UK Office of the European Parliament

 

EP News, April 4th, 2007 (No. 301)

 

The Week Ahead, 10-13 April 2007

 

Highlights of the week in committee:

  • Cat and dog fur (Wednesday - Eva-Britt Svensson MEP, Internal Market Cttee);
  • Rules on nominal quantities for pre-packed products (Thursday - Jacques Toubon MEP, Internal Market Cttee);
  • Roaming on public mobile networks (Wednesday - Paul Rübig MEP, Industry Cttee);
  • Approximation of the rates of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages (Wednesday - Astrid Lülling MEP, Economic Affairs Cttee);
  • Equitable Life : Exchange of views on the Draft Report and Draft Recommendation (Wednesday);
  • Approval of the Report on the outcome of the fact-finding visit to Spain (Andalucia, Valencia, Madrid) concerning the application of land laws and the rigths of property owners (Michael Cashman MEP co-rapporteur, Lab, West Midlands) (Petitions Cttee, Wednesday).

Among the activities led by UK MEPs:

  • Preparation of 2008 EU Budget (Budgets Cttee, Tuesday - James Elles, Cons, South East);
  • Millennium Development - midway review (Development Cttee, Wednesday - Glenys Kinnock, Lab, Wales).
  • Car industry: approval of vehicles, trailers and systems (Internal Market Cttee, Thursday - Malcolm Harbour, Cons, West Midlands);
  • Visa Information System (Civil Liberties, Wednesday - Sarah Ludford, LibDem, London);
  • Rights-based management tools in fisheries - presentation (Fisheries Cttee, Wednesday - Elspeth Attwooll, LibDem, Scotland).

 

Among the petitions to be discussed in committee:

  • Quality of water in the Thames (petition by Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP and 237 other petitioners);
  • Import of tobacco and alcohol from France to the UK and confiscation of vehicles;
  • Directory scam: misleading advertising practices in business-to-business relations;
  • Pensions:
    • compatibility of UK Pensions Act 2004 with European law;
    • pension rights of British citizens residing in antoher Member State;
    • protection of employees' pensions in the event of insolvency of their employer.

Hearings:

  • Future of Europol, Civil Liberties Cttee, Tuesday 10 - experts include Professor Juliet Lodge, Jean Monnet Centre, University of Leeds, and David Smith, Chairman of Europol Joint Supervisory Body.
  • Review of the European consumer acquis, Tuesday 10 - Internal Market and Consumer Protection Cttee. Chaired by Arlene McCarthy (Lab, North West).

 

Committee meetings

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 ].

Edited committee agenda below, with links to full agenda on www.europarl.eu.int, and working documents on the committees' websites:

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
Proposed Act / OEIL
AFET - Foreign Affairs [ list ] 11-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Exchange of views with Mr Tom KOENIGS, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan - - - -
Exchange of views with Mrs Benita FERRERO-WALDNER, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, on Annual Policy Strategy (APS), including execution of Work Programme 2007 and outlook for 2008, of the European Commission - - - -
Exchange of views with Mr Franz Josef JUNG, Federal Minister of Defence of Germany, acting President-in-office of Council - - - -
Negotiation mandate for a new enhanced agreement between the European Community and its Member States of the one part and Ukraine of the other part Michał Tomasz Kamiński (UEN) - Consideration of a draft report Non legislative
- - - -
-
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence [ list ] 02-03 May 2007   committee homepage
-
- - - - -
DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights [ list ] 23 April 2007   committee homepage
-
- - - - -
BUDG - Budgets [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
BUDGET 2008 - - - -

2008 budget: Section III - Commission

- presentation of a working document on Freedom, security and justice - Heading 3A
- presentation of a working document on research policy of the EU under the current
multiannual financial framework

