The Week Ahead in the European Parliament

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European Parliament session 24-27 October 2005

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

Tony Blair on preparations for Hampton Court EU meeting (Weds)
EU budget 2006 (Weds)
Waste transport regulation (Mon debate; 2nd reading vote Tues)
Greenhouse gas emissions (2nd reading regulations, Mon / Tues)
EU education programmes 2007-2013 (Mon)

Tony Blair in Strasbourg - Wednesday afternoon 26 October

At 2pm ( UK time) on Wednesday 26 October, Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to address MEPs in Strasbourg in his capacity as President of the EU Council. The debate with MEPs is scheduled to last until 4.30pm UK time.

The Prime Minister will set out his priorities and aims for the informal European Council meeting which takes place at Hampton Court near London on Thursday. The purpose of the meeting is that the 25 EU heads of state or government have the chance to discuss the future of the European social model in the context of globalisation.

European Parliament President Josep Borrell will also attend the Hampton Court meeting on 27 October.

The last time Tony Blair spoke to the European Parliament was shortly before the start of the UK Presidency of the EU on 23 June 2005. The full debate that day is now available in English for all speakers - click here.

EU budget 2006 (Wednesday)

Wednesday morning sees the 1st reading debate on the EU budget for 2006. If the full Parliament follows the position of the Budgets Committee, the 1st reading will re-instate most of the cuts suggested by the Council of Ministers. MEPs are focusing particularly on increases for the research and education programmes. One ground-breaking amendment proposes to scrap the €1bn subsidy for tobacco growers and re-invest part of the money on anti-smoking campaigns. Another area of controversy is support for projects outside the EU's borders, including aid for the reconstruction of Iraq and for tsunami victims.

The 2nd reading of the 2006 budget is due to take place in December in Strasbourg. This is the last year of the current 7-year 'financial perspective' period. Negotiations are still underway on a new overall 7-year budget for 2007-2013.

[ Link to Budget Committee website ]

Transport of waste (2nd reading: debate Monday; vote, Tuesday)

MEPs have their 2nd reading of the proposed Regulation on shipments of waste. Among the amendments maintained in the Environment Committee are that ships as well as aircraft should be included in the list of potentially dangerous waste, with a ban on ships sent to non-EU countries for breaking up and scrap. The aim is also to discourage exports of household rubbish.

MEPs will also react in Monday's debate to the European Commission's recent statement that further impact studies are required on this proposal (part of the Commission's better regulation review).

At 2nd reading stage, an overall majority of 367 MEPs must vote for an amendment for it to be adopted. If the Council does not accept all amendments adopted at 2nd reading by the European Parliament, the proposal will go into conciliation between Council and Parliament to decide the final text.

[ Link to report and amendments adopted in Committee ]

Greenhouse gas emissions - fridges & car air-conditioning (2nd reading; debate Monday, vote Tues)

Two proposals for Regulations also receive their 2nd reading on Tuesday (debate Monday). One concerns general rules on emissions of fluorinated gases; the other is specifically on car air-conditioning systems.

Knowing the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases is key to be being able to measure any reductions in emissions. MEPs in the Environment Committee have called for products with a GWP of less than 50 to be used in phones, fridges and general air conditioning (but not cars, which are covered by the specific regulation). Amendments passed in committee also attempt to speed up the banning of hydrofluorocarbons in some aerosols by 2006; in foam (by 2009); in domestic fridges (4 years after the regulation enters into force). If the Council does not accept all amendments adopted at 2nd reading, the proposal will move to conciliation over the final text. 2nd reading amendments require an overall majority of 367 MEPs to be adopted.

On car air-conditioning, MEPs made minor changes to the proposal which means that it should be adopted at 2nd reading, with a ban on fluorinated gases with a GWP of more than 150 in new models from 2011 and all cars from 2017.

[ Link to reports and amendments adopted in committee: fluorinated greenhouse gases - car air-conditioning systems ]

EU education programme 2007-2013 (1st reading: debate Monday, vote Tuesday)

All the current education and learning programmes at EU level - including Erasmus, Leonardo and Comenius - are due to be merged from 2007 into a single EU Lifelong Learning Programme, to run from 2007-2013. MEPs will have their 1st reading of the proposed programme on Monday (vote Tuesday).

Over 70 amendments were adopted at the committee stage, the most important of which covers the overall funding for the programme. An extra €980m (£667m) is proposed on top of the €13.62bn (£9.27bn) for seven years proposed by the European Commission. This would mainly be with a view to increasing student mobility grants; secondary school mobility; school exchanges; and cross-border teacher mobility.

On the Erasmus sub-programme promoting student mobility, MEPs are proposing an increase in the standard monthly grant so that it would be €210 (£143) in 2007 and €300 (£204) by 2013 (the current grant has stood at €150 per month since 1993, in spite of increasing costs for students living abroad).

[ Link to report adopted in committee ]

OTHER LEGISLATION

Food additives (Debate Tuesday; vote Wednesday)

This new directive receiving its 1st reading updates existing rules on food additives and sweeteners in the light of scientific and technological developments. It mainly involves changes to the positive list of approved additives, for example the levels of nitrates and nitrites in hams, bacons and cheeses. Wiltshire cured ham gets a special mention in the annex to the directive as this is now included as a traditional national product exempted from the directive.

