UK Office of the European Parliament

EP News, March 4th, 2005 (No. 202)

The Week Ahead in the European Parliament

• European Parliament session 7-10 March 2005
• Other highlights of the week ahead
• Committee meetings
• Forward notice: public hearings
  
  
• Diary dates
• Further information
• Subscribe / unsubscribe

European Parliament session 7-10 March 2005

MEPs meet in Strasbourg next week for a plenary session of the European Parliament. Highlights of the agenda include:

• Gas liberalisation (2nd reading, Tues)
• Air passenger data (oral question, Weds)
• International Women's Day (Tues)
• Preparing the EU summit - 22-23 March (Weds)
  
  

Gas markets liberalisation (Debate Tuesday, vote likely Wednesday)

The aim of this draft regulation is to facilitate cross-border access to gas networks across the EU. It complements the existing directive aimed at opening up the EU's gas markets to competition and creating an internal market in gas. The regulation sets down the trading rules for networks access.

This is the 2nd reading in the codecision procedure, where the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have equal power on the final text of the legislation. Following Wednesday's vote, if the Council does not accept all of the Parliament amendments, the final text will be decided in conciliation.

Since the adoption of the committee stage report, informal negotiations have been going on between the Parliament and the Council with a view to reaching a compromise at 2nd reading. If the regulation is adopted, it will apply from 1 July 2006.

Also in the energy field, Wednesday sees an oral question to the Commission: Should oil companies invest 'windfall profits' in alternative energy research?

Air passenger data (Oral Question - Monday)

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP (Liberal Democrat, London) is co-signatory to an oral question aimed at the European Commission on the transfer of air passenger data to the US authorities. The questioners ask what volume of data has been collected by the US authorities and how this is monitored by national data protection bodies in the EU. They also ask how many terrorist suspects it has been possible to detect since the agreement on data transfer came into effect.

For the full text of the question, see this link: http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+BR-20050307-S+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=S#SECTION10 ]

[ Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP: http://www.europarl.org.uk/requetes/ludford.asp ]

top

International Women's Day, 8th March (Tuesday)

To coincide with International Women's Day [ http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2005/ ], the European Parliament is to stage a debate on the follow-up to the 1995 Beijing World Women's Conference [ http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/english/49sess.htm ]. Particular focus this year will be the issue of violence against women, especially domestic violence. MEPs will be asking the Council to designate 2006 as the European Year against Violence against Women.

On Tuesday afternoon, the European Parliament plays host to a seminar in Strasbourg on the issue of violence against women. Guest speakers include Israeli Sakharov Prize winner from 2001, Nurit Peled-Elhanan, Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Kahn, and French film director Nadine Trintignant.

[ International Women's Day: http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2005/ ]
[ Beijing World Women's Conference: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/english/49sess.htm ].

EU summit, 22-23 March 2005 - Lisbon Strategy

The 25 EU heads of government and state are due to meet later this month in Brussels. Wednesday morning's key debate in the European Parliament will be focusing on the summit's main agenda item: re-launching the Lisbon Strategy to establish a partnership for growth and employment. MEPs will have the chance to review the five years since the Lisbon Strategy was adopted and set out their priorities for the next five years.

[ Lisbon Strategy: http://europa.eu.int/growthandjobs/index_fr.htm ]

European Parliament President Josep Borrell will make a presentation at the opening of the Summit in Brussels on 22 March.

[ President Josep Borrell: http://www.europarl.eu.int/president/ ]

top

Other legislation

Air Traffic Controllers Licence (Mon)

MEPs will have their 1st reading of a proposal to create a single European Community licence for air traffic controllers. The aim is to harmonise existing national licensing systems and promote mutual recognition of national licences. Safety and security are the key issues. The need for air traffic controllers to speak and understand English to a satisfactory level is one aspect. Amendments tabled at committee stage also placed greater emphasis on training, especially in emergencies.

This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure. If the Council accepts all amendments adopted by the European Parliament, the directive can be adopted at 1st reading; if not, it will return to the Parliament for a 2nd reading.

The text and amendments tabled can be seen at these links:
[ http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/oeil/oeil_ViewDNL.ProcedureView?lang=2&procid=6434 ] and [ http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A6-2005-0038+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y ]

Social security (2nd reading, Monday)

The annual updating of the 1971 social security regulation receives its 2nd reading on Monday. This regulation enables workers to retain social security entitlements when they move to another EU country. The annual update takes account of changes in the various national social security systems.

