MALTESE PARLIAMENTARIAN ATTENDS SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION IN PARIS

The Hon John Vella, MP, will be attending the Forty-Sixth Session of the Assembly of Western European Union (WEU). This interim European Security and Defence Assembly will be held in Paris between the 4th and 7th December 2000.

Topics to be discussed during the meeting of the Assembly include:-

§ Reserve forces: the new situation created by the move to professional armed forces;

§ Russia and European security;

§ The implementation of the Common European Security and Defence Policy and                                   WEU's future role;

§ The consequences of mergers in Europe's defence industries;

§ Transatlantic cooperation on anti-missile defence;

§ Nuclear armaments control - the issues involved and prospects for the European                                   Security and Defence Policy;

§ The gap in defence research and technology between Europe and the United States;

§ Institutions engaged in security and defence research - the position in the associate                                   partner countries;

§ Sub-regional organisations in Europe and their parliamentary dimension; and

§ International policing in south-eastern Europe.

Mr Lionel Jospin, Prime Minister of France, representing the French WEU and EU Presidencies, and Mr Javier Solana, WEU Secretary-General and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the Council of the European Union, are amongst the distinct personalities who will be addressing the Assembly