Seanad debates
Wednesday, 26 February 2003
Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.
I have outlined the membership of the Convention but, as Members can imagine, debate does not just take place on the floor of the Convention or in the Praesidium, though that is an important part of the process. There are political families such as the socialist family which consists of the MEPs, national parliamentarians and Government representatives which come together on a regular basis; the same goes for the Christian Democrat and Green families. They try to establish common positions, although because of the nature of the European Union even within the same political family there can be differences of opinion and emphasis. We have all experienced this, even in our domestic political families. It is important to bear in mind that in many cases the national family comes together.
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