[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S11012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       VISIT TO THE SENATE BY MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, one of the privileges accorded to the 
majority leader is the opportunity to welcome and to introduce our 
fellow legislators from the European Parliament. This is a tradition 
that began in 1972, and it has continued every year since.
  Earlier this year in July, we welcomed the President of the European 
Parliament to the Senate. Today, I am pleased to welcome another 16 of 
his colleagues representing countries from across that great continent. 
As I said when Mr. Cox visited in July, this tradition is especially 
meaningful, because although the Atlantic Ocean separates us from our 
European friends, we are certainly connected--connected in beliefs and 
in the rule of law, and a commitment to the betterment of the people we 
serve and the world we share.
  Today's visit has added significance, coming as it does at a period 
of heightened concern across Europe about the potential new terrorist 
attacks.
  So we reiterate today our strong determination to stand together, 
united by our shared values and by our commitment to stand, as we have 
for now so long, on issues related to commerce, on issues related to 
trade, and on issues related to war.
  I ask unanimous consent that the names of our colleagues from the 
European Parliament be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES,
  55TH EP/US CONGRESS INTERPARLIAMENTARY MEETING, 11-17 NOVEMBER 2002,
                      WASHINGTON, DC, AND SAN DIEGO
              [List of participants (16) in protocol order]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Group             Country
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Jim Nicholson, Chair..........  PPE-DE          United Kingdom.
Mr. Bastiaan Belder, 1st Vice-      EDD             Netherlands.
 Chair.
Mr. Harlem Desir, 2nd Vic-Chair...  PSE             France.
Mr. Renzo Imbeni..................  PSE             Italy.
Mr. Jose Pacheco Pereira..........  PPE-DE          Portgual.
Mr. Jorge Salvador Hernandez        PPE-DE          Spain.
 Mollar.
Ms. Erika Mann....................  PSE             Germany.
Mr. Jas Gawronski.................  PPE-DE          Italy.
Ms. Imelda Mary Read..............  PSE             United Kingdom.
Mr. Dirk Sterckx..................  ELDR            Belgium.
Ms. Nuala Ahern...................  Verts/ALE       Ireland.
Mr. Peter William Skinner.........  PSE             United Kingdom.
Ms. Arlene McCarthy...............  PSE             United Kingdom.
Mr. Brian Crowley.................  UEN             Ireland.
Mr. Marco Cappato.................  NI              Italy.
Ms. Piia-Noora Kauppi.............  PPE-DE          Finland.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPE-DE  Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and
  European Democrats.
PSE  Group of the Party of European Socialists.
ELDR  Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party.
Verts/ALE  Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance.
GUE/NGL  Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left.
UEN  Union for Europe of the Nations Group.
EDD  Group for a Europe of Democracies and Diversities.
NI  Non-attached.

  Mr. DASCHLE. I would also like to notify Senators that our colleagues 
from the European Parliament are available now to meet on the floor. I 
welcome them. I am delighted they are here.
  Madam President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Breaux). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Chair recognizes the majority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I reiterate again our thanks to our 
colleagues for their willingness to join us on the Senate floor. It is 
a real pleasure for us to have the opportunity to talk with them. We 
wish them well in their travels within the United States.
  We again reiterate how welcome they are and how hopeful we are that 
we can continue to maintain the dialog, the friendship, and the 
partnership that we have as countries interested in a mutual goal.
  We thank them for being here.

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