EP News, June 16th, 2006 (No. 265)
19-22 June 2006
MEPs return to Brussels for a busy week in committee plus a special session of the full Parliament on Tuesday to hear a report back on this weekend's EU Summit.
Overall highlights include:-
Public hearings:
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The European Parliament yesterday adopted its 2nd reading of a new EU directive aimed at protecting groundwater from pollution. "Groundwater is our most important natural resource. Yet over half of the EU's groundwater sources are polluted and once polluted, they can no longer be cleaned up," said Christa Klass, the MEP responsible for steering the legislation through Parliament.
The text adopted by MEPs yesterday does not impose single standards for all countries, except for nitrates and pesticides, but does seek to harmonise methods for measuring potential pollutants. MEPs adopted amendments improving sampling methods.
Where farming practices would need to change to comply with rules on nitrates and pesticides, MEPs suggest providing special aid through the rural development plans which will be drawn up under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.
For other substances - including arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and sulphates - the directive leaves it up to each EU Member State to lay down limit values. These thresholds must be established by December 2008 at the latest.
In all 43 amendments were adopted to the Common Position of the Council of Ministers. This was the European Parliament's second reading of the proposed Directive - each amendment therefore received at least 367 votes ie over half the total membership.
Unless the Council of Ministers accepts all of the amendments adopted this week, the discussions will proceed to conciliation between Parliament and Council. The final agreed text would then return to Parliament for a 3rd reading later this year.
For further details, see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
For a summary of debates, votes and decisions taken during this week's plenary meeting in Strasbourg, please visit Europarl's News section - click here. Streamed audio reports of previous sessions and other events are available on Europarl's EPLive - click here.
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Note to readers: A new column appears in the table below, with the type of legislation at hand. Where available, a link to the factsheet on the European Parliament's Legislative Observatory (the 'OEIL') is also included: OEIL files often contain a summary of the successive 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 ].
Committee in charge |
Date of meeting |
Link to full agenda |
Link to Committee |
|
Title of procedure |
MEP in charge |
Type of procedure |
Stage of procedure |
Type of legislation / OEIL |
| AFET - Foreign Affairs [ list ] | 20-22 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Exchange of views with Mr Hans WINKLER, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs and acting President-in-Office of Council, on the results of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting (GAERC) of 12/13 June 2006 (including EUFOR DR Congo) | - | - | - | - |
| TURKEY * Exchange of views with Mr Olli REHN, Commissioner for Enlargement * Report on Turkey's progress towards accession |
Camiel Eurlings (EPP-ED) | Own initiative |
1st exchange of views | |
| Election Observation Missions: - Report on the Election Observation Mission to Peru (9 April and 4 June 2006) |
- | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Mr Pieter Cornelius FEITH, Head of EU Monitoring Mission to Aceh | - | - | - | - |
| EU-China relations | Bastiaan Belder (IND/DEM) | Own initiative |
2nd exchange of views - Consideration of amendments | |
| ALBANIA * Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania * Motion for a resolution on the conclusion of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Albania |
Toomas Hendrik Ilves (PSE) | Assent | 1st exchange of views | |
| Exchange of views with Mrs Benita FERRERO WALDNER, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, on structural dialogue 2006/2007 | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Mr Sali BERISHA, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, on the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Members States and the Republic of Albania |
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| SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence [ list ] | 20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Latest developments in ESDP - Exchange of views with Dr Franz-Josef KUGLITSCH, Austrian Ambassador to the PSC | - | - | - | - |
