UK Office of the European Parliament

 

EP News, June 1st, 2007 (No. 310)

 

The Week Ahead 4-8 June 2007

 

Highlights of the week in committee:

  • Postal services liberalisation - discussion of amendments tabled - Transport Cttee;
  • Mercury in measuring devices - 2nd reading - Environment Cttee;
  • Sustainable pesticides - 1st reading directive - Environment Cttee;
  • Road infrastructure safety - 1st reading directive - Transport Cttee.

UK MEPs:

  • Glenys Kinnock MEP (Lab, Wales) - adoption report on Millennium Development Goals (Development Cttee);
  • Arlene McCarthy MEP (Lab, NW) - adoption report on implementing public procurement legislation (Internal Market Cttee).

Public Hearings:

  • Sri Lanka since the tsunami - Development Cttee - Tues - moderator Nirj Deva MEP (Cons, SE);
  • Package goods market - Internal Market Cttee - Tues - chaired by Arlene McCarthy MEP (Lab, NW) - evidence from Adrian Harris of European Engineering Industries Assoc.;
  • Electronic communications legislation - Industry Cttee - Tues - evidence from Michael Bartholomew of European Telecomms Network;
  • Women in industry - Women's Cttee - Tues - evidence from Bristol Uni Research Fellow Ms Marques Cardoso;
  • TRIPS and access to medicine - Intl Trade Cttee - Tues;
  • Human Rights in Northern Uganda - Monday - Development Cttee;
  • Democratisation in Ethiopia - Tues - Human Rights Sub-Cttee.

Petitions:

Only one petition from a UK citizen is on the Petitions Cttee agenda for Thursday

  • Quality of drinking water in Alicante

 

Highlights of the plenary session in Brussels, 6-7 June:

  • Archbishop Desmond Tutu discusses Darfur with MEPs (5 June);
  • European Constitution roadmap - debate 6 June;
  • Baroness Ludford MEP (Lib Dem, London) report on Visa systems;
  • Status of artists in the EU - report .

 

 

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 ] 5-6 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Exchange of views with Mr Antonio MILOSOKI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - - - -
Report on FYROM's 2006 progress report Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) initiative Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report OEIL
Report by Mr Adrian SEVERIN, Chairperson of Ad hoc delegation to Ukraine (29-30 May 2007) - - - -
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) Non legislative Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report OEIL
Towards a common European foreign policy on energy Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP-ED) Non legislative Consideration of draft report Communication - OEIL

Any other business:

  • Possibly, report by Ms Marie Anne ISLER BEGUIN, Chairperson of the EP election observation delegation for the Parliamentary Elections in Armenia on 12 May 2007.
  • Possibly, report by Ms Véronique DE KEYSER, Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Delegation to Lebanon (12 - 15 April 2007)
- - - -
- - - -
-
SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence [ list ] 5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
With the Council and Commission - - - -
Exchange of views with Mr Michel PRAET, Head of the European Space Agency Brussels Office - on the results of the European Space Council on 22 May 2007 - - - -
Exchange of views with Mrs Etelka BARSI-PATAKY and Mr Norbert GLANTE, Rapporteurs of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy - on GALILEO: assessment of the current situation
 - - - -
Exchange of views with Mrs Doris PACK, Chairwoman of the delegation for the countries of South-East Europe - on KOSOVO: current security situation and preparation of the ESDP police and rule of law mission
 - - - -
Exchange of views - on the situation of the arms embargo in Sudan and the conflict in Darfour - - - -
- - - - -

Thursday, 28 June 2007, 10:00-12:30

Public Hearing: "Does Europe need an Anti-missile Defence Shield" - Brussels
-
 - - -
- - - - -
DROI - Subcommittee on Human Rights [ list ] 5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Exchange of views on the first year of work of the UN Human Rights Council in view of Ad hoc delegation visit 11-13 June 2007 - - - -

Outcome of recent Human Rights Dialogues and Consultations:

  • China
  • Russia
  • Uzbekistan
 - - - -

The functioning of the Human Rights Dialogues and consultations on Human Rights with Third countries -Presentation of the synthesis study on the human rights dialogues - Sara Guillet

 Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) initiative Consideration of draft report OEIL
In camera: Syria - follow up to the European Parliament resolution of 24 May 2007
 - - - -
- - - - -
BUDG - Budgets [ list ] 5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
HEARING ON NATURAL DISASTERS from 15.30 to 17.30 - - -
- - - - -
BUDGET 2008 - - - -
PDB 2008 - First presentation of a working document on PDB 2008 - budget - -
- - - - -
BUDGET 2007 - - - -
Amending budget 4/2007 (formerly 3/2007): financing of the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation in 2007, amendment of budgets for the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Agency, Eurojust, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights and Frontex - budget Consideration -
2007 budget - Other Sections: Consideration and adoption of transfer requests Louis Grech (PSE) budget - -
- - - - -

CONT - Budgetary Control [ list ]

4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Possibly, election of a new Member of the Bureau of the Committee on Budgetary Control, to replace Mr Silaghi (4th Vice-President) - - - -
MEDA and financial support to Palestine - evaluation, implementation and control Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP-ED) initiative Exchange of views
on the mission to Palestine and consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report		 OEIL
Protection of the Communities’ financial interests – Fight against fraud – Annual report 2005 Francesco Musotto (EPP-ED) Non legislative Exchange of views OEIL
Report on the delegation to Greece by its chairman, Herbert Bösch (PSE) - - - -
Court of Auditor' Special Report No 9/2006 concerning translation expenditure incurred by the Commission, the Parliament and the Council Alexander Stubb (EPP-ED) Non legislative Adoption of draft report OEIL
Minimising administrative costs imposed by legislation Jan Mulder (ALDE) Non legislative Consideration of draft report OEIL
The European Court of Auditors' Special Report 1/2007 on the implementation of the mid-term processes Structural Funds 2000-2006 - Presentation by Mr David Bostock, Member of the ECA responsible for structural and internal policies Antonio De Blasio (EPP-ED) - - -
- - -
-
-
DEVE - Development [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Mid-term for the Millennium development goals Glenys Kinnock (PSE) - Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report -

Parliament’s right of scrutiny concerning the Development Cooperation Instrument

  • Consideration and adoption of the working parties’ conclusions
  • Possibly consideration and adoption of a motion for a resolution
 - - - -
Oral report by Michael Gahler and Johan Van Hecke, members of the mission that visited the Pan-African Parliament (15-16 May 2007) - Exchange of views
 - - - -
Human rights – situation in the north of Uganda - Responsible: Max van den Berg - Exchange of views
 - - -
Policy coherence for development and the effects of the European Union’s fisheries policy on the development of fisheries in West Africa - Presentation of a study by Lorand Bartels, lecturer in international economic law at the University of Edinburgh, and Louise Angélique de la Fayette, independent consultant (Oceans and Environment International – London) - Exchange of views - - - -

Parliament’s right of scrutiny concerning the Development Cooperation Instrument

  • Consideration of strategy documents relating to China
  • Exchange of views on and adoption of the working parties’ conclusions
 - - - -
Human rights and democratisation in Ethiopia – two years after the elections on 15 May - Joint meeting with the Subcommittee on Human Rights (a programme will be published separately) - - -

5 June 2007, 15.30 – 19.00

Hearing

The impact of reconstruction after the tsunami
and human rights and humanitarian aid in Sri Lanka

(a programme will be published separately)

Moderators: Nirj Deva and Thierry Cornillet

Experts:

  • Mr Jayantha Samarasinghe, Director for finance and administration, Reconstruction and Development Agency of Sri Lanka (RADA)
  • H.E. Mr Nadjib Kesoema Riphat, Ambassador of Indonesia
  • Mr François Danel, Director-General, Action contre la Faim (Action against Hunger) (France)
  • Mr Jeevan Thiagarajah, Executive Director of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) (Sri Lanka)
  • Ms Charu Hogg, Human Rights Watch
  • NGO representatives
  • a Sri Lankan