Poettering re-elected EPP-ED Group chairman

German MEP Hans-Gert Poettering was yesterday re-elected chairman of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and the European Democrats (EPP-ED) in the European Parliament for a further two-and-a-half years, until December 2006.

He received 96 per cent of the votes cast, 229 in favour and 10 against. Nationalist MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa were present for the meeting and took part in this election.

Mr Poettering has led the EPP-ED Group since the July 1999 European elections in which, for the first time since the first European elections in 1979, the EPP-ED emerged as the largest group.

Mr Poettering, who visited Malta earlier this year and addressed the Nationalist Party general council, is set to become president of the European Parliament in two-and-a-half years time.

According to an unofficial deal, the largest two political groups in the European Parliament - the European People's Party and the European Socialists - agreed to share the presidency of Parliament between them. A Socialist MEP will chair the EP for the first two-and-a-half years. The remaining term will be chaired by an EPP MEP and Mr Poettering is earmarked for this position.

Following his re-election, Mr Poettering said: "I am delighted with the great trust the Group has once again expressed in me. Ours is a strong group which has come out of the European elections as a very unified force and I will do everything I can to ensure our political goals are efficiently pursued in the European Parliament.

"At the start of this legislature it is up to the group chairman personally to bring together the interests of large and small national delegations and to integrate the members from the new member states into the Group so that they can make an immediate start on the political work. Our political ideals are reflected in the concept of unity in diversity".

The European Parliament will convene for the first time after the June elections next Monday in Strasbourg.