The preparatory meeting of the Troika took place on Friday 6 July 2001 at the Belgian Senate. The following items were discussed:

• Adoption of the draft agenda of the XXV COSAC
• Discussion on the follow up of point 4 of the contribution of the XXIV COSAC

* * *

The XXVth COSAC will take place in the Belgian House of representatives on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 October 2001. The following draft agenda for the XXVth COSAC was decided upon.

On Thursday 4 October 2001, a debate on "The Belgian Presidency of the EU and the future of Europe" will be held in the presence of the Belgian Prime Minister Mr Guy Verhofstadt. In the afternoon debates will relate to "Employment, the European social model and the negotiations within the scope of the WTO" as well as "Food safety and sustainable development" The last two subjects will be introduced respectively by Mrs L. Onkelinx, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Employment and Mrs M. Aelvoet, Minister for Consumer Protection, Public Health and Environment.

On Friday 5 October 2001, Mr A. Duquesne, Minister for Home Affairs, will introduce the debate on A common asylum and immigration policy.

Finally, COSAC will end its proceedings with the examination of the draft contributions.

* * *

In accordance with point 4 of the contribution adopted by the XXIVth COSAC in Stockholm, the Troika has envisaged to convene a new meeting of the COSAC working group (article 1.5 of the Rules of procedure) during the Belgian Presidency. The proposed date is Monday 26 November 2001 at the Belgian Parliament in Brussels. The working group will again deal with the subject of the role of National Parliaments (particularly with a view to contributing to the drafting of the Laeken Declaration). The three other subjects mentioned in Declaration N° 23 of the Treaty of Nice will be brought up during the next Spanish Presidency.