The Week Ahead in the European Parliament

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European Parliament session 16-19 January 2006

 MEPs meet in Strasbourg next week for the first European Parliament plenary session of 2006. Highlights of the agenda include:

 

Bathing Water Directive

The 1976 Bathing Water Directive is up for renewal after 30 years. MEPs will be debating a text agreed between representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers which should set new standards from 2008.

Among the changes to be introduced by the new directive are:

• simplified tests on only two types of bacteria rather than 19;
• overall tighter standards, but an extra 'sufficient' category to come below 'excellent' or 'good';
• more frequent water testing where a beach is categorised 'poor' or 'sufficient';
• up-to-date information on the internet; plus new, simple signs on beaches to indicate water quality from the most recent tests.

European Parliament amendments had focused in particular on the quality and speed of information to the public and on the tightening of water quality standards. MEPs will debate the agreed text on Tuesday, with a vote likely on Wednesday.

 

Port services Directive (debate Tuesday; vote Wednesday)

Whether or not to liberalise the market in port services is the subject of one of the most contested proposals for EU legislation in recent years. Advocates of liberalisation say there is a need for greater competition to promote growth and jobs, while opponents believe it would result in massive job losses and deteriorating working conditions.

Two years ago, MEPs rejected a proposed directive on port services at the final reading, after conciliation negotiations between the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. This debate and vote is the 1st reading of a revised proposal, but the controversy remains: at committee stage there was no conclusive vote either to reject, accept or amend the proposed directive and it impossible to say how the vote in Strasbourg will go when all MEPs have their say.

It is expected that several thousand dock-workers from across the EU will converge on Strasbourg to make their feelings known ahead of the European Parliament vote.

 

Temporary Committees - Equitable Life; CIA detention centres

MEPs are to decide on Thursday whether or not to set up special committees to look into the Equitable Life case in the UK and the issue of CIA illegal detentions and transport of prisoners across the EU.

The Equitable Life Committee of Inquiry results from a petition to the European Parliament from Equitable Life policy-holders who had suffered a catastrophic fall in the value of their retirement savings and investments. A parliamentary committee of inquiry is aimed at investigating alleged contraventions of EU law or alleged maladministration. It would meet for a maximum 12 months, extendable to 18 months.

On CIA detentions, the proposal is to set up a Temporary Committee which would investigate for a maximum of 12 months.

The leaders of Parliament's political groups will decide on the terms of reference and the membership of both committees (decision due on 12 January), with a final vote in Strasbourg on whether in fact to establish these committees.

 

EU Constitution - Period of Reflection

Andrew Duff MEP (Lib Dem, Eastern Region) will lead Wednesday's debate on the so-called 'period of reflection' on the EU constitutional treaty. His report, written jointly with an Austrian MEP, has been adopted in the Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee and now comes for debate and vote in the full Parliament.

Among the proposals in the report: a Constitution should be in place by 2009; there should be no further enlargement of the EU (beyond Romania and Bulgaria) until a new constitutional settlement is reached; a Europe-wide debate should be launched; there should not be a core group of countries taking forward the process alone.

The report adopted in committee does not propose any one way forward for the Constitution, but says that a clear decision on the way forward should be taken by the second half of 2007 to enable an EU of 27 to function in the long-term.

 

EU budget 2007-2013 - Austrian EU Presidency

Austria 's Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel takes over the reins from Tony Blair in the EU's Presidency from January to June 2006. Chancellor Schuessel will present his presidency priorities to MEPs on Wednesday morning, followed by a debate in which Commission President José Manuel Barroso will also take part.

Top of the Austrians' agenda will be the EU budget deal reached in December on the future financing of the EU from 2007-2013. MEPs still have to endorse that agreement and many MEPs have called for an increase in funding, especially for research and development. The European Parliament will adopt a resolution on the 2007-2013 budget deal on Wednesday.

Another item on the Austrian Presidency agenda which is of interest to the UK is the Working Time Directive. The Austrians hope to conclude negotiations in the Council of Ministers, following the European Parliament 1st reading vote in May last year.

 

OTHER LEGISLATION

Mining Waste Directive

Preventing pollution from mining waste is the aim of a directive set to receive its 3rd and final reading from MEPs in Strasbourg. It is largely aimed at reducing leaks from mines still in use today or from disused sites. Recent mining disasters have been in Romania and Spain, but for the UK, the directive will bring back memories of Aberfan, Wales in 1966.

