EPP-ED Group:


		MEETING OF THE EPP-ED GROUP BUREAU 7 - 8 April 2005 Sofia, BULGARIA Programme

Last update: 04/04/2005

Thursday, 7 April 2005

09.30 - 09.45

Opening

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

09.45 - 12.15

Theme I - The political situation in Bulgaria and the forthcoming general elections

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

Introduction on "The impact of the general elections on the Bulgarian representation in the European Institutions",
by Lorenzo CESA MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Nadezdha MIHAYLOVA MP, EPP Vice-Chairwoman, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and Chairwoman of the UDF (EPP Associate Member)

Anastasia MOSER MP, Chairwoman of the BANU- People's Union (EPP Associate Member)

Aleksandar PRAMATARSKI MP, Chairman of the Democratic Party (EPP Associate Member)

11.15 - 11.45

Debate

11.45 - 12.15

Conclusions

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

15.00 - 18.30

Theme II: The EU accession negotiations: Economic and Social Aspects

Chairman of the session: Jaime MAYOR OREJA MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Dimitris KOURKOULAS, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Sofia

II.1. General overview of the economic situation, Mission of the World Bank in Bulgaria, Privatisation of economy and investment climate

H.E. Baroness H.J.C.M. VAN LYNDEN, The Ambassador of the Netherlands in Bulgaria, on behalf of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council.

Ivan NEYKOV, former Minister of Labour and Social Policy, municipal counsellor in Sofia, UDF

Oscar de BRUYN KOPS, Permanent Representative of the World Bank to Bulgaria

David CASA MEP, Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament

II.2. Development of agriculture and rural tourism, Perspectives of the energy sector

Joseph DAUL MEP, Chairman of EP Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the European Parliament

Vencislav VARBANOV MP, former Minister of Agriculture, BANU - People's Union

II.3. Bulgaria's place in South-East Europe and its role for further European integration of the region; the European Constitution and its impact on the EU accession of Bulgaria

Nikolay MLADENOV MP, UDF Vice-Chairman

Doris PACK MEP, member of the EPP-ED Group Bureau, Chairwoman of Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe, Substitute Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

17.30 - 18.15

Debate

18.15 - 18.30

Conclusions

Marianne THYSSEN, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

Friday, 8 April 2005

09.00 - 11.00

Theme III: The EU accession negotiations: Internal Affairs

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

III.1. General Overview of Internal Affairs

Vladimir KISSIOV, former Chief negotiator of the Republic of Bulgaria with the EU

III.2. Challenges in the field of the judicial system and home affairs; public affairs and anti-corruption measures; amendments to the Bulgarian Constitution with regard to membership of the Union; the European Constitution and its impact on the EU accession of Bulgaria

Manfred WEBER MEP, Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee with Bulgaria

Nickoly VALCHEV, former Head of the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Democratic Party

Borislav KITOV MP, Deputy Chairman of the People's Union Parliamentary Group

Elmar BROK MEP, member of the EPP-ED Group Bureau, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

III.3. Integration of ethnic and religious minorities in Bulgarian society; Education and Research Policy

László SURJAN MEP, Member of the EPP-ED Group Bureau

Latchezar TOSHEV MP, Chairman of the Human Rights and Religious Affairs Parliamentary Committee, UDF

10.30 - 11.00

Debate

11.00 - 11.15

Conclusions:

Struan STEVENSON MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament

11.15 - 11.30

General Conclusions

Geoffrey VAN ORDEN MEP, European Parliament's Rapporteur on Bulgaria's accession to the EU

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

11.30

Press Conference