The European Parliament in Strasbourg has begun its last session before next month's European elections. It will also be the last time it will meet in the building in Strasbourg which it has used for more than 20 years, as it moves to a new premises next month.
While many of the MEPs attended, many more were taking advantage of the holiday weekend to work the hustings. Tradition has shown that fewer than 50 per cent will be coming back after the Euro elections.
It will be a landmark session later today as the nominee for President of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, will make a statement on the conclusion of the fourth term of office. A joint debate will follow.
Mr Prodi shot to prominence when the Commission resigned en masse over the handling of fraud allegations between the parliament and the Commission. The Italian politician was chosen to take over from Mr Jacques Santer and his team. The parliament will ratify the new president tomorrow at noon. It is expected this will go smoothly and work can begin on appointing a new Commission.
Tomorrow the outgoing MEPs are being asked to adopt a position concerning the new statute for members. The essence of this debate will be whether a standard rate of pay would apply to new MEPs, who up until now are paid the same rate as members of parliaments in the member-states.
While Ireland lags behind other parliaments in rates of pay, in other concessions - especially in expenses and taxation - Irish MEPs do well. Parliament would like re-elected members to be able to opt for the old system of payment.
Member-states, on the other hand, are insisting that what they regard as "disreputable practices" should end. The main business of the week will be to debate and vote on the Agenda 2000 package of reforms which deals with the farm price agreement and regional policies.
So far, the parliament has shown itself to be in favour of the reforms, but it is determined that the measures to smooth the accession of new member-states should not be carried out at the expense of the existing 15.
The parliament is also expected to endorse the reforms which streamline the structural fund and will press for more funding for the trans-European network infrastructure projects.
During the week, it will also hear statements from the Council and the Commission on the situation in Kosovo and the role of the EU in the world and its strategy towards Russia. It will also be briefed about the threatened trade war between the US and the EU, which looks set to escalate this month.