European Parliament session, Strasbourg

12-15 June 2006

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

• EU Research Programme 2007-2013 (1st reading - Tues. debate);
• Groundwater directive (2nd reading - Monday debate);
• Forced prostitution and the World Cup (oral question - Monday);
• Preparing the EU summit (Wednesday).

  

EU Research Programme 2007-2013 - (debate Tues; vote Thurs)

MEPs will be debating the EU's new seven-year research programme on Tuesday. €50bn (£34bn) has been earmarked for the 2007-2013 period and MEPs will be having their say on how the money should be spent.

This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure where the European Parliament has an equal say with the Council of Ministers on the final text. Over 300 amendments have already been adopted at committee stage and more may well be tabled to the full Parliament.

Among the issues raised in the committee amendments:

• Greater emphasis on small business access to funding; encouragement to young researchers and to women in science;
• support for a European Research Council;
• defining how and when stem cell research can be funded.

The new EU Research Programme would have 10 areas for specific funding: health; food, agriculture & biotech; IT; nanosciences; energy; environment; transport; social sciences; security; and space. For more detailed briefing on the proposed programme see the European Parliament's main website: "Broad backing for 7th framework research programme".

[ Link for the report and amendments adopted in committee - click here ].

 

Groundwater Directive 2nd reading debate Monday

The proposed directive on the protection of groundwater is set for its 2nd reading. The Parliament's rapporteur, German Christian Democrat Christa Klass, has said: "Groundwater is our most important natural resource. Over half of the EU's groundwater sources are polluted and once polluted they can no longer be cleaned up. Hence the importance of protecting them".

Rules to protect groundwater from pollution have been in place at European level since 1980, but the existing directive expires in 2013. This new directive sets out criteria for assessing chemical levels in groundwater.

Over 40 amendments have been adopted at committee stage, dealing with: increased focus on prevention as well as restoration of polluted waters; measurement methods for potential pollutants; the link with the existing nitrates directive; potential aid through rural development plans.

This being the 2nd reading in the codecision procedure, any amendment requires the votes of at least 367 MEPs. If the Council of Ministers does not accept all amendments adopted by Parliament at 2nd reading, the issue will pass to conciliation between Parliament and Council to agree on the final text.

[ Link to amendments and report adopted in the Environment Committee - click here ].

 

Forced prostitution and the World Cup - oral question Monday

With the World Cup just getting under way, MEPs will be asking the European Commission about trafficking in women and forced prostitution during the four-week tournament. The oral question asks what the Commission has done to put into practice the EU plan to combat trafficking (agreed in December 2005), whether campaigning material has been produced and whether there has been cooperation with Europol.

 

Preparing the EU summit - debate Wednesday

The next EU summit takes place on 15-16 June in Brussels. European Parliament President Josep Borrell will make a statement to the heads of state and government at the start of the summit.

Wednesday morning's key debate in the European Parliament focuses on the summit agenda: Europe Listens; Europe at Work; and A Work Plan for the Future. It is a chance to take stock on the 'period of reflection' on the future of the EU following last year's 'No' votes in France and the Netherlands. The Summit will also look at how to make the EU operate better under the existing treaties.

 

 

UK MEPs

Michael Cashman MEP - West Midlands, Labour - Petitions - debate Monday

Michael Cashman MEP will present his report on the work of the Parliament's Petitions Committee for 2004-2005 (debate Monday). 1,609 petitions were received from citizens over an 18-month period - of those, one third were declared inadmissible as they had nothing to do with the activities of the EU. However, Michael Cashman's report highlights the 'vital role' of the Petitions Committee in reconnecting with citizens and strengthening democratic control over EU legislation.

For information on how to petition the European Parliament, see this link. UK citizens have attended Petitions Committee meetings in the last year to give evidence on Equitable Life, deep-vein thrombosis, pensions and urban development in Spain, among other issues.

 

Stephen Hughes MEP - North East, Labour - Needlestick injuries - vote Tues

MEPs will be voting on Tuesday on the report by North East Labour MEP Stephen Hughes on needlestick injuries - this was held over from the last parliament session in Brussels.

The report calls on the European Commission to table by mid-September 2006 a proposal to amend existing health and safety directives which have not had the desired effect of protecting health care workers from needlestick injuries – the idea is to increase use of safer needles and to improve workplace training.

Under the little-used Rule 39 of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, such a resolution requires the support of 367 MEPs (half the Parliament + 1) for it to take effect.

[ Link to the report adopted in the Employment Committee ].

 

Chris Davies MEP - North West, Liberal Democrat

John Bowis MEP - London, Cons. - oral question on sustainable development

Chris Davies (NW, Lib Dem)and John Bowis (Cons, London) are among the signatories to an oral question for the European Commission and Council on the EU's sustainable development strategy, and how it will be implemented and monitored to ensure compliance with all environmental, social and economic aspects. Debate - Wednesday.

 

Other legislation and EU funding programmes

Aviation security

On Wednesday, MEPs will have their 1st reading debate on a proposed Regulation designed to improve security in civil aviation. Overall the Regulation sets common rules for checks, searches, surveillance, prohibited items and other aspects of airport and aircraft security. Over 80 amendments have been adopted in the Transport Committee including defining where charges can be made to cover airport or on-board security measures; an enhanced role for the European Aviation Safety Agency in monitoring compliance; the use of 'in-flight security officer' or sky marshals.

[ Link to the report and amendments adopted at committee stage - click here ]

This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure. If the Council of Ministers accepts all amendments adopted in Strasbourg, the proposal could be adopted at 1st reading. If not, it will return for a 2nd reading at a later stage.

