The Week Ahead in the European Parliament
European Parliament session, Brussels, 30 November - 1 December 2005
The European Parliament sits in Brussels this week for its next session. Highlights of the agenda include:
- Bird flu - Neil Parish MEP (Cons, South West) reports;
- Criminal sanctions for breaking EU laws - question from Lib Dem MEPs Sarah Ludford ( London) and Diana Wallis (Yorks/Humber) ;
- European Payment Order - Arlene McCarthy MEP (Lab, NW);
- WTO - preparations for Hong Kong meeting.
Bird flu
Neil Parish MEP (Conservative, South West) will lead Wednesday evening's debate on the proposed measures to be taken at EU level in the event of an outbreak of avian flu.
His report on the proposed directive addresses issues such as:
- The need for contingency planning in all EU member countries;
- Protection for free-range farmers;
- Compensation for farmers forced to clean up and/or destroy livestock;
- Isolation zones and movement of eggs/poultry in the event of an outbreak;
- Cost-effective vaccination regimes;
- Differences between low pathogenic strain and the high pathogenic H5N1.
118 amendments were adopted at the committee stage, with the full Parliament due to vote its position on Thursday morning. Being a proposal in the field of agriculture, the final decision on the directive lies with the Council of Ministers who are scheduled to meet early in December. Although the measures only take legal effect in 2007, they are likely to form the basis of an EU-wide approach in the event of an outbreak this winter.
Criminal penalties for breaking EU laws
Diana Wallis MEP (Liberal Democrat, Yorkshire & Humber) and Sarah Ludford MEP (Liberal Democrat, London) are two of the co-authors of an oral question to the European Commission on the consequences of a European Court of Justice ruling from September. The ECJ ruling stated that criminal penalties could be applied for breaches of EU law where they concern fundamental rights, such as a 'safe environment'. The MEPs are seeking clarity on how far the impact of the ruling will extend: will it, for example, extend to fundamental rights such as data protection, anti-discrimination and to EU asylum policies? The Commission will give its views in an answer on Wednesday evening.
European Payment Order
Arlene McCarthy MEP (Labour, North West) leads for the European Parliament in negotiations around the proposed Regulation setting up a European Order for Payment.
The aim is to help resolve problems of unpaid bills in situations where the creditor and debtor are in different EU member countries. Delays can currently occur because of lack of familiarity with another EU country's legal system.
Among the 25 amendments adopted at the committee stage is the question of whether to use the European Payment Order also for internal cases within one Member State. MEPs in committee suggest that this is a question for individual Member States to decide rather than the option being automatically available. MEPs vote on Thursday morning - this is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure where the European Parliament has equal decision-making powers with the Council of Ministers.
World Trade Organisation - Hong Kong
Trade Minister Ian Pearson MP will kick off this week's session with a statement on preparations for the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong from 12-18 December. Glenys Kinnock (Labour, Wales), Robert Sturdy (Cons, Eastern Region), David Martin ( Lab, Scotland), Caroline Lucas (Greens, South East) and Saj Karim (Lib Dem, North West) are among the 30 MEPs due to be in Hong Kong at a parallel parliamentary conference on the WTO. They are likely also to speak in Wednesday's debate.
Addressing the European Parliament's International Trade Committee on 23 November, Peter Mandelson said that the aim of the talks was now to achieve a 'soft landing', given the remaining differences of opinion on the future of world trade.
Other issues
- Commissioner appointments: Andrew Duff MEP (Liberal Democrat, Eastern Region) will lead Wednesday evening's debate on the procedures for holding hearings of European Commissioner candidates. The report has been written in the light of last year's experience in appointing the new Barroso Commission. MEPs will vote on a resolution on Thursday so that the Parliament's Rules of Procedure can be amended in time for the next appointment process in 2009.
- Generic drugs: The exporting of generic medicines to developing countries is the subject of a proposed Regulation due for debate at 1st reading on Wednesday. The proposal is designed to put into EU law a WTO decision of 2003 on the granting of licences for the manufacture in Europe of generic drugs intended for export to developing countries. Since the adoption of the report in committee, there have been informal discussions between Parliament and the Council with a view to adopting the Regulation at 1st reading. MEPs vote on Thursday.
- Sport: Sport and its contribution to successful development policy is the subject of two oral questions to the European Commission and Council on Wednesday. A third question asks whether the Council Presidency will support the notion of an Olympic Truce in all world hostilities during the 2006 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
- Mobile phones - roaming: MEPs are likely to call for a cut in mobile phone roaming charges when they vote on a report and resolution on electronic communications. Creating a real market for consumers, with easier phone number portability and improved data privacy are among the other issues addressed in this report. The European Commission has recently set up a website where consumers can compare the costs of mobile phone roaming in different EU Member States: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm
- Euro: 2007 is currently the target date for Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia to start using the euro as their currency. MEPs will debate the timetable for introduction of euro coins and notes and issues such as dual-pricing and dual validity of euros and the old currencies.
- VAT: VAT is on Parliament's agenda this week with debate on a series of proposals concerning minimum basic rates (which vary from Member State to Member State); VAT refunds; and lower rates for labour-intensive services (in UK only used for Isle of Man housing repairs).
Full information can be found in "The Briefing" at: http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/expert/default_en.htm
DIARY DATES
- 1 July - 31 December 2005: British Presidency - http://www.eu2005.gov.uk
- 1 January -30 June 2006: Austrian Presidency
- 1 July -31 December 2006: Finnish Presidency
- 30 November - 1 December 2005: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
- 12-15 December 2005: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
- 16-19 January 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
- 1-2 February 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
- 13-16 February 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
- 13-16 March 2206: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
- 22-23 March 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
- Link to the European Parliament's session calendar 2006: http://www.europarl.eu.int/activities/expert/staticDisplay.do?id=118
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