EP News, April 7th, 2006 (No. 255)
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The week ahead
MEPs return to their constituencies for the week of 10-16 April. From Tuesday 18 April, MEPs will be meeting in their respective committees. Highlights of that week include:
UK MEPs lead on the following:
An audio summary of the week's highlights is available online, usually during the week after the session.
Parliamentary sessions 2007
MEPs this week adopted a provisional calendar of sessions for Strasbourg and Brussels in 2007. As usual, this involves 12 sessions in Strasbourg and six sessions in Brussels. Please note that an amendment to the EU treaties is necessary if the European Parliament is to change its official home from Strasbourg, as most of the UK MEPs would wish. The treaties can only be amended through agreement of the 25 EU Heads of state and government, not by the European Parliament itself.
For further information, see: http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/expert/infopress_page/008-7066-095-04-14-901-20060404IPR07065-05-04-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm
EU budget 2007-2013
Agreement was reached this week on the overall level of funding for the EU budget for the period 2007-2013 (the so-called 'financial perspectives'). Background to what was agreed can be seen on our main website at: http://www.europarl.eu.int/news/public/default_en.htm?language=EN.
The agreement still has to be endorsed by the full Parliament: it is due for discussion on 24-25 April in the Budgets Committee, with debate in the full Parliament, followed by formal vote, scheduled for the next plenary session from 15-18 May. The Council also has to seek agreement from all 25 Member States.
Services Directive
Following the European Parliament's 1st reading of the Services Directive (read infopress here), and the discussions at the EU Summit in Brussels last month, the European Commission this week presented a revised proposal to MEPs in Strasbourg.
A link to the full debate (in the original language of the speaker) is available here: [ 4 April - item 12 ] - Malcolm Harbour MEP (Conservative, West Midlands) was the only UK speaker in the debate. Irish Commissioner Charlie McCreevy presented the new proposal on behalf of the Commission.
Note to readers: A new column appears to the right of the table below, with the type of legislation at hand. When available, a link to the procedure file on the European Parliament's Legislative Observatory (the 'OEIL') will also be included: the file often contains a summary of the different stages of the legislative procedure, and links to the original proposal. [ For a quick reminder of the different types of European laws, please check this link on the Commission's website, Europa ].
Edited committee agenda below, with links to full agenda on www.europarl.eu.int, and working documents on the committees' websites:
Committee in charge / Title of procedure |
Date of meeting / MEP in charge |
Full agenda / Type of procedure |
Committee homepage / Stage of procedure |
Type of legislation / Link to OEIL |
| AFET - Foreign Affairs [ list ] | 19-20 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence [ list ] | 24 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights [ list ] | 19 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| BUDG - Budgets [ list ] | 19 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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CONT - Budgetary Control [ list ] |
19-20 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Implementing rules of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities | Co-rapporteurs: Borut Pahor (PSE), Ingeborg Gräßle (EPP-ED) | consultation | Vote and adoption of a draft report | Regulation - OEIL |
| Protection of the financial interests of the Communities - fight against fraud - annual report 2004 | non legislative | Consideration of a draft report | - |
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| Court of Auditors Special Report No 5/2005 on interpretation expenditure incurred by the Parliament, the Commission and the Council | Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED) | non legislative | Exchange of views | - |
| ECA Special Report 2/2006 concerning the performance of projects financed uner TACIS in the Russian Federation - Presentation by Mr Jacek Uczkiewicz, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for external actions | Béla Glattfelder (EPP-ED) | - | - | - |
| ECA Special Report 6/2005 on the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) - Presentation by Mr François Colling, Member of the European Court of Auditors
responsible for structural and internal policies |
Margarita Starkeviciute (ALDE) | - | - | - |
| ECA Special Report 1/2006: The contribution of the European Social Fund in combating early school leaving - Presentation by Mr François Colling, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for structural and internal policies | Simon Busuttil (EPP-ED) | - | - | - |
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| DEVE - Development [ list ] | 24-25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs [ list ] | 18-19 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs [ list ] | 19-20 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Establishment of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - Exchange of views with Mr Vladimír SPIDLA, Member of the European Commission | Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin (EPP-ED) | Codecision first reading | - | Regulation - OEIL |
| Protecting European healthcare workers from blood borne infections due to needle stick injuries | Stephen Hughes (PSE) | Own initiative | Consideration of amendments, Vote and adoption of a draft report | Directive - OEIL |
| Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS | Karin Jöns (PSE) | Codecision first reading | Joint information by rapporteurs | Decision - OEIL |
| European Social Fund | José Albino Silva Peneda (EPP-ED) | Codecision first reading | Regulation - OEIL |
