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Highlights of next week's European Parliament plenary agenda in Strasbourg include:

• EU summit - Berlin Declaration 25 March (Weds);
• Corporate Social Responsibility - Richard Howitt MEP (Lab, Eastern);
• Ban on seal products (Thursday);
• Aviation Safety Agency (1st reading - Tues/Weds);
• International Day Against Terrorism (Monday).
  

 

EU Summit - Berlin Declaration & climate change

Wednesday morning's top debate will be to assess the outcome of the EU Summit taking place on 8-9 March and then to look ahead to the proposed Berlin Declaration, due to be signed by Heads of State and Government on 25 March.

This is the first EU Summit to be attended by the new President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering.

The main focus of the Summit is climate change and reductions in carbon emissions. The German Presidency has indicated that other themes would be: completing the EU internal market and reducing bureaucracy

The Summit will also discuss the content of the Berlin Declaration, which is due to be signed on 25 March to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The aim of the Declaration is to review the history and achievements of the EU and highlight the fresh challenges it now faces.

For further details go to http://europa.eu/50/index_en.htm

 

Corporate Social Responsibility - Richard Howitt MEP (Labour, Eastern Region)

Eastern Region MEP Richard Howitt (Labour) will lead Monday's debate on corporate social responsibility. The aim of the report and resolution (to be adopted by MEPs on Tuesday) is to inject more pace into European discussions of CSR. It is hoped that both NGOs and businesses would back the promotion of research and dialogue on potential regulation in the field. The resolution adopted in the Employment Committee also calls for CSR to be taken into account in other EU policy areas such as public procurement and combating misleading advertising.

 

Ban on seal products

In September 2006, a majority of MEPs backed a declaration calling for a ban on seal products within the EU. The European Commission has so far rejected appeals for an EU-wide ban, arguing that existing EU rules on limiting the import of fur from young seal pups is adequate. The European Commission will make a statement to MEPs on Thursday afternoon.

The UK Government said in early February that it would press its EU neighbours to introduce a ban on imports of seal products. Germany's Agriculture Minister has said he aims to introduce a national ban in his country, but overall agreement on an EU ban looks unlikely in the short term.

 

European Aviation Safety Agency

A common set of safety standards for air travel are set for their 1st reading on Tuesday, as MEPs debate a report on the powers of the European Aviation Safety Agency. The proposed Regulation amends the existing EASA rules and competences, broadening the Agency's remit to cover all airlines flying in Europe, whether EU-based or not. 29 amendments to the European Commission proposal were adopted by the Transport Committee. Some give the EASA power to impose fines and periodic payment penalties if safety standards are not implemented properly. Other address EASA competence on pilot licences to ensure that all pilots have minimum skill standards, including in language proficiency.

The MEP leading the debate, Austrian Socialist Jorg Leichtfried, said: "Uniform safety standards at the highest possible level are our objective". He added that the EASA therefore needs "real, practical powers to carry out the tasks it is entrusted with."

To see the report and amendments adopted in the Transport Committee, click here.

 

International Day Against Terrorism - Monday

Before the opening of the plenary, Parliament will hold an event to mark the International Day against terrorism. Around 500 schoolchildren from Strasbourg, London, Madrid and Kreis Germany will be at the European Parliament at an event to mark the day. EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering will make a statement when Parliament opens at 5pm on Monday.

 

Other legislation and EU funding programmes

> Acquisitions and takeovers - Financial sector - 1st reading directive - debate Monday

MEPs will have their 1st reading of a proposed directive updating the rules on acquisitions and takeovers in the financial sector (debate Monday, vote Tuesday). Over 100 amendments were adopted at the committee stage on issues such as: the criteria for voting rights; timing for supervisory authorities to decide on approval; publication of reasons for approval or opposition. Many of the amendments focus on specific sectors such as insurance, assurance, or investment firms.

