Paris, 12 December 2000. - The President of the Assembly of WEU – the interim European Security and Defence Assembly (iESDA) – Klaus BÜHLER (MdB), today welcomed the decisions taken by the EU Heads of State and Government at Nice to strengthen the Common European Security and Defence Policy. He particularly welcomed the decision to open a wide debate on the role of National Parliaments in the European Architecture as part of the post-Nice process and within the context of the next Intergovernmental Conference.

“My parliamentary colleagues and I have been working for more than a year now on the need for a proper parliamentary dimension to accompany the new European intergovernmental structures, especially those relating to the Common Security and Defence Policy.

Our Lisbon Initiative in March this year first put the subject formally on the parliamentary agenda and our ideas have since been complemented by a growing debate both nationally and in the European Parliament.

When Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN addressed our Assembly last Wednesday, on the eve of the European Council Meeting in Nice, we strongly endorsed the idea to put down a marker at Nice for the future.

The subject is now formally on the post-Nice agenda. The WEU parliamentarians, who represent the essential link with public opinion in all our countries, will be fully contributing to what is bound to be a wide-ranging debate.”

“We are delighted with the prospect of adding a proper parliamentary function in the perspective of the next Intergovernmental Conference. Meanwhile the WEU Assembly, as the “interim European Security and Defence Assembly”, with its inclusive membership that serves as a model for EU cooperation will ensure that we keep abreast of developments”.