 

MiFID - financial instruments directive

MEPs will hear a statement from the European Commission on Wednesday evening concerning the so-called 2nd level measures for implementing the Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). MEPs will then adopt a resolution on Thursday in light of the Commission statement. (Recall: MiFID was adopted in 2004, with secondary measures due to come into force by November 2007).

 

Flood protection

MEPs have their 1st reading of a proposed directive aimed at reducing the economic and environmental impact of floods in the EU. Amendments adopted at the committee stage broaden the definitions of flood risk management and extend the scope of the directive to river valleys as well as coastal areas. Other amendments tighten up the criteria for drawing up flood risk maps, including showing installations that might cause accidental environmental pollution as a consequence of flooding. Better information to the public is also the focus of amendments adopted in committee.

Once the European Parliament has had its 1st reading, the proposal passes to the Council of Ministers. Unless the Council accepts all amendments passed by Parliament, the directive will return for a 2nd reading at a later stage.

 

Public information on the environment

The environment and spatial management are the subjects of the INSPIRE directive, which receives its 2nd reading in Monday evening's debate. The directive sets up an information-sharing infrastructure in areas such as: the environment, urban planning, meteorology, mortality rates. The amendments adopted at the European Parliament’s committee stage deal, among other things, with the question of costs for obtaining information from public authorities and the need to prevent local authorities from using intellectual property rights as a reason for restricting access to information.

This being the 2nd reading in the codecision procedure, any amendment requires the votes of at least 367 MEPs. If the Council of Ministers does not accept all amendments adopted by Parliament at 2nd reading, the issue will pass to conciliation between Parliament and Council to agree on the final text.

 

Funding EU neighbourhood policy

On 17 May in Strasbourg, MEPs debated the framework for funding of the EU's Neighbourhood Policy for relations with adjoining countries in the east and south. The vote on the 1st reading of the proposed Regulation will take place on Tuesday in Strasbourg. The following UK MEPs spoke in May's debate: David Martin MEP (Labour, Scotland); Charles Tannock (Conservative, London); Derek Clark MEP (UKIP, East Midlands); Nirj Deva MEP (Conservative, South East).

 

Fisheries

MEPs will be voting on the technical Regulation concerning the collection of statistics on fishery catches, the aim being to have comparable data in each of the 25 Member States. It will only be mandatory to submit information on fish caught for human consumption or industrial use. However, amendments adopted in the Fisheries Committee also define what is meant by fish intended for bait, animal feed, waste or fish withdrawn from the market.

Also up for debate on Wednesday evening will be a report on inshore fishing and problems in the sector. The report discusses, among other things, the link to the coastal marine environment; financing the modernisation of vessels; communities' involvement in processing and trading.

 

Transfers of personal data / Transfer of sentenced persons

Two reports in the field of justice and home affairs are due for debate on Tuesday. The European Parliament is only consulted in this area, with the final decision lying with the Council of Ministers.

The first report has increased relevance in the wake of this month's European Court of Justice decision to annul existing agreements between the EU and US on transfer of air passengers' personal data. MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee have adopted amendments aimed at limiting use of and access to personal data to cases where there is a real threat to public security.

The second report concerns a proposal to speed up the transfer back to their home country of people sentenced to jail in another EU member state.

 

OTHER ISSUES

• Fraud : Tackling fraud is the subject of debate on Thursday morning. The report from the Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee is critical of some EU Member States (notably Germany, Greece and Spain) for the way they notify the European Commission of irregularities in the use of Community funds. There is also criticism of the anti-fraud office OLAF and of the European Commission itself. Cigarette smuggling, other counterfeit products, and illegal imports of poultry are also highlighted in the report.

• Flu pandemic : Tuesday afternoon's session opens with a debate on the European Commission's strategy for preparing for and reacting to a potential flu pandemic. Among the issues dealt with in the report from the Parliament's Environment and Public Health Committee is the creation of a European Influenza Task Force; how to ensure sufficient antivirals and vaccines are available; rapid reporting and alerting systems in all EU countries.

• Racism and homophobia : The increase in racist and homophobic violence across Europe will be the subject of statements from the European Commission and Austrian Presidency of the Council. Following Wednesday's debate, MEPs will adopt a resolution on the subject.

• Guantanamo prisoners : MEPs will vote (Tuesday) on a resolution concerning the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

 

* * * * * * *

HEARINGS

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

PUBLIC HEARING on "Women in international politics"

Thursday, 22 June 2006, 10.00 am - 12.30 pm, Brussels

Chairperson: Dr Anna ZÁBORSKÁ

Preliminary Draft programme:

• Introduction by Ms Ana Maria GOMES, Rapporteur
• Ms Margot WALLSTRÖM, Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc)
• Ms Anne Marie GOETZ, Chief of UNIFEM Governance Programme
• Aminata Mbengue NDIAYE, Member of the Pan African Parliament ( Senegal)
• Ms Lena SUNDH (Sweden)
• Prof Maria Pia BACCARI ( Italy)
• Question time and general debate
• Concluding remarks by the Rapporteur

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DIARY DATES

• 1 January -30 June 2006: Austrian Presidency - http://www.eu2006.at/
• 1 July -31 December 2006: Finnish Presidency
• 1 January - 30 June 2007: German Presidency
  
• 12-15 June 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 3-6 July 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 4-7 September 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 25-28 September 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg
• 11-12 October 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Brussels
• 23-26 October 2006: European Parliament plenary session, Strasbourg

Link to the European Parliament's session calendar 2006: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/expert/staticDisplay.do?id=118

FURTHER INFORMATION:

• Simon Duffin, simon.duffin@europarl.europa.eu, European Parliament UK Office, tel 020 7227 4300