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| Application of Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers | Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) | non legislative | Consideration of a draft report | |
| A European social model for the future | Co-rapporteurs: Proinsias De Rossa (PSE),
José Albino Silva Peneda (EPP-ED) |
own initiative |
Consideration of amendments | |
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| ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [ list ] | 24-25 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Measuring devices containing mercury | Appointment of a rapporteur | codecision first reading | - | Directive - OEIL |
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| ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy [ list ] | 18-19-20 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Energy efficiency or doing more with less - Green Paper | Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca (EPP-ED) | non legislative | Consideration of amendments | (Green Paper) - OEIL |
| Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: more research and Innovation - investing for growth and employment |
Pilar del Castillo Vera | non legislative | Consideration of a draft report | |
| Visit of Representatives of ECTA - European Competitive Telecommunications Association | - | - | Presentation | - |
| Nuclear research and training activities (2007-2011) | Jerzy Buzek (EPP-ED) | consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Motion for a Resolution on the conclusion by the European Community of the Energy Community Treaty | - | - | Adoption of a draft resolution | - |
| Conclusion by the European Community of the Energy Community Treaty | Giles Chichester (EPP-ED) | assent | Adoption of a draft report | Decision - OEIL |
| A policy framework to strengthen EU manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for industrial policy | Joan Calabuig Rull (PSE) | non legislative | Consideration of a draft report | |
| Joint Undertaking for the European air traffic management system (SESAR) | Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (EPP-ED) | consultation | Exchange of views | Regulation - OEIL |
| Hearing on "European Energy Market", 20 April 2006 (am) | - |
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| IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection [ list ] | 18-19-20 April 2006 | committee homepage | - | |
| Hearing, 20 April 2006: Review of the workings and effectiveness of the Public Procurement Directives | - | - | - | |
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| INTA - International Trade [ list ] | 18-19 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission: | - | - | - | -- |
| Oral Question on the results of the end of April Geneva meetings of the WTO and future prospects |
- | - | - | - |
| Trans-Atlantic economic relations | Erika Mann (PSE) | own initiative | Vote in committee | |
| Construction of the Euro-Med Free Trade Area | Kader Arif | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Annual Report from the Commission to the European Parliament on third country anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard action against the Community (2004) | Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) | - | Exchange of views on a working document | - |
| Recent developments in the WTO Dispute settlement (April 2006, in particular China auto parts tariffs) | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Exchange of views with Mr Péter Balás Deputy Director-General of DG Trade of the European Commission, on DDA state od play and future developments. |
- | - | - | - |
| Presentation of the study on Trade related assistance by the Overseas Development Institute | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Trade and poverty: designing trade policies to maximise trade's contribution to poverty relief | Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) | own initiative | Consideration of amendments | |
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| TRAN - Transport and Tourism [ list ] | 18, 19, 20 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Common rules in the field of civil aviation security | Paolo Costa (ALDE) | Codecision first reading | Consideration of amendments, Adoption of a draft report | Regulation - OEIL |
| The deployment of the European rail signalling system ERTMS/ETCS | Michael Cramer (Verts/ALE) | non legislative | Consideration of amendments, Adoption of a draft report | (Communication / Guidelines) - OEIL |
| Air transport: civil aviation, technical requirements and administrative procedures (amend. Reg.) | Ulrich Stockmann (PSE) | Codecision second reading | Consideration of a draft recommendation | Regulation - OEIL |
| Technical requirements of inland waterway vessels (amendment of Directive 82/714/EEC) | Renate Sommer (EPP-ED) | Codecision second reading | Consideration of a draft recommendation | Directive - OEIL |
| Exchange of views with TEN-T Coordinators | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views on the Third Maritime Safety Package | - | - | - | - |
| Hearing, 20 April 2006 (am): An integrated European action programme for inland waterway transport: NAIADES |
Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-ED) | - | - |
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| REGI - Regional Development [ list ] | 20 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development [ list ] | 25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| PECH - Fisheries [ list ] | 18-19 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Launching a debate on a Community approach towards eco-labelling schemes for fisheries products | Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE-DE) | non legislative | Consideration of draft report | (Communication) - OEIL |
| Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Morocco | Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) | Consultation | Consideration of draft report and exchange of views | Regulation - OEIL |
| 2006-2008 action plan for simplifying and improving the common fisheries policy | Philippe Morillon (ALDE) | non legislative | Presentation by the Commission - Exchange of views | (Action Plan) - OEIL |
