EP News, October 10th, 2006 (No. 277)
European Parliament session, Brussels
11-12 October 2006
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MEPs reconvene in Brussels this week for the next full session of the European Parliament. Highlights of the agenda include:
Animal Welfare action plan 2006-2010
MEPs give their views this week on the European Commission's action plan for animal welfare 2006-2010. Among the issues to be discussed in Wednesday evening's debate: an EU labelling scheme to guarantee higher standards of animal protection; compliance with existing animal transport rules; how to improve standards for imports from non-EU countries; a proposed ban on dog and cat fur; and a ban on dog, bull and cock fighting. MEPs will adopt a resolution on Thursday.
Chinese shoe import tariffs
Commissioner Peter Mandelson will be in the European Parliament on Wednesday afternoon to face MEPs' questions on the recent decision to continue import duties on shoes from China and Vietnam. The oral questions tabled to the European Commission concern the Commission's anti-dumping inquiry into shoes imported from China and Vietnam. A lively debate is expected, however, between those who favour protection for EU shoe-makers and those who argue that tariffs distort trade and lead to higher prices for consumers.
Fundamental Rights Agency
Thursday morning's main debate will be on the proposed new EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. The new agency is due to open in January 2007; it will be based in Vienna and is designed to build on the work of the existing European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights will be the basis for the agency's work. Its tasks will include gathering information and awareness-raising, but it will not have the power to look into individual complaints.
A majority of MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee is calling for the agency's remit to be extended to policing, justice, immigration and counter-terrorism. A disagreement with the Council of Ministers on this issue may lead to the Parliament's vote this week being delayed to a future session.
Preparing the next EU Informal Summit
This week's plenary session opens at 2pm (UK time) on Wednesday with a debate on the upcoming informal meeting of EU heads of state or government, due to be held in Finland on 20 October 2006. The meeting will focus on energy, illegal immigration and innovation policy. President Putin of Russia has been invited to join the leaders for dinner on 20 October to discuss EU-Russia relations. The European Parliament President Josep Borrell will attend the summit.
Other issues
Galileo navigation system: South West Region Conservative MEP Giles Chichester will be leading Wednesday evening's debate on the next stage in developing the EU's satellite navigation programme Galileo.
Patents: A resolution on the future of European patent policy is set to be adopted on Thursday. In the debate which took place in Strasbourg last month, two UK MEPs spoke: Sharon Bowles (Lib Dem, South East) and Tom Wise (UKIP, Eastern). Their speeches and the whole debate can be seen on Europarl.europa.eu.
Professions: MEPs will be discussing professions such as lawyers, accountants and engineers on Wednesday evening. A report and resolution will be based on the European Commission's latest report on competition in professional services. Among the issues to be discussed: whether to lift restrictions on advertising by professionals; how to ensure better information on obstacles to competition in different Member States.
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