Kyösti Virrankoski (ALDE) Budget - OEIL
2008 budget: Parliament's estimates - 1st exchange of views in the presence of Mr Romer Secretary General Ville Itälä (EPP-ED) Budget - OEIL
Mobilisation of the Solidarity Fund and Preliminary draft amending budget 2/2007 James Elles (EPP) Budget Exchange of views -
2007 budget: Section III - Commission - Follow up of implementation
- Consideration and adoption of a transfer request DEC 8
- Other possible transfer requests
James Elles (EPP-ED) Budget - -
2007 budget - Other Sections - Consideration of transfer request : Louis Grech (PSE) Budget - -
- - - - -
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS - - - -
Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport networks and
energy - Examination of the Council's Common Position and presentation of 2nd reading draft report
Mario Mauro (EPP-ED) Codecision second reading Presentation -
- - - - -
BUILDING POLICY - - - -
European Parliament: Sports Centre - possible decision
London external office - selection of premises for the future House of the European Union
Jan Mulder (ALDE) - - -
- - - - -
Rapid Border Intervention Teams and amending Council Regulation (EC) 2007/2004
as regards that mechanism (RABIT team)
- - - -
Information of the budgetary authority of the Commission's intention to transform the
"Intelligent Energy Executive Agency" into the "Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation" - decision
Jutta Haug (PSE) - - -
Follow up of the trilogue on 7 March 2007 and preparation of the trilogue on 18 April
2007 - first reflections and future prospects: Application of Article 185 of the Financial
Regulation and of Article 47 IIA
Jutta Haug (PSE) - - -
- - - - -

CONT - Budgetary Control [ list ]

02-03 May 2007   committee homepage
-
- - -
-
-
DEVE - Development [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Meeting with Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Stop
Tuberculosis - Exchange of views
- - - -

10 April 2007 - 16.00 – 18.30: HEARING

Hearing on counterfeit medicines: a serious crime against public health (the programme will be published later)

Moderator: Thierry Cornillet

Speakers:

  • Dr Valerio Reggi, coordinator of International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting
    Taskforce (IMPACT), World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • Christophe Zimmerman, World Customs Organisation (WCO)
  • Dr Thomas Zimmer, Chairman of the EFPIA Anti-Counterfeiting Ad Hoc Group,
    European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)
  • European Generic medicines Association (EGA)
  • Ronald Kenneth Noble, Secretary-General, Interpol
  • Professor Dora Akunyili, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug
    Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria
- - - -
An EU regional political partnership for peace, security and development in the Horn
of Africa
Filip Kaczmarek (EPP-ED) Non legislative Adoption of draft report OEIL
Midway in the millennium development objectives – the Monterrey consensus and G8
commitments
Glenys Kinnock - Exchange of views -
- - -
-
-
ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage  

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the governance of the IASB

Exchange of views in the presence of Sir David TWEEDIE, Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board

Alexander Radwan (EPP-ED) Initiative Consideration of a working document OEIL
Community Statistical Programme, 2008-2012 Zsolt László Becsey (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading 1st exchange of views
- Consideration of a draft report
Decision - OEIL
Report on competition policy, 2005 Elisa Ferreira (PSE) Non legislative Consideration of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Deposit Guarantee Schemes Jan Christian Ehler (EPP-ED) - 1st exchange of views -
A new statistical classification of products by activity (CPA) Guntars Krasts (UEN) Codecision first reading Consideration of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Approximation of the rates of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages Astrid Lulling (EPP-ED) Consultation Adoption of a draft report Directive - OEIL
- - -
-
-
EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs [ list ] 11-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
possibly, Mr Sven-Otto Littorin, Swedish Minister of Employment to address the Committee on the topic of "Flexicurity".
- - - -
Labour force sample survey in the Community Jan Andersson (PSE) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments - Vote and adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Ole Christensen (PSE) - Exchange of views -
Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child Dimitrios Papadimoulis (GUE/NGL) - Exchange of views -
- - -
-
-
ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage  
Hearing of 3 Candidates to the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency - - Exchange of views -
Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Irena Belohorská (NI) Non legislative Consideration of a draft report OEIL
Framework directive on the sustainable use of pesticides Christa Klaß (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Food additives Åsa Westlund (PSE) Codecision first reading Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food
flavourings
Åsa Westlund (PSE) Codecision first reading Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Community action programme in the field of health (2007-2013) Antonios Trakatellis (EPP-ED) Codecision second reading Consideration of a draft recommendation Decision - OEIL
Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection Vittorio Prodi (ALDE) Non legislative Exchange of views without draft report OEIL
Framework for the protection of soil Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Exchange of views without draft report Directive
Hearing of 3 Candidates to the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency - - Exchange of views -
- - - - -
ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy [ list ] 11-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
Fair Energy Round Table: "Chances and Perspectives for a New Energy Future" - Exchange of views - - - -
Building a European Policy on Broadband Gunnar Hökmark (EPP-ED) Non legislative Consideration of amendments OEIL
Identification, designation and protection of European Critical Infrastructure Norbert Glante (PSE) Consultation Exchange of views -
Roaming on public mobile networks Paul Rübig (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for Europe Adam Gierek (PSE) Non legislative Adoption of a draft report OEIL
Energy-efficient labelling programme for office equipment (recast version) Nikolaos Vakalis (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of a draft report Regulation - OEIL

