The Conference of EU Speakers at Montecitorio from 22nd to  24th September

"The role of Parliaments in the European Union": this is the title of the Conference of EU Speakers that will take place in Rome, at Palazzo Montecitorio, on 22nd, 23rd and 24th September. The Conference will be attended by the Presiding Officers of the 24 parliamentary assemblies of the 15 EU member countries as well as the President of the European Parliament.

The Rome Conference will focus on three main issues: the role of Parliaments in the reform process of the European Union and in the definition of a EU Charter of rights; the simplification and quality of legislation; the definition of the tasks of the Conference as well as the principles governing its working procedures.

In view of the conclusion of the activity of the Convention charged with the drafting of the Charter of rights and the European Summit in Nice, the Rome Conference will provide an opportunity to take stock of the approaches and opinions of the Speakers of national Parliaments and the President of the European Parliament - from their institutional perspective - with respect to the reforms which are required to enhance the effectiveness of EU action also in view of its enlargement, as well as to exchange opinions on the contents and legal value of the Charter of rights.

With regard to improving the quality of legislation within the European Union, mainly with a view to increasing its competitiveness, a draft Memorandum is now on the agenda, following the thorough consideration carried out at the Lisbon Conference (May 1999) and the meetings of the relevant Working Group (at Cogne and Fiesole last spring). The memorandum identifies four priorities: the strengthening of cooperation between Parliaments and the institutions of the European Union, the definition of instruments for assessing the quality of legislation, the enhancement of the quality of parliamentary action and the adoption of a strategy for the appropriate information, documentation and updating of parliamentary institutions.

The proceedings of the Conference will be opened on Friday 22, at 4:00 p.m., with an introductory presentation by the Speaker of Italy's Senate, Mr Nicola Mancino, on the "Role of Parliaments - the European Parliament and national Parliaments - in the reform process of the European Union and in the drafting of a EU Charter of Fundamental Rights".

On Saturday 23 the Speakers participating in the Conference will meet the President of the Republic, Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, at the Quirinale; afterwards they will attend an audience with His Holiness John Paul II at the Vatican. The Conference will be resumed at 3:00 p.m. with the debate on the "Role of Parliaments", which will be followed by a debate on the "Conclusions of the Working Group on the Quality of Legislation", after an introductory report by the Speaker of Finland's Eduskunta, Mrs Riitta Uosukainen.

On Sunday 24, at 9:00 a.m., the Speaker of the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic, Mr Antonio De Almeida Santos, will deliver a presentation on "Scope, objectives and working procedures of the Speakers' Conference".

A special session of the Conference, starting on Sunday at 11:30 a.m., will be dedicated to the meeting with the Speakers of MERCOSUR Parliaments - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile -, which will be focused on the role of Parliaments within the European Union and MERCOSUR.

Italian and foreign journalists, photographers and cameramen wishing to follow the Conference may ask to be accredited by sending a fax to the Press Office of the Chamber of the Deputies (tel. 06/67602125-67602866; fax 06/6783082). Entrance for journalists: Via della Missione 4; entrance for photographers and cameramen: Via della Missione 8.