Paris, 31 May 2002: Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo-Figueroa is to represent the current WEU and EU Presidency at the WEU Assembly Session. He is scheduled to speak on the current situation and forthcoming initiatives in regard to the EU’s security and defence policy (ESDP) on Monday, 3 June 2002, at 15.00. 
 
Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, representing the incoming WEU Presidency, is due to speak at 16.00 and will present the Presidency’s programme of work for the second half of 2002. On Wednesday, 5 June 2002, at 11.00, Filippo Berselli, State Secretary for Defence of Italy, current holder of the Chairmanship of the European forum for armaments cooperation, the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), will report on the results of the recent WEAG ministerial meeting in Rome and comment on the organisation’s future activities. 
 
Another speaker is Bulgaria’s Defence Minister, Nikolai Svinarov. Bulgaria is speeding up its efforts to join NATO and at the same time following ESDP closely. His presentation on Bulgaria’s contribution to European security and defence policy is scheduled for Tuesday, 4 June 2002 at 15.00.