| The implementation of the European Security Strategy in the context of the ESDP | Karl von Wogau (EPP-ED) | Own initiative | Consideration of amendments | |
| The external dimension of the fight against international terrorism | Luis Yañez-Barnuevo García (PSE) | Own initiative | Exchange of views | |
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| DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights [ list ] | 19 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Questions to the Commission | - | - | - | - |
PUBLIC HEARING
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| Exchange of views on the external aspects of the EU’s immigration and asylum policies | - | - | - | - |
| Assessment: ad hoc delegation to Cambodia, 18 to 26 April 2006 |
- | - | - | - |
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| BUDG - Budgets [ list ] | 20-22 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
Tuesday 20 June, 15.00-18.30: HEARING on internal aspects of the 2007 budget procedure |
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| - | - | - | - | - |
| 21-22 June 2006: | - | - | - | - |
| BUDGET 2006 | - | - | - | - |
| Transfer of appropriations DEC 20/2006 - Section III - Commission | Giovanni Pittella (PSE) | Budget | Decision on procedure in committee | - |
| Budget 2006: "Other Sections" - Consideration of transfers request : Parliament C9/2006 and C 10/2006, Economic and Social Committee Inf 2/2006, Committee of Regions Inf 1/2006 |
Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP-ED) | Budget | - | - |
| System of own resources | Alain Lamassoure (EPP-ED) | Consultation | Vote and adoption of a draft report | Decision - OEIL |
| Financial Regulation (Procedural aspects) | Ingeborg Grässle (EPP-ED) | - | 1st exchange of views on Working document No. 7 on Commission's revised proposal | Regulation - OEIL |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| BUILDING POLICIES | J. Mulder (ALDE) | - | State-of-play | - |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| BUDGET 2007 | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 budget: Section III - Commission | James Elles (EPP-ED) | - | 1st exchange of views on Working document no 8 - Exchange of views on a mandate for the July Conciliation | - |
| - | - | - | - | - |
Draft Agenda of the meeting with chairs of budgetary committees of the National Parliaments - 21 June 2006, European Parliament, Brussels
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CONT - Budgetary Control [ list ] |
19-20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Minimising administrative costs imposed by legislation | Jan Mulder (ALDE) | - | Consideration of a draft report | |
| Court of Auditors Special Report No 5/2005 on interpretation expenditure incurred by the Parliament, the Commission and the Council | Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED) | - | Consideration of a draft report | |
| ECA Special Report 3/2006 on the humanitarian aid in response to the Tsunami - Presentation by Mr Karel Pinxten, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for external actions |
- | - | - | - |
| Working Group on EP buildings in Strasbourg - Exchange of views on the Working Group's proceedings in view of preparing the October part-session vote on the 2004 EP discharge report | Markus Ferber (EPP-ED) | - | - | - |
| ECA Special Report 4/2006 concerning Phare Investment Projects in Bulgaria and Romania - Presentation by Mr Maarten B. Engwirda, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for external actions | - | - | - | - |
| ECA Special Report 6/2005 on the Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) - Consideration of a working document, DT - PE374.326v01-00 in the presence of Mr François Colling, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for structural and internal policies | Margarita Starkevičiūtė (ALDE) | - | - | - |
| ECA Special Report 1/2006: The contribution of the European Social Fund in combating early school leaving - in the presence of Mr François Colling, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for structural and internal policies | Simon Busuttil (EPP-ED) | - | Consideration of a working document | - |
| ECA Special Report 2/2006 concerning the performance of projects financed uner TACIS in the Russian Federation - in the presence of Mr Jacek Uczkiewicz, Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for external actions | Béla Glattfelder (EPP-ED) | - | Consideration of a working document | - |
Workshop: Draft Programme (as of 13 June 2006) "Tolerable risk of error in underlying transactions - Tolerable for whom?"