Other issues this session:

• Sugar sector: The European Commission's proposals for reform of the sugar market are up for discussion on Thursday. The World Trade Organisation has ruled that the EU's sugar policy breaks world trade rules so reform must happen. What MEPs are asking is how EU producers will be protected in the light of reduced quotas and less state aid. Indeed, some call for the present price support system to be maintained. A lively debate can be expected.
  
  [ WTO: http://www.wto.org/ ]
  
  
  
• Organic food and farming: Thursday also sees a debate on a proposed action plan for organic food and farming in the EU. Among the issues likely to be raised is the issue of research into the potential impact of co-existence between organic, conventional and GM crops
  
  
• Research: Just weeks before the European Commission is due to unveil its new multi-annual research programme (set to start in 2007), MEPs will debate a report on how research should be funded at EU level. Discussion in the Parliament's Research Committee focused on life sciences, nanotechnologies, chemicals and energy sources which do not produce carbon dioxide. The level of future funding for research is inevitably linked to the ongoing discussion on the overall EU budget for 2007-2013. (Debate Wednesday)
  
  [ Research Committee: http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/itre_home.htm ]
  
  
  
• Trade in embryo cells is the subject of a European Commission statement on Tuesday morning. The Parliament has yet to decide whether to vote on a resolution at the end of the debate.
  
  The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies advises the European Commission on this and other ethical issues connected to research. The UK body on the group is the Nuffield Council on Bioethics .
  
  [ European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies: http://europa.eu.int/comm/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm ]
  [ Nuffield Council on Bioethics: http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/ ]
  
  
  
• Korea / Iran / Lebanon: Tuesday afternoon sees a debate on developments in North Korea and Iran with particular focus on the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The situation in Lebanon will also be discussed in the light of recent events there.
  
  
• European Investment Bank: The President of the European Investment Bank, Philippe Maystadt, will be present for Monday's debate on the EIB. When this was discussed at committee stage, MEPs wanted to see more investment in Trans-European Networks, especially in renewable energy, with a greater focus on loans for small businesses.
  
  [ European Investment Bank: http://www.eib.eu.int/ ]
  [ Trans-European Networks: http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/s06019.htm ]
  
  
  
• Petitions: MEPs are due for their annual debate on the work of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee on Wednesday. Every resident in the EU and any company or organisation registered in an EU country can table a petition to the European Parliament on any matter falling within the EU's fields of activity. UK citizens are among the most prolific petitioners, with 119 out of 1,313 petitions originating in the UK in 2003-4. Among the most notable petitions: the illegal trade in bushmeat (petition from the curator of Bristol Zoo); the rights of Lloyd's names; and treatment of multiple sclerosis sufferers.
  
  MEPs are asking the European Commission to report annually on which petitions have resulted in infringement procedures being initiated.
  
  [ Petitions Committee: http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/peti_home.htm ]

• John Bowis MEP (Conservative, London) will lead a debate (Tuesday) on the work of the ACP-EU Assembly in 2004 to promote aid and trade between the EU and the developed world. Note that with the forthcoming UK Presidency of the EU (July-December 2005), the ACP-EU Assembly will be meeting in the UK later this year - venue still to be confirmed.
  
  [ John Bowis MEP: http://www.europarl.org.uk/requetes/bowis.asp ]
  
  
• 11 March: One year ago this month 191 people were killed in the Madrid train bombs. The European Parliament will commemorate the victims at 11am on Thursday 10 March, the last day of the plenary session.

Full information can be found in "The Briefing" at: www.europarl.eu.int/press/index_publi_en.htm

top

Other highlights of the week ahead:

• Jack Straw to meet European Parliament President in Strasbourg (Tuesday a.m.)
  
  
• Robert Evans MEP (London, Labour) joins election observers in Moldova
  [ http://www.europarl.org.uk/requetes/robertevans.asp ]
  
  
• Diana Wallis MEP (Yorkshire & Humber, Lib Dem) press conference on European Endometriosis Awareness Week (Weds)
  [ http://www.europarl.org.uk/requetes/wallis.asp ]
  [ National Endometriosis Society: http://www.endo.org.uk/ ]
  
  
• Cross-border mergers directive (1st reading - Legal Affairs discussion of amendments- Monday)

top

Committee meetings

Edited committee agenda below, with links to full agenda on www.europarl.eu.int, and working documents on the committees' websites:

All committee homepages at http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/home_en.htm

top

AFET - Foreign Affairs [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Wednesday 9 March 2005

With the participation of the DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH IRAN

• EU-Iran relations: Exchange of views with Mrs Shirin EBADI, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner
  

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next - [ Subcommittee on Human Rights ]

BUDG - Budgets [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Monday 7 March 2005

BUDGET 2005

• 2005 budget: Parliament's estimates. adjustment of salaries
  Rapporteur: Anne Elisabet Jensen (ALDE)
  - Consideration and adoption of a draft report
  
  
• 2005 Budget: "Other" Sections
  Rapporteur: Anne Elisabet Jensen (ALDE)
  - Consideration of a transfer request
  - Transfer C3/2005 (Information Campaign) from EP
  - Other possible transfer requests
  
  
• Amending budget 1/2005: revision of the establishment plans
  - Consideration and adoption of a draft report
  

FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES 2007-2013

• Initiative report on financial implications of Enlargement for Bulgaria/Romania
  - Exchange of views on the draft report
  

BUDGET 2006

• 2006 budget: the Commission's annual strategic report
  Rapporteur: Giovanni Pittella (PSE)
  - Exchange of views on a draft report
  

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next

DEVE - Development [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Thursday 10 March 2005

Agenda not available in English.

French version of the agenda is online here:
http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep/owa/p_calag.oj?ipid=0&imn=5005574&ilg=EN&iorig=home

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next

ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Monday 7 March 2005

• Restrictions on the marketing and use of certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in extender oils and tyres
  Rapporteur: Adamos Adamou (GUE/NGL)
  - Consideration of a draft report [MAGN]
  ***I 2004/0036(COD) COM(2004)0098 - C5-0081/2004
  (Codecision, first reading)
  
  
• Financing Natura 2000
  Rapporteur: Margrete Auken (Verts/ALE)
  - Adoption of a draft report [DERE]
  2004/2164(INI) COM(2004)0431
  (Own initiative)
  

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next

REGI - Regional Development [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Monday 7 March 2005

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next

JURI - Legal Affairs [ list of committees ] [ next ]

Monday 7 March 2005

• Proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on cross-border mergers of companies with share capital
  Rapporteur: Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP-ED)
  - Consideration of amendments
  ***I 2003/0277(COD) COM(2003)0703 - C5-0561/2003
  (Codecision first reading)
  
  
• Statutory audit of annual accounts and consolidated accounts (amendment of Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC)
  Rapporteur: Bert Doorn (EPP-ED)
  - Consideration of amendments
  ***I 2004/0065(COD) COM(2004)0177 - C6-0005/2004
  (Codecision first reading)
  

top of page - full agenda - committee homepage - next

Forward notice: Public Hearings

17 March 2005
AFET - Committee on Foreign Affairs
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: A role for the European Parliament

http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050317/sede/programme_en.pdf

16 March 2005
FEMM - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
The role of women in Turkey in social, economic and political life - Poster

15 March 2005
TRAN - Committee on Transport and Tourism
Marco Polo II Programme

http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050315/tran/programme_en.pdf

15 March 2005
AGRI - Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
The Future of Rural Development in the EU

http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050315/agri/programme_en.pdf

15 March 2005
PECH - Committee on Fisheries
The international fishmeal and fishoil industry. Challenges and opportunities

14-15 March 2005
LIBE - Committee on on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
DEVE - Committee on Development
Joint Public Hearing: Migration, integration and development: towards an European policy?

http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050314/libe/programme_en.pdf

DIARY DATES

• 1 January - 30 June 2005: Luxembourg Presidency: http://www.eu2005.lu/en/
• 1 July - 31 December 2005: British Presidency
  
  
• 7-10 March 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 11-14 April 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 27-28 April 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 9-12 May 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 25-26 May 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 6-9 June 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 22-23 June 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 4-7 July 2005, European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
  
  
• Link to the European Parliament's session calendar 2005: http://www.europarl.eu.int/plenary/cal2005_en.pdf
  

top

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Committee homepages at http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/home_en.htm
  
• Simon Duffin, sduffin@europarl.eu.int, European Parliament UK Office, tel 020 7227 4300

To subscribe or unsubscribe please email André Vanderstock, avanderstock@europarl.eu.int

top

European Parliament UK Office
2 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AA
tel 020 7227 4300
eplondon@europarl.eu.int

European Parliament Office in Scotland
The Tun
4 Jackson's Entry
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
tel 0131 557 7866
epedinburgh@europarl.eu.int