Political deal seals agreement on EP presidency

The two largest political groups in the European Parliament have agreed to share the presidency of the European chamber for the next five years.

The agreement between the European People's Party and the Socialists was made only days before the start of the seventh legislature of the European Parliament next week.

Former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, an EPP member, will take the presidency of the EP for the first half of the legislature starting Tuesday, when the new MEPs take their seats. German MEP Martin Schultz, the current leader of the Socialist group, will take over from Mr Buzek in 2012 until mid-2014.

This informal deal was struck last week following a decision by the EPP group to put forward Mr Buzek as its sole candidate for the presidency, after the withdrawal of Italian MEP Mario Mauro.

Mr Mauro, who received backing for the top EP post from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, withdrew his candidacy "to avoid creating divisions at the heart of the group". According to EP insiders, Mr Mauro stood little chance of getting the support of the majority of EPP MEPs.

Malta had declared its support for Mr Mauro's candidacy last June. Mr Buzek, who will be the first MEP from a new EU member state to occupy the prestigious post, spelt out his priorities for the EP Presidency. These include boosting relations with third countries - notably the US, energy supplies, migration and the Lisbon Treaty.

The election of the successor to German Conservative Hans-Gert Pottering will take place by secret ballot during the inaugural plenary, from Tuesday to Thursday, in Strasbourg.

The assembly's vice-presidents and quaestors (who look after the financial and administrative interests of MEPs) will also be elected during the session, and an informal decision will be taken on the composition of the parliamentary committees and sub-committees.

Represented by five MEPs, Malta will have the smallest delegation in the European Parliament. If the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, Malta will gain an additional seat.

Malta's MEPs are currently lobbying hard within their political groups to ensure a place in the parliamentary committees of their choice. There is usually fierce competition for the most important committees, which include economy, foreign affairs and justice, and home affairs.

Every MEP is entitled to be a member of a parliamentary committee and a substitute in another. None of the Maltese MEPs have so far indicated their preferred committees, though they are expected to do so shortly.