EU:The European Parliament, which meets today in Strasbourg, is expected to elect German conservative Hans Gert Poettering as its new president.
In a deal worked out between the two major parties in the parliament, he will replace the outgoing Spanish socialist Josep Borrell, who has held the post for the past two-and-a-half years.
In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Poettering, who is a close ally of German chancellor Angela Merkel, said he wanted to end the practice of some political parties using the assembly as a home for politicians approaching retirement.
"We used to have a saying in Germany which, translated, means: if you have a grandfather, then send him to Europe and I think this thinking must stop," said Mr Poettering.
If elected, Mr Poettering said he intended to make the European Parliament "the best-known assembly in the world" through the ratification of the EU's embattled constitution.
Mr Borrell's last action as president of the parliament will be to formally welcome the new members of the European Parliament from Bulgaria and Romania.
There will be 35 Romanian MEPs and 18 Bulgarians taking their seats in the newly enlarged assembly, which will mean that there are now 785 MEPs in the European Parliament.
On Tuesday morning the session will be chaired by the oldest MEP, Giovanni Berlinguer, the 83-year-old Italian socialist, until the election of the new president with 14 vice-presidents.
On Wednesday, the German Chancellor will outline the main goals of her country's six month presidency of the Union.
One of the highlights of the German presidency will be the celebration in Berlin in March of the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, the foundation of the Union.
At this ceremony the EU heads of state, of government and the president of the European Parliament will issue a joint declaration reaffirming EU values, ambitions and their commitment to dealing with the challenges facing Europe.
Debates on the arms trade and road safety will dominate the week, with the transport committee of the parliament seeking a higher level of political commitment to road safety from all member states and EU institutions.