Energy Package: Communications from the Commission:
* Towards a European Strategic Energy Technology Plan
* Nuclear Illustrative Programme
* Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the Potential

- - - -
Prospects for the internal gas and electricity market Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP-ED) - Exchange of views -
A roadmap for renewable energy in Europe Britta Thomsen (PSE) - Exchange of views -
EU Oil Shale Industry - Study - - Presentation -
- - - - -
IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection [ list ] 10-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage  

Public Hearing of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Review of the European consumer acquis

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 from 15h00 to 18h30, European Parliament, Brussels, ASP 3G2

- - -
- - - - -
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
Exchange of views with Commissioner Günter VERHEUGEN on the Goods Package - - - -
Cat and dog fur Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments - Vote (decision) in committee Regulation - OEIL
Review procedures concerning the award of public contracts Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) Codecision first reading Consideration of a draft report Directive - OEIL
Car industry: harmonised approval of vehicles, trailers and systems (recast directive) Malcolm Harbour (EPP-ED) Codecision second reading Vote (decision) in committee  
Rules on nominal quantities for pre-packed products Jacques Toubon (EPP-ED) Codecision second reading Vote (decision) in committee Directive - OEIL
The placing of plant protection products on the market Anja Weisgerber (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Vote (decision) in committee -
The Single Market Review: tackling barriers and inefficiencies through better
implementation and enforcement
Jacques Toubon (EPP-ED) Initiative Exchange of views OEIL
Mutual assistance and cooperation between the administrative authorities of the Member States and the Commission concerning the application of the law on customs
and agricultural matters
Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE) Codecision first reading Exchange of views Regulation - OEIL
Impact and consequences of the exclusion of Health Services from the Directive on
Services in the Internal Market
Bernadette Vergnaud (PSE) Initiative Consideration of amendments OEIL
Specific problems in the Transposition and Implementation of Public Procurement
Legislation and its relation to the Lisbon Agenda
Arlene McCarthy (PSE) Initiative Exchange of views on the basis of a working document OEIL
- - - - -
INTA - International Trade [ list ] 11 April 2007   committee homepage  
- - - - -
TRAN - Transport and Tourism [ list ] 10-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Common rules in the field of civil aviation security Paolo Costa (ALDE) Codecision second reading Consideration of amendments - Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and Morocco Johannes Blokland (IND/DEM) Consultation Consideration of a draft report Decision - OEIL
Common rules for the operation of air transport services in the Community (recast) Arūnas Degutis (ALDE) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Regulation - OEIL
Implementation of the first railway package Michael Cramer (Verts/ALE) Non legislative Consideration of amendments OEIL
Budget for Agencies - release of funds from 2007 reserve. Exchange of views with Mr Patrick Goudou (EASA), Mr Willem de Ruiter (EMSA) and Mr Marcel Verslype (ERA) - - - -
Presentation of study on Transport and Environment by Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency - - - -
Road infrastructure safety Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) Codecision first reading Consideration of a draft report Directive - OEIL
Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European Vision for the Oceans and Sea Willi Piecyk (PSE) Non legislative Exchange of views OEIL
Interoperability of the Community rail system Josu Ortuondo Larrea (ALDE) Codecision first reading Exchange of views Directive - OEIL
Amendment of Directive 2004/49/EC on safety on the Community's railways Paolo Costa (ALDE) Codecision first reading Exchange of views Directive - OEIL
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing a European Railway Agency Paolo Costa (ALDE) Codecision first reading Exchange of views Regulation - OEIL
- - - - -
REGI - Regional Development [ list ] 12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
The impact and consequences of structural policies on EU cohesion Francisca Pleguezuelos Aguilar (PSE) Initiative Adoption of a draft report OEIL
The preparation of the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Urban Development and
Territorial Cohesion - Leipzig (24-25 May 2007)

