Announcement of the candidates for election to the office of the President of the European Parliament, during the EP plenary session (16-19 January) in Strasbourg. The names of the candidates are Eleonora Forenza (European United Left-Nordic Green Left Group, Italy) Jean Lambert, (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, UK), Gianni Pittella, (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group, Italy), Laurenţiu Rebega, (Europe of Nations and Freedom Group, Romania), Helga Stevens, (European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Belgium), Antonio Tajani, European People&rsquo;s Party Group (Italy) and Guy Verhofstadt, (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Belgium).

plenary session

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

Announcement of the candidates for election to the office of the President: extracts

Ambience shots before the start of the Plenary session.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, <p>According to the rules of procedure I received the following candidatures for the office of President of the EP. I am going to read them in alphabetical order: Eleonora Forenza (European United Left-Nordic Green Left Group, Italy) Jean Lambert, (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, UK), Gianni Pittella, (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group, Italy), Laurenţiu Rebega, (Europe of Nations and Freedom Group, Romania), Helga Stevens, (European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Belgium), Antonio Tajani, European People&rsquo;s Party Group (Italy) and Guy Verhofstadt, (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Belgium). The candidates have informed me that this is done with their consent. The election, as I am sure you are aware, will take place tomorrow.</p>