The new rules would take effect 12 months after the adoption of the Directive. If agreement can be found between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, this could be in 2008. If, however, the Council does not accept all the amendments adopted by MEPs at 1st reading, the proposal will return for a 2nd reading at a later stage.

For a link to the report and amendments adopted in the Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee, click here.

 

> Beef & veal definitions and labelling

MEPs will be debating a proposal from the European Commission to clarify the definitions and labelling of beef and veal products. Currently, definitions of veal, in particular, differ between the 27 EU Member States, potentially causing confusion for consumers. 85% of total EU veal production comes from just five Member States (France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Germany), with France and Italy consuming nearly 70% of the veal produced.

For UK producers (and for imported meat sold in the UK), the new rules would mean that the word 'veal' would be used for sales of meat from animals aged 8 months or less and 'beef' for animals aged 8-12 months. It is hoped that the new rules can come into effect by 1 July 2007.

 

OTHER ISSUES

• Biotechnology: Tuesday morning sees a debate on biotechnology and its implications for agriculture. The resolution - to be adopted on Wednesday -is non-binding, but lays down a marker from the European Parliament on issues such as GM crops and foods, biofuels, and the use of CAP funds for the biotechnology sector.
  
• Online music: Cross-border management of online music services will be discussed on Monday evening. Those interested in trading music on the web currently have to negotiate with the national collective rights management body in each separate Member State (eg the Musicians' Union in the UK). The European Commission proposes the creation of pan-European licences which would let artists choose which collective rights body should represent them, regardless of where they reside. The report adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee calls for a Directive rather than a mere non-binding Recommendation, so that the rights of small artists can be safeguarded and EU cultural diversity protected. Such a directive should also ensure that all rights-holders, irrespective of their nationality, receive a fair share of royalties.
  
• Nuclear non-proliferation: Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament will be the subject of debate on Tuesday, with a vote on a resolution on Wednesday. The subject is handled at EU level by: political dialogue with non-EU countries; rules on control of exports and technology; and assistance programmes with Russia, North Korea and other 'newly-independent states'.
  
• EU-USA air services agreement: MEPs will have their chance to debate the recent draft aviation agreement between the EU and the US on Tuesday. The European Parliament will adopt a resolution on the subject on Wednesday, designed to feed in MEPs' views ahead of the 22 March Council of Transport Ministers meeting. The idea is to establish 'open skies' access to each other's markets for EU and US carriers. The issue has sparked a lively debate in the UK press since the draft agreement was reached last weekend.
  
• Consumer policy: MEPs will hear a statement from the European Commission on the strategy for consumer protection policy 2007-2013 (Tuesday).
  
• Reform of trade policy: Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is expected to respond to an oral question from MEPs on trade policy. The question refers to the European Commission's Green Paper on 'Europe's trade defence instruments in a changing global economy'. MEPs are most concerned about the timing of the Commission's consultation and how the feedback will be made public.
  
• Island economies: The issue of state aid for island economies is due for discussion on Thursday morning. The report from the Regional Development Committee calls on the European Commission to allow state aid for islands where 'fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them'. Among the recommendations in the report: that island communities use European investment monies available through JASPERS (transport networks) and JEREMIE (SMEs) funding streams.
  
• Charter of Fundamental Rights: The Charter of Fundamental Rights is on the agenda for Wednesday evening. The report to be debated is the European Parliament's response to the European Commission's plans for ensuring that EU legislation is compatible with the Charter. Part of the debate will look at areas where fundamental rights have been called into question, such as the transfer of airline passenger data or rendition flights by the CIA. The debate will doubtless also touch on the proposed EU Constitution which would have made the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding.
  
• Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2008: Tuesday's debate on the annual policy strategy is the start of a dialogue between the European Commission and European Parliament on where policy priorities should lie in 2008. The idea is that the policy strategy leads in to the concrete legislative work programme (published in the autumn) and then to the adoption of the budget for 2008 by the end of this year.
  

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