Opening: Latvia joins Euro, bad weather, UN conference on Syria’s future | WPN World People News

President Schulz congratulated Latvia on becoming the 18th country to join the Euro, promised a debate at the next session on the recent catastrophic weather and stressed Parliament’s support for the forthcoming UN conference on Syria’s future, in his opening remarks.

By joining the Euro on 1 January, Latvia not only demonstrated its own persistence and determination, but sent a bold signal to Lithuania, which is to become the 19th country to join the Euro, next year, said Mr Schulz.

Bad weather debate

At its February session Parliament will debate the impact of recent bad weather, including extensive storm damage, rivers bursting their banks and the flooding of entire coasts, said Mr Schulz, stressing Parliament’s solidarity with the victims.

Syria conference

Parliament’s political groups had joined the rest of the EU in urging that the second UN conference on the future of Syria must start in Geneva on 22 January as planned, despite difficulties on the ground, noted Mr Schulz.

This conference will bring together the Syrian regime and opposition, and all international partners, to pave the way for an end to the civil war and the formation of a transitional government, he explained, stressing Parliament’s support for all efforts to resolve this grave conflict.

Source: European Parliament