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| DEVE - Development [ list ] | 10-11 July 2006 | committee homepage | - |
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| ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs [ list ] | 20-21 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | |
| Professional services - scope for more reform | Jan Christian Ehler (EPP-ED) | Own initiative | Consideration of a draft report | |
| Repeal of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 concerning maritime transport and amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 concerning cabotage and international tramp vessel services | Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-ED) | Consultation | Adoption of a draft report | Regulation - OEIL |
| Commission White Paper on services of general interest | Bernhard Rapkay (PSE) | Non legislative | Consideration of amendments | |
| The European Investment Bank Annual Report. Presentation by Mr Maystadt, President of the EIB | ||||
| Competition Policy Issues - Presentation of the Competition Report 2005. Exchange of views with Mrs Kroes, Commissioner for Competition Policy | ||||
| Report on the ECB annual report 2005 | Pervenche Berès (PSE) | Exchange of views | ||
| The exemption from valued added tax and excise duty of goods imported by persons travelling from third countries | Charles Tannock (EPP-ED) | Consultation | 1st exchange of views | Directive - OEIL |
| Monetary Dialogue with the European Central Bank (Art. 113.3 of the EU Treaty) Exchange of views with M Trichet, President of the ECB |
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| Passenger-car-related taxes | Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ALDE) | Consultation | Adoption of a draft report | Directive - OEIL |
| Structural business statistics | Elisa Ferreira (PSE) | Codecision first reading | 1st exchange of views | Regulation - OEIL |
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| EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs [ list ] | 21 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| Presentation of the conclusions of the EPSCO Council by Mr. Nikolaus van der Pas, General Director, DG EMPL |
- | - | - | - |
| Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS | Karin Jöns (PSE) | Codecision second reading | Consideration of a common position (possibly) | Decision - OEIL |
| European Social Fund | José Albino Silva Peneda (EPP-ED) | - | Consideration of a common position (possibly); Vote and adoption of a draft recommendation (possibly) | Regulation - OEIL |
| Presentation of Annual Policy Strategy for 2007 by Mr. Jan FIGEL, Commissioner | - | - | - | - |
| Improvement of the portability of supplementary pension rights | Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP-ED) | Codecision first reading | 1st exchange of views | |
| A European social model for the future | Co-rapporteurs: Proinsias De Rossa (PSE), José Albino Silva Peneda (EPP-ED) | Non legislative | Vote and adoption of a draft report | |
| Tariff preferences given to countries not respecting ILO conventions | Jan Andersson (PSE) | - | Consideration and vote of a draft oral question and of a draft resolution | - |
| Creation of a European Qualifications Framework | Thomas Mann (EPP-ED) | Non legislative | Consideration of amendments | |
| Application of Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers | Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) | Own initiative |
Consideration of amendments | |
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| ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [ list ] | 12 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | |
| New Common Position to be announced [possibly]: Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE +) | Marie Anne Isler Béguin (Verts/ALE) | - | - | - |
| Presentation of the Commission's Annual Health Policy Strategy by Mr Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Oral question no. 6/6/2006 by Mrs Satu Hassi on Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation (EC 2037/2000) | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Report back from the EP delegation to the 14th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, 10-12 May 2006 | - | - | Exchange of views |
- |
| Presentation of the Commission's Annual Environmental Strategy Policy by Mr Stavros DIMAS, Commssioner for the Environment | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
| Air pollution | - | - | - | - |
| Thematic strategy on air pollution | Dorette Corbey (PSE) | Non legislative | Adoption of a draft report | |
| Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe | Holger Krahmer (ALDE) | Codecision first reading | Adoption of a draft report | Directive - OEIL |
| Environmental crime | - | - | Adoption of a draft resolution | - |
| Thematic strategy on urban environment | Gyula Hegyi (PSE) | Non legislative | Adoption of a draft report | |
| Promotion of clean road transport vehicles | Dan Jørgensen (PSE) | Codecision first reading | Consideration of possible options, incl. rejection of Commission proposal and possible adoption of draft report | Directive - OEIL |
| Discussion on Animal Welfare | - | - | - | - |
| The protection and welfare of animals 2006-2010 | Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) | - | Consideration of a draft opinion | - |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Implementation of EU food safety legislation in Member States | - | - | Consideration of the remaining questions from the first session on 24 April 2006 | - |
