The Belgian senator Luc Van den Brande, former president of the Flanders and member of the Flemish Parliament, should be the new president of the Committee of the Regions, advisory organ of the European Union. The appointment of the successor of Michel Delebarre (French) is fixed tomorrow, at the opening of the plenary session of the Committee meeting in Brussels. The new president will be appointed for the second half of the current four-year mandate, expiring in February 2010. "This procedure it is said in a note by the Committee of Regions reflects an agreement among the political groups in the Committee", providing for the alternation of the leaders of the two main political parties, the Socialists and the Populars. "The Assembly will then adopt ten opinions and one resolution on partnership for growth and employment". The latest "will be submitted to the European leaders at the summit on 13th and 14th March". Therefore, different subjects are in the agenda, such as support to research in EU regions; strategy revision of life sciences and biotechnology; water lack in member countries; contributions by volunteering activities to social and economic cohesion. Furthermore, several speeches are due to be delivered at the Hemicycle, by the president of the Commission, Barroso, Vice President Verheugen (economy), and Commissioner Fischer Boel (agriculture).