| The operation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1185/2003 on the removal of fins of sharks on board vessels - Presentation by the Commission | Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) | non legislative | - |
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| Inshore fishing and the problems encountered by inshore fishermen | Seán O Neachtain (UEN) | Own initiative | Vote (decision) in committee | |
| Extension of the protocol on the fishing agreement with Sao Tomé and Príncipe | Duarte Freitas (PPE-DE) | Consultation | Vote (decision) in committee | Regulation - OEIL |
| Fisheries Agreement between the EC and Angola | Pedro Guerreiro (GUE/NGL) | Consultation | Vote (decision) in committee | Regulation - OEIL |
| Recovery of the stock of European eel | Albert Jan Maat (PPE-DE) | Consultation | Vote (decision) in committee | Regulation - OEIL |
| Fisheries exploiting stocks of plaice and sole in the North Sea | Albert Jan Maat (PPE-DE) | Consultation | Exchange of views | Regulation - OEIL |
| Fisheries Agreement between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros - Presentation by the Commission | Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (PSE) | Consultation | Presentation by the Commission | Regulation - OEIL |
| Fisheries Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles - Presentation by the Commission | Political group appointed: (PPE-DE) | Consultation | Presentation by the Commission | Regulation - OEIL |
| Fisheries agreements with non-EU countries
- Exchange of views with the Commission |
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| CULT - Culture and Education [ list ] | 25, 27 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| JURI - Legal Affairs [ list ] | 19-20 April 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Mr. van Loon, Secretary General of the Hague Conference | - | - | - | - |
| Accession of the EC to The Hague Conference on Private International Law | Diana Wallis (ALDE) | Assent | Exchange of views | Decision - OEIL |
| Exercise of voting rights by shareholders | Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP-ED) | Codecision first reading | Exchange of views | Directive - OEIL |
| Hearing of Mr. Matsakis | - | - | - | - |
| Request that Mr Pflüger's immunity be waived | Francesco Enrico Speroni (NI) | immunities | Adoption | - |
| Immunity of Ms. Zdanoka - Adoption of a draft letter | - | - | - | - |
| Immunity of Mr. Golik
- Adoption of a draft letter |
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| EP-Litigation | - | - | - | - |
| Verification of credentials | - | - | - | - |
| Accession to the Geneva Act concerning the international registration of industrial designs | Michel Rocard (PSE) | Consultation | Consideration of a draft report | Regulation - OEIL |
| Measures to give effect to accession to the Geneva Act concerning the international registration of industrial designs |
Michel Rocard (PSE) | Consultation | Consideration of a draft report | Regulation - OEIL |
| Commission Recommendation of 18 May 2005 on collective cross-border management of copyright and related rights for legitimate online music services (2005/737/EC) | Katalin Lévai (PSE) | Non legislative | Consideration of a working document | Recommendation - OEIL |
| The implications of the Court's judgment of 13 September 2005 (Case C-176/03 - Commission v Council) | Giuseppe Gargani (EPP-ED) | non legislative | Adoption of a draft report | |
| European Small Claims Procedure | Hans-Peter Mayer (EPP-ED) | Codecision first reading | Consideration of amendments | Regulation - OEIL |
| 20 April 2006: Hearing: Mediation in civil and commercial matters | Arlene McCarthy (PSE) | - | - | - |
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| LIBE - Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs [ list ] | 18-19 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| AFCO - Constitutional Affairs [ list ] | 24-25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| European Forum for the civil society on the future of the European Union | - |
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| FEMM - Women's Rights and Gender Equality [ list ] | 19, 25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| 19 April 2006 - Hearing: Feminicide in Mexico and Guatemala | - | - |
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| 25 April 2006 - Hearing: Women's immigration: The role and place of immigrant women in the EU | - |
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| PETI - Petitions [ list ] | 24-25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| EQUI - Committee of Inquiry: collapse of Equitable Life Assurance Society [ list ] | 25 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| TDIP - Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners [ list ] |
20 April 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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[ Committee meetings ] [ Hearings and seminars ] [ Diary dates ] [ Further information / subscribe / unsubscribe ] [ top ]
HEARINGS
19 April 2006
FEMM - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Hearing on feminicide in Mexico and Guatemala
20 April 2006
TRAN - Committee on Transport and Tourism
An integrated European action programme for inland waterway transport: NAIADES
20 April 2006
JURI - Committee on Legal Affairs
Mediation in civil and commercial matters
20 April 2006
IMCO - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Review of the workings and effectiveness of the Public Procurement Directives
24-25 April 2006
AFCO - Committee on Constitutional Affairs
European Forum for the civil society on the future of the European Union
25 April 2006
FEMM - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
Women's immigration: The role and place of immigrant women in the EU
All hearings programmes will be posted on this page: http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/default_en.htm
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE or amend your subscription details, please email André Vanderstock, avanderstock@europarl.eu.int
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