Paris, 10 June 2005. Ongoing preparations in the political groups for the upcoming plenary session of the Assembly (13-15 June 2005 in Paris) make it likely that, in view of the stalled process for ratifying the Constitutional Treaty, there will be a request for an emergency debate on the consequences for the European Union’s ability to take action on security and defence.

It is expected that the request will be put to the Assembly on Monday, 13 June 2005 and that it will invite the Political Committee to provide a text on the consequences of the suspended ratification process for the future development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). If the request is adopted, the Political Committee will nominate a Rapporteur who will submit a draft resolution which, once approved, will be addressed to the European Council meeting on 16-17 June 2005 in Brussels. The urgent debate will probably take place on the morning of Wednesday, 15 June 2005.

The British Ambassador to France, Sir John Holmes, would then be able to join in the debate when he presents to the members of the Assembly the address by Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, representing the incoming United Kingdom WEU/EU Presidency. Mr Straw will be Chairman-in-Office of the WEU Council from 1 July 2005. The Ambassador’s intervention is scheduled for Wednesday, 15 June 2005 at 11.30.

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The President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, has announced that he will hold a press conference after his address to the Assembly (scheduled for Tuesday, 14 June 2005 at 10.00). The press conference will take place in Room A at the Assembly’s premises.