Le Comité d'experts indépendants

The European Parliament's Conference of Presidents, meeting on Tuesday
morning 16th March, noted a statement by Mr Jacques SANTER, President of the
Commission, explaining the reasons which led the Commission to resign
following the presentation of the report of the Committee of Independent Experts.

The Conference of Presidents thanked Mr Santer for his past work and for drawing
the appropriate political conclusions from the report. It also unanimously stressed
the need for the current Commission to be replaced as soon as possible, saying the
Commission no longer had the confidence of Parliament or the public at large.
The Conference of Presidents was of the opinion that an interim Commission
should be appointed before the June 1999 elections for the remainder of the
current mandate (up to January 2000).

Parliament is prepared to lay down a timetable, in agreement with the
governments of the Member States, enabling it to guarantee to state its position as
soon as possible on the candidate designated as President of the Commission,
conduct hearings of the candidates for the Commissioners' posts and then approve
the Commission as a whole.

Following the meeting of the Conference of Presidents, Mr José María GIL-
ROBLES, President of Parliament, discussed the timetable with Mr Gerhard
SCHRÖDER, President-in-Office of the European Council. A further discussion
will take place on Friday 19th March.

As regards Parliament's relations with the Council, the Conference of Presidents
believes that a new dialogue is needed and that this could start at the Brussels
part-session to be held on 22nd-23rd March. The political groups also signalled
their intention of tabling oral questions to the Council and they expect there to be
a debate in the presence of the Council President so that they can hear the
conclusions he intends to draw from the report of the Committee of Experts.

The practical details for extending the mandate of the Committee of Experts will
be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Presidents on
Monday 22nd March at 7.30pm in Brussels.


Media information:
Patrick Baragiola - tel. 02.284.32.51 (e-mail : pbaragiola@europarl.europa.eu) or secretariat
02.284.28.60

President's office:
Jaume DUCH - tel. 02.284.3000

European Parliament