- Exchange of views with Dr. Ulrich Kasparick, Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs; President-in-office of the Council of the European Union
- - - -
The role and effectiveness of cohesion policy in reducing disparities in the poorest
regions of the EU
Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (PSE) Initiative Consideration of a draft report OEIL
- - - - -
AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development [ list ] 11-12 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
In the presence of the European Commission - - - -
Specific rules for the fruit and vegetable sector María Isabel Salinas García (PSE) Consultation Consideration of amendments (original) -
Exchange of views with EDA (European Dairy Association) - - - -
Certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption (amendment of Directive 2001/114/EC) Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views OEIL
Common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views OEIL
Additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 2597/97) Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views OEIL
Common organisation of agricultural markets Niels Busk (ALDE) Consultation Consideration of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals Béla Glattfelder (EPP-ED) Consultation Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Quota system in relation to the production of potato starch Janusz Wojciechowski (UEN) Consultation Adoption of a draft report Regulation - OEIL
Organic production and labelling organic products Marie-Hélène Aubert (Verts/ALE) Consultation Exchange of views Regulation - OEIL
Presentation by the Commission of the report on cross compliance (COM(2007)0147)) - - - -
- - - - -
PECH - Fisheries [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda in French committee homepage
-
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EC on the one hand and Denmark and Greenland on the other hand Joop Post (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of draft report -
Multiannual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks Zdzisław Kazimierz Chmielewski (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of draft report Regulation - OEIL
Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on fisheries and the conservation of resources in the Baltic Sea Philippe Morillon (ALDE) Consultation Exchange of views Regulation - OEIL
Statistics on aquaculture - Presentation by the Commission Philippe Morillon (ALDE) Codecision first reading - Regulation - OEIL
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and São Tomé and Príncipe - Presentation by the Commission Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos (PSE) Consultation - Regulation - OEIL
Implementing sustainability in EU fisheries through maximum sustainable yield - Hearing Carmen Fraga Estévez (PPE-DE) - - -
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Evaluation report on the application of the Council Regulation (EC) No 994/98 of 7 May 1998 regarding the application of Articles 87 (ex-Article 92) and 88 (ex-Article 93) of the EC Treaty to certain categories of horizontal State aid, pursuant to Article 5 of this Regulation - Presentation by the Commission - - - -
Rights-based management tools in fisheries - Presentation by the Commission Elspeth Attwooll (ALDE) - - -
Twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO-COFI) in Rome, 5-9 March 2007 - Exchange of views - - - -
Perspectives for the UN Fish Stocks Agreement - Presentation of the study
- - - -
- - - - -
CULT - Culture and Education [ list ] 10-11 April 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Vote on the name of the EP Film Prize - - - -
- - - - -
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
Exchange of views introduced by Ruth HIERONYMI (EPP-DE), rapporteur, on the latest developments on the revision of audiovisual medias services Directive.
- - - -
The social security status of artists in the European Union Claire Gibault (ALDE) Initiative Consideration of a draft report OEIL
The Role of Sport in Education Pál Schmitt (EPP-ED) - Consideration of a working document -
Cultural industries in Europe Guy Bono (PSE) - 1st exchange of views -
Presentation of UNESCO's project "ERNO News Exchange Project". - - - -