New Parliament body to coordinate internal Lisbon deliberations
The European Parliament is to establish a new body to coordinate its work on the Lisbon Strategy. The announcement was made following a Conference of Presidents, at which it was decided that a new body would be the optimum way of coordinating the work of the various parliamentary committees preparing the Parliament's position ahead of the 2005 Spring Summit. The Lisbon goals overlap with the work of at least five parliamentary committees, and a total of 33 MEPs, primarily from these committees will make up the new body. Rapporteurs from other committees may also be able to join the group. 'The setting up of this body will facilitate the necessary strategic decision making, as well as ensuring that Parliament's message on the subject is strong and coherent,' according to a statement by the Parliament. In addition to preparing a resolution on Lisbon for the Spring Summit, the body will be charged with liaising with national parliaments on the future of the Lisbon process, establishing a calendar for the implementation of the 'better regulation' initiative, and working on the implementation of measures already agreed.