HD Jerzy Buzek to pay official visit to France on 2 and 3 February

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will pay a two day official visit to France at the invitation of Bernard Accoyer, Speaker of the French National Assembly. The President will attend the plenary session of the National Assembly. He will have meetings with Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, Gérard Larcher, President of the Senate, François Fillon, the Prime Minister, Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Affairs Minister and Pierre Lellouche, Minister for European Affairs. Jerzy Buzek will hold discussions with the members of the Committee on European Affairs of the Senate and National Assembly.  The President, together with Pierre Lellouche, Minister for European Affairs will meet with high-school students to discuss European matters. The detailed programme can be found below.

Speaking prior to his visit, President Buzek said: "I am looking forward to meeting the leaders of one of the founding members of the European Union. We are at the beginning of a new era since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.  We need to work closely, European institutions and Member States alike, to use these new tools to deliver for our citizens. This is expected of us and this is our obligation. It is important for me to have an ongoing exchange of views with the French political leadership on issues of mutual interest and concern.

The agenda facing the European Union is heavy and demanding. I have full confidence that by working together we will achieve our common goal. We want to see a European Union which overcomes the crisis, is competitive, creates jobs and leads the global effort against climate change. Moreover, following the example of Robert Schuman from 60 years ago, pools its sovereignty in the field of energy by establishing a European Energy Community."

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Detailed programme:

Tuesday 2nd February

12h30 Meeting with Mr Bernard ACCOYER, President of the National Assembly
15h00 Attend plenary session of the National Assembly
15h30 Press conference - European Parliament Information Office in Paris
16h30 Meeting with Mr François FILLON, Prime Minister
17h45 Meeting with high-school students, jointly with Pierre LELLOUCHE, Minister for European Affairs
19h55 Meeting with Bernard KOUCHNER, Foreign Affairs Minister and Pierre LELLOUCHE, Minister for European Affairs

Wednesday 3rd February

08h00 Working Breakfast with Gérard LARCHER, President of the Senate
09h00 Meeting with Committee on European Affairs of Senate + National Assembly
12h00 Meeting with Nicolas SARKOZY, President of the Republic

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Note for editors:
News footage of the visit will be available for download in MPG2 (broadcast quality) as well as in MP3 audio file for radio at this link:
ftp://epavvideoget:mo12ssb@ftpeps01.europarl.eu.int//epavvideo/CabinetPresident/Buzek_Paris

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For further information:
Inga Rosińska, Spokeswoman
Mobile: +32 498 981 354

Dominique Robert- Besse, Press Officer
EP Information Office in Paris
Mobile: +33 631 598 435

Multimedia

HD Jerzy Buzek to pay official visit to France on 2 and 3 February

Meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France

Paris - 03/02/2010

I will visit one of the founding members of the EU to discuss a heavy and demanding European agenda.