News, July '04

José Borrell elected President of the European Parliament

20 July. José Borrell, leader of the Spanish PSOE (socialist) members in the European Parliament has been elected its president. He will exercise this position until 2007.He is the third Spaniard to hold this office, having been preceeded by Enrique Barón and José María Gil-Robles.

Borrell's election enhances even more the presence of Spaniards in significant positions within the EU institutional structure. The other most significant Spaniard, of course, is Javier Solana, responsible for foreign and security policy and -under the new, as yet unratified Constitution- vice president of the Council and Foreign Minister.