| Community civil protection mechanism (recast version) | Dimitrios Papadimoulis (GUE/NGL) | Consultation | Consideration of a draft report | Decision - OEIL |
| REACH - Statement by the Rapporteur Mr Guido Sacconi and first exchange of views | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | -- |
| ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy [ list ] | 19-20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Rules for participation in implementation of the Seventh Euratom Framework | Anne Laperrouze (ALDE) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Regulation - OEIL |
| Joint debate: | - | - | - | - |
| Specific Programme 'Ideas' (Seventh RTDD Framework Programme, 2007-2013) | Angelika Niebler (EPP-ED) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific Programme 'People' (Seventh RTDD Framework Programme, 2007-2013) | Umberto Pirilli (UEN) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Seventh Research and Training Framework Programme, 2007-2011) | Umberto Guidoni (GUE/NGL) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific Programme 'Cooperation' (Seventh RTDD Framework Programme, 2007-2013) | Teresa Riera Madurell (PSE) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific programme to be implemented through direct actions by the Joint Research Centre (Seventh Nuclear Research and Training Framework Programme, 2007-2011) | Daniel Caspary (EPP-ED) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific programme to be implemented through direct actions by the Joint Research Centre (Seventh RTDD Framework Programme, 2007-2013) | David Hammerstein Mintz (Verts/ALE) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| Specific Programme 'Capacities' (Seventh RTDD Framework Programme, 2007-2013) | Vittorio Prodi (ALDE) | Consultation | Consideration of amendments | Decision - OEIL |
| "The Follow-up of WSIS and the internet governance" - Presentation by the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Nanosciences and nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009 | Miloslav Ransdorf (GUE/NGL) | Non legislative | Adoption of a draft report | |
| - | ||||
| IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection [ list ] | 19-20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission: | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Minister HAUBNER | - | - | - | - |
| Community action programme in the field of consumer protection (2007-2013) | Marianne Thyssen (EPP-ED) | - | Exchange of views and discussion | - |
| Exchange of views with Commissioner KOVÁCS | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Minister BARTENSTEIN [possibly] | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views with Commissioner McCREEVY | - | - | - | - |
| Communication from the Commission on public-private partnerships | Barbara Weiler (PSE) | - | Exchange of views | Communication - OEIL |
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| INTA - International Trade [ list ] | 19-20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Oral Question on the granting of "GSP plus" preferences | - | - | Adoption of an oral question | - |
| Presentation on the mission to Kosovo, 8-10 May, 2006 | Erika Mann (PSE) | - | - | - |
| Exceptional Community financial assistance to Kosovo | Erika Mann (PSE) | Consultation | Exchange of views | Council Decision - OEIL |
| The EU's economic and trade relations with India | Sajjad Karim (ALDE) | Own initiative (Rule 45) |
Consideration of a draft report | |
| Recent developments in the WTO Dispute settlement | - | - | Exchange of views | - |
Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 9-11am, Brussels
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| Tuesday, 20 June 2006 - Presentation of the study on the role of parliaments in scrutinising and influencing trade policy by Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik - Berlin. |
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| TRAN - Transport and Tourism [ list ] | 19-20 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| An integrated European action programme for inland waterway transport: NAIADES | Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-ED) | Non legislative | Consideration of a draft report | |
| Meeting with Chancellor Schüssel | - | - | - | - |
| Joint meeting with the Committee on Petitions | - | - | - | - |
| European Road Safety Action Programme - Mid-Term Review | Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) | Non legislative | Exchange of views | |
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| REGI - Regional Development [ list ] | 21-22 June 2006 | full agenda | committee homepage | - |
| In the presence of the Council and the European Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Exchange of views on the legislative proposals on Cohesion | - | - | - | - |
| European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund | Konstantinos Hatzidakis (EPP-ED) | Assent | Exchange of views. Adoption of a draft recommendation | |
| European Regional Development Fund | Giovanni Claudio Fava (PSE) | Codecision second reading | Exchange of views. Adoption of a draft recommendation | Regulation - OEIL |
| Cohesion Fund | Alfonso Andria (ALDE) | Assent | Exchange of views. Adoption of a draft recommendation | |
| Establishment of a European grouping of cross-border cooperation (EGCC) | Jan Olbrycht (EPP-ED) | Codecision second reading |