Film industry programme (Debate Monday; vote Tuesday)

The aim of the proposed Media 2007 programme is to preserve and enhance Europe's cultural diversity, to improve distribution of European films inside and outside the EU and to boost the competitiveness of the European film industry.

The 77 amendments adopted in the Culture Committee did not change the overall funding to be made available for the 7-year programme (€1.055bn; £718bn). Instead they focused on the programme's priorities and criteria for eligibility. Particular focus was placed on enhancing digital platforms; on improving loan financing; and on developing new talent, including through a Pasolini Prize for New Talents.

Examples of UK beneficiaries from the current Media programme are: Leeds International Film Festival; various new talent film productions, including Pig, from Liverpool Academy Productions; and digital distribution networks run by DocSpace in Edinburgh and partners across the EU.

Culture and Youth Programmes (Debate Monday; vote Tuesday)

The new Culture and Youth programmes, also due to run from 2007-2013, receive their 1st reading in the European Parliament on Monday. MEPs on the Culture Committee are proposing increasing substantially the funding available under both these programmes. English Heritage and the Prince's Trust have both been recipients of funding under the respective programmes during the current phase 2000-2006.

For the new Culture Programme, MEPs want to stress 'cultural heritage of European significance'. In the Youth Programme, the Culture Committee has called for European Youth Week (5-12 December 2005) to be an established part of EU youth policy.

Transport and Energy networks (TENs) (Debate Tuesday, vote Wednesday)

MEPs will have their 1st reading of a proposal aimed at improving the financing of so-called TENs projects (transport and energy networks). This technical report deals with the procedures and eligibility criteria for obtaining EU funding for TENs. Amendments tabled at the committee stage also adjust the ceiling for the maximum percentage of EU funding for any project.

Note: UK transport routes eligible for funding under the TENs scheme include: West Coast mainline; Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Stranraer rail link; high-speed train Paris/Brussels-London.

UK MEPs

Fighting organised crime

Bill Newton Dunn MEP (Liberal Democrat, East Midlands) will present his report on the proposed EU Council Decision on the fight against organised crime (Tuesday). The 40 amendments adopted at the committee stage make proposals on the definition of a criminal organisation; Europol's role; and on penalties for terrorism, trafficking and mafia-style offences, among others. One suggestion is that each EU member state should set up units modelled on the UK's Policing Organised Crime Unit or the soon-to-be-formed Serious Organised Crime Agency.

The European Parliament is only consulted on this proposal; the final say remains with the Member States in the Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria and Romania

On Tuesday afternoon, Commissioner Olli Rehn will present the European Commission's latest report on progress made by Bulgaria and Romania towards their scheduled accession to the EU in January 2007. MEPs will then be able to give their initial reactions to the new reports, with Geoffrey Van Orden MEP (Conservative, Eastern Region) likely to be one of the first speakers as Parliament's rapporteur on Bulgaria (his report on Bulgaria is due for discussion in the full Parliament in December in Strasbourg)

Avian flu

It is very likely that an emergency debate will be added to the agenda on Tuesday following an oral question on what strategy to put in place to confront the possibility of a flu pandemic. This is still to be confirmed but Neil Parish MEP (Conservative, South West Region) is likely to feature in any debate as he is the Parliament rapporteur on avian flu (his report is due for discussion in the full Parliament in December).

Other issues this session

Immigration: Tuesday sees debate on a controversial report and resolution on immigration. The report adopted by the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee laid the emphasis on helping integration of legal, economic migrants. The question is: how far should this go? A Green Card system to regulate the flow of immigrants from outside the EU? The right to vote in local and European Parliament elections once they have been legally resident for five years? Expect a lively debate before the vote on a resolution on Wednesday. (Any legislation in this field needs unanimity in the Council of Ministers; the European Parliament would only be consulted). [ Link to the report ]

EU Ombudsman: Thursday sees the annual debate on the work of the EU Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros. Three quarters of the complaints he received fell outside his remit which is to deal with maladministration by EU institutions. Most frequent complaints were over lack of transparency or refusal to provide information; discrimination; avoidable delays. 195 complaints were received from UK citizens, about 5% of the total.

Afghanistan : MEPs will debate the latest situation in Afghanistan after hearing a statement from the European Commission. Three British MEPs took part in a European Parliament delegation to observe the elections in Afghanistan in September: Robert Evans MEP (Labour, London); Richard Howitt MEP (Labour, Eastern Region); Baroness Nicholson MEP (Liberal Democrat, South East Region).

Swedish social model: At the European Parliament session in Brussels last week MEPs voted to call on Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy to appear before the Parliament in Strasbourg. This follows comments by Commissioner McCreevy on a dispute involving a Latvian company, Swedish trade unions and the Swedish government. The two Commissioners will make statements on Tuesday morning.

Full information can be found in "The Briefing" at: http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/expert/default_en.htm

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Sakharov Prize

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded every year to individuals or organisations which have made significant contributions to human rights anywhere in the world. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela (1988), Alexander Dubcek (1989), Aung San Suu Kyi (1990); Taslima Nasreen (1994).

By making the award, the European Parliament aims to raise awareness of human rights issues, and show that freedom of expression in particular is a yardstick by which to judge how open and democratic a society is.

Every year individual MEPs or the political groups within the European Parliament make their nominations early in the autumn. Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee then whittles this down to a short-list of three before the political group leaders make their final choice of the Prize winner. On October 26, we will know who will take the prize for 2005. In December, that person or organisation will attend the European Parliament's session in Strasbourg to receive their €50,000 award.

This year's short-list comprises:

Ladies in White - Cuba

Ladies in white (Damas de blanco) is a group of women who stand up for the rights of Cuban political prisoners by protesting peacefully, dressed in white as a symbol of peace and the innocence of their husbands. They formed in early 2004, soon after most of the 75 men concerned were arrested. Most of the men are still in jail - imprisoned for criticising the lack of political freedom in their country.

Hauwa Ibrahim - Nigeria

Hauwa Ibrahim is the first female lawyer from northern Nigeria, defending women and young people sentenced to cruel and inhuman punishment under Sharia law. Ibrahim received international attention when she defended Amina Lawal, a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery who was eventually acquitted in September 2003.

Reporters without Borders - International

Reporters Without Borders is an association defending freedom of the press worldwide. 42 media professionals lost their lives in 2003. Today, more than 130 journalists around the world are in prison simply for doing their job. In Nepal, Eritrea and China, they can spend years in jail just for using the "wrong" word or photo.

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Committee meetings 24-28 October 2005

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

AFET - Foreign Affairs	24 October 05	full agenda	committee homepage
-	-	-	-
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence	01 December 05		committee homepage
	-	-	-
DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights	23 November 05		committee homepage

BUDG - Budgets	22-23 November 05		committee homepage
	-	--	--
CONT - Budgetary Control	21 November 05		committee homepage

DEVE - Development	24 October 05	full agenda	committee homepage
Revision of the declaration on the European Community's development policy, adopted by the Council of Development Ministers on 10 November 2000	Anders Wijkman (EPP-ED)	own initiative	Vote on and adoption of draft report
Additional protocol to the Agreement on Trade, Development and Cooperation between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa	Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PSE)	assent procedure	Possibly vote on and adoption of draft report
A development strategy for Africa	Maria Martens (EPP-ED)	own initiative	Vote on and adoption of draft report
Conclusion of the Agreement amending the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement	José Ribeiro e Castro (EPP-ED)	assent procedure	Exchange on the basis of a working document
A financing instrument for development cooperation and economic cooperation	Gay Mitchell (EPP-ED)	codecision first reading	Statement by rapporteur on the current status of the report
-	-	-	-
ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs	21-22 November 05		committee homepage

EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs	10 November 05		committee homepage

ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety	21-22 November 05		committee homepage

ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy	22-23 November 05		committee homepage

IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection	24 November 05		committee homepage

INTA - International Trade	23-24 November 05		committee homepage
-	-	-	-
TRAN - Transport and Tourism	21-22 November 05		committee homepage

REGI - Regional Development	21 November 05		committee homepage

AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development	22-23 November 05		committee homepage

PECH - Fisheries	23-24 November 05		committee homepage

CULT - Culture and Education	23-24 November 05		committee homepage

JURI - Legal Affairs	24 October 05	full agenda	committee homepage
Commission statement - Patents for biotechnological inventions			Exchange of views
Request for defence of the immunity of Mr Gollnisch	Diana Wallis (ALDE)		Adoption of draft report
Request for defence of the immunity of Mr Jean-Charles Marchiani	Francesco Enrico Speroni (IND/DEM)		Possibly, adoption of a decision.

LIBE - Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs	13 October 05	full agenda	committee homepage
Retention of data processed in connection with the provision of public electronic communication services	Alexander Nuno Alvaro (ALDE)	codecision first reading	Consideration of amendments presented by the rapporteur - possibly Q & A with the European Commission and the Representatives of the Presidency of the Council
Visas for the 2006 Winter and/or Paralympic Games in Turin	Stefano Zappalà (EPP-ED)	codecision first reading	Consideration of amendments possibly presented to the Plenary
Calendar of committee meetings in the year 2006 - Adoption of the draft calendar

AFCO - Constitutional Affairs	24 October 05	full agenda	committee homepage
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission :	-	-	-
The period of reflection: the structure, subjects and context for an assessment of the debate on the European Union	Johannes Voggenhuber (Verts/ALE), Andrew Duff (ALDE)	own initiative	Consideration of a draft report
Interinstitutional agreement on the operating framework for the European regulatory agencies	Georgios Papastamkos (EPP-ED)	-	Consideration of a draft resolution

FEMM - Women's Rights and Gender Equality	23-24 November 05		committee homepage
-	-	-	-
PETI - Petitions	23-24 November 05		committee homepage

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The Week Ahead in the European Parliament

OTHER LEGISLATION

UK MEPs

Sakharov Prize