Martin Schulz meets New Zealand's PM, the Budget Control Committee vets a new candidate for the European Court of Auditors and a rare treat awaits skywatchers.

New Zealand visit / ECA candidate / Venus transit

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A distinguished visitor  came to Parliament on Monday,

Meeting Parliament's President, both  stressed how good bilateral relations are

and promised to develop them even further.

But at the final press conference,  Schulz commented

on what is still foremost  on European minds.

Should the eurozone split, the risk that  a domino effect will follow is enormous.

Therefore - if I understood Chancellor  Merkel well she shares my view -

Germany will do the utmost  to keep Greece in the eurozone.

The Budget Control Committee  approved a new candidate

Bulgaria's suggestion for the ECA Board  is currently an MEP,

and a Vice-Chair of the Committee,  so she knows the auditors' work well,

working with them to ensure taxpayers'  money is well spent in the EU budget.

She is also aware of the challenge  the ECA faces in the current situation.

It has to become more efficient,  more effective,

with fewer resources  to provide a better product.

I think if we put our efforts into it and if we  do our best, we have to make it possible.

Our sister planet, Venus,  is moving across the face of the Sun.

It happened eight years ago, but it won't  happen again for over a hundred years.

Among the professional watchers are  European Space Agency scientists,

whose spacecraft, Venus Express,  has been circling Venus for six years,

exploring the planet's  mysterious atmosphere.

If you want to watch, remember to never  look directly at the Sun unprotected.