Parliament from 9 to 11 July 1997 together with the European Democratic Union (EDU) and the European Union of Christian Democrats (EUCD). The conference will take place from 9 to 11 July 1997 at the European Parliament buildings in Luxembourg.

The conference will be opened at 18h00 on 9 July by Luxemburg MEP Mrs VIVIANE REDING, the chairman of the EPP Group Mr. WILFRIED MARTENS, the president of the EDU Mr. ALOIS MOCK, the president of the EUCD Mr. WIM VAN VELZEN and the president of the European Parliament Mr. JOSÉ MARIA GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO.

The Luxemburg Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of the European People's Party, JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, will address the conference on Thursday of 12h00 to 13h00 on the topic:"Ways to increase growth and employment in the EU".

On Thursday six working groups will treat the following topics:

• How can the EU fight unemployment?
  
• The reforms of the affluent society and the tax law as an engine for the creation of new jobs.
  
• The prospects for free global trade.
  
• The European monetary union.
  
• The enlargement of the EU.
  
• The future of the EU after Amsterdam.
  

The working groups will submit their reports on Friday (9.30 to 11.30). The conference will then complete its tasks (11.30-12.00).

Delegates at the conference will include Members of the national Parliaments of the EU and Central and Eastern European countries. The Members of the Group of the EPP in the European Parliament.

The EPP Group will hold also its regular group meeting for the preparation of the plenary meeting in Strasbourg from 8 to 9 July 1997 in Luxembourg.

Inter-parliamentary conference:
Economic policy and Employment
Wednesday 9 July 18h00 until Friday 11 July 12h00
Place of event: Centre Européen du Kirchberg/Luxemburg
(Hemicycle Schuman)

PRESS CONFERENCE
Tuesday, 8 July 1997
17h00

The media are also cordially invited to participate in the Conference for the opening session on Wednesday evening (18h00 - 20h00) and the closing session on Friday morning (9h30 - 12h00).

Further information: Press service of the EPP parliamentary group, Katrin Ruhrmann, Tel: +32 2,284 2573 or GSM +32 75 49 33 57 or Anne Vahl Tel: + 32 2 284 2219.



    P R O G R A M M E

Wednesday, 9 July 1997

18.00-20.00 hours

Opening session and welcome (Schuman Chamber) :


• Viviane REDING, Leader of the EPP Group's Luxembourg delegation
  
  
• Wilfried MARTENS, Chairman of the EPP and the EPP Group in the European Parliament
  
  
• Alois MOCK, Chairman of the European Democrat Union
  
  
• Wim VAN VELZEN, Chairman of the European Union of Christian Democrats
  
  
  
• Speech    José María GIL-ROBLES GIL-DELGADO, President of the European Parliament
  

Thursday, 10 July 1997

09.30-12.00 hours

Working parties

1.  What can the EU do to fight unemployment ?

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:   Nicole FONTAINE (FD-F)
- EDU:    Per UNCKEL (MOD-S)
- EPP/EUCD:    Ricard BURUBAYA (UDC-E)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group: Livio FILIPPI (Patto Segni-I)
- EDU: Siegfried BRUGGER (SVP-I)
- EPP/EUCD: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD-P)

2.   Reform of the welfare society and of tax law as a way of creating jobs

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:    Eurico DE MELO (PSD-P)
- EDU:     Kimmo SASI (KOK-FIN)
- EPP/EUCD:     Rose-Marie FREBRAM (KD-S)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group:    Staffan BURENSTAM LINDER (MOD-S)
- EDU:    Marietta GIANNAKOU-KOUTSIKOU (ND-GR)
- EPP/EUCD

3.   The chances for worldwide free trade

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:    Tom SPENCER (Conservative-UK)
- EDU:     Klaus LIPPOLD (CDU-D)
- EPP/EUCD:    Per-Kristian FOSS (Hoyre-N)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group:     Efthimios CHRISTODOULOU (ND-GR)
- EDU:     Jaroslav JURECKA (ODS-CZ)
- EPP/EUCD:     Jacques BARROT (FD-F)

12.00-13.00 hours

‘Strategies for more growth and employment in the EU'

Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Prime Minister of Luxembourg and Vice-President of the EPP

15.00-18.30 hours

Working Parties

1.    European Monetary Union

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:    Karl VON WOGAU (CDU-D)
- EDU:     Vincente MARTINEZ PUJALTE (PP-E)
- EPP/EUCD:    Kent KIRK (Det Konservative Folkeparti - DK)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group:    Fernand HERMAN (PSC-B)
- EPP/EUCD:     Francesco D'ONOFRIO (CCD-I)
- EDU

2.   EU enlargement

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:    Hans-Gert PÖTTERING (CDU-D)
- EDU:     Johann PENZ (ÖVP-A)
- EPP/EUCD :     Ion DIACONESCU (PNT-CD-RO)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group:     Arie OOSTLANDER (CDA-NL)
- EDU:     Januz LEWANDOWSKI (JW-PL)
- EPP/EUCD:    Ionnis VARVITSIOTIS (ND-GR)

3. The future of the EU after Amsterdam

Co-chairmen:
- EPP Group:    Iñigo MENDEZ DE VIGO (PP-E)
- EDU:     Edward GARNIER (Conservative-UK)
- EPP/EUCD:    Jan FIGEL (EPP Group-Council of Europe)

Rapporteurs:
- EPP Group:     Elmar BROK (CDU-D)
- EPP/EUCD:    Algirdas SAUDERGAS (LKDP-Lithuania)
- EDU

Friday, 11 July 1997

9.30-10.30 hours

'The Europe of a new generation'

Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA, Chairman, PSD-P
Leszek BALCEROWICZ, Chairman, Union of Freedom-PL
Ivan KOSTOV, Prime Minister and Chairman, UDK-BG (invited)

10.30-11.30 hours

Reports from the working parties (Schuman Chamber)

11.30-12.00 hours

Closing session

Wilfried MARTENS, Chairman of the EPP and the EPP Group in the European Parliament
Wim VAN VELZEN, Chairman of the European Union of Christian Democrats
Alois MOCK, Chairman of the European Democrat Union