Thanks to MEPs, companies' financial liabilities will cover not only the waste facility (or mine) itself but also the land affected and the text agreed states that funds must be readily available at any given time for land rehabilitation. The full text of the agreement can be seen on Europarl.eu.int. The directive will need to be transposed into domestic legislation in the UK by 2008.

 

Information on environment plans

Access to justice in environmental matters is one of the subjects of a Regulation aimed at bringing the EU fully into line with the Arhus Convention – the proposals MEPs will debate on Tuesday are designed to remedy some of the shortcomings in monitoring how environmental legislation is being applied at present.

This 2nd reading in the codecision procedure sees 27 amendments tabled from the Environment Committee in response to the text from the Council of Ministers. To go through at 2nd reading, each amendment must win the support of 367 MEPs - if Council does not accept all amendments adopted in Strasbourg, conciliation will begin between the Parliament and the Council.

Issues raised in amendments include: how far commercial interests can be used to limit access to environmental information; the impact of EU-funded programmes on the environment; how to guide the public towards better environmental information; charging for information; and deadlines for sending information requested.

 

UK MEPs

In addition to Andrew Duff MEPs' joint report on the EU constitutional treaty, two other UK MEPs will be leading debates in Strasbourg:

 

Charles Tannock MEP - London, Conservative - EU neighbourhood policy

London MEP Charles Tannock will lead Tuesday's debate on the European Neighbourhood Policy which aims at consolidating or promoting democracy in the EU's neighbouring countries. Among the proposals coming out of the vote in the Foreign Affairs Committee is one that suggests restricting or suspending EU aid to a country where international standards of respect for human rights and democracy are violated.

The European Neighbourhood Policy covers: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine and the Palestinian Authority.

 

John Bowis MEP - London, Conservative - Disability and development

London MEP John Bowis will be tabling an oral question to the European Commission on disability and development on Thursday morning. He will be probing the Commission on implementation of its guidance note on taking disability issues into account in development programmes, both in specific projects and mainstreamed across the policy area.

 

OTHER ISSUES

• Homophobia in Europe: The session in Strasbourg opens on Monday with a European Commission statement on homophobia. This follows political developments towards the end of last year in Poland, where a demonstration in support of gay rights was banned and several politicians made openly homophobic statements. MEPs will debate on Monday.

• Non-EU citizens to vote in local elections? : The second debate of the session is on EU citizenship. A report adopted in the Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee suggests, among other things, that citizens of non-EU countries who have been legally resident in an EU country for more than five years should be able to vote in local and European elections. It also suggests that EU citizens resident in a country more than five years should be able to vote in general elections there. A lively debate is expected.

• Conduct of MEPs : Wednesday evening sees a debate on MEPs' behaviour during parliamentary sittings. Proposed changes to the European Parliament's internal Rules of Procedure are aimed at clarifying what powers the President (Speaker) of Parliament has to discipline unruly behaviour in the chamber. A distinction is made between protests which are purely visual and those which actually disrupt proceedings.

• Climate change and sustainable development : MEPs will hear a statement from the European Commission on the outcome of the recent Montreal Conference on climate change (Monday evening). The European Parliament adopted its resolution on the subject on 16 November 2005. MEPs will also debate the EU's sustainable development strategy (Tuesday) and adopt a resolution giving Parliament's view on the EU's 5-year review.

• Sugar : The proposals to reform the sugar market come before the European Parliament on Tuesday. Debate will focus on: level of reduction in sugar prices; aid for switching to different crops; and whether/how to control imports from less developed countries. The Council of Ministers have the final say after Parliament's vote on Thursday.

• Maldives and tsunami relief : MEPs are likely to back a proposal to add the Maldives to the list of countries which can receive loans from the European Investment Bank for tsunami relief, under coverage of a European Community guarantee. Tuesday's vote has no implications for the EU budget.

• Trafficking in women and children : On Monday evening MEPs will debate the growing problem of trafficking in women and children. Concern is growing that the problem may escalate around the World Cup in Germany this summer. Measures for prevention, information to potential victims and possible residence for victims are proposed in a report from the Women's Rights Committee.

• Hariri assassination : MEPs are due to vote on a proposed Regulation which would freeze the funds and economic resources of a list of people suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri (the vote is due Wednesday or Thursday, subject to a committee vote earlier in the week in Strasbourg).

• Air service agreements with Russia : Russia is the only country in the world to impose charges for flights over its territory. MEPs are voting on a resolution which is likely to say that no overall aviation agreement should be reached with Russia until such charges are completely abolished.

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

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Committee meetings

AFET - Foreign Affairs	24-26 January 2006		committee homepage
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence	26 January 2006		committee homepage
DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights			committee homepage
BUDG - Budgets	24-26 January 2006		committee homepage
CONT - Budgetary Control	25-26 January 2006		committee homepage
DEVE - Development	24-26 January 2006		committee homepage
ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs	23 January 2006		committee homepage
EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs	25 January 2006	full agenda	committee homepage
ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety	23-24 January 2006		committee homepage
ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy	16 January 2006	full agenda	committee homepage
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission	-	-	-
Research, technological development and demonstration activities (seventh framework programme, 2007-2013)	Jerzy Buzek (EPP-ED)	Codecision first reading	Consideration of a draft report
Nuclear research and training activities (2007-2011)	Jerzy Buzek (EPP-ED)	Consultation	Consideration of a draft report
A European information society for growth and employment	Reino Paasilinna (PSE)	Own initiative	Consideration of a draft report
IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection	24-26 January 2006		committee homepage
INTA - International Trade	24-25 January 2006		committee homepage
TRAN - Transport and Tourism	23-25 January 2006		committee homepage
REGI - Regional Development	23-24 January 2006		committee homepage
AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development	25-26 January 2006		committee homepage
PECH - Fisheries	30-31 January 2006		committee homepage
CULT - Culture and Education	23-24 January 2006		committee homepage
JURI - Legal Affairs	16 January 2006	full agenda	committee homepage
Heating and cooling from renewable energy sources. Responsible: ITRE F - Mechtild Rothe (PSE)	Diana Wallis (ALDE)	Own initiative	Decision in committee on legal base (contestation)
Rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States and amendment of the Schengen Convention and the Consular Instructions. Responsible: LIBE - F Mihael Brejc (PPE)	Diana Wallis (ALDE)	Codecision	Decision in committee on legal base (contestation)
Monitoring the application of Community law (2003) - overall position - 21st annual report	Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE)	Own initiative	Exchange of views
Verification of credentials- in camera
LIBE - Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs	16 January 2006	full agenda	committee homepage
Collaboration between the Committee on Civil Liberties and the Temporary Committee on the CIA's presumed use of European countries for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners, following the resolution of 15 December 2005.	-	-	-
Restrictive measures against certain persons suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri	-	Consultation	Consideration and possibly adoption
Common use of liaison officers posted abroad by the law enforcement agencies of the Member States	Martine Roure (PSE)	Consultation	Consideration of draft report
AFCO - Constitutional Affairs	23-24 January 2006	full agenda	committee homepage
Meeting with Ms Elisabeth Arnold, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee in Folketinget, Denmark - Exchange of views	-	-	-
Report on European political parties	Jo Leinen (PSE)	Own initiative	Consideration of a draft report
Outcome of the screening of legislative proposals pending before the Legislator	Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann (GUE/NGL)	Own initiative	Presentation of an opinion by the Legal Service - Exchange of views
Meeting with Ms Ursula Plassnik, Minister for foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, President in office of the Council	-	-	-
FEMM - Women's Rights and Gender Equality	23-24 January 2006		committee homepage
PETI - Petitions	24-25 January 2006		committee homepage

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HEARINGS

 

26 January 2006
ITRE - Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
i2010: A European Information Society for growth and employment

Chaired by Mr Giles Chichester MEP (South West, Conservative).

 

23 February 2006
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Criteria for the use of force: A contribution to the European Security Strategy

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DIARY DATES

• 1 January -30 June 2006: Austrian Presidency - http://www.eu2006.at/
• 1 July -31 December 2006: Finnish Presidency
  
• 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 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 22-23 March 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 3-6 April 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 26-27 April 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 15-18 May 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 31 May -1 June 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 12-15 June 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg.
  
• Link to the European Parliament's session calendar 2006: http://www.europarl.eu.int/activities/expert/staticDisplay.do?id=118

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FURTHER INFORMATION:

• Simon Duffin, sduffin@europarl.eu.int, European Parliament UK Office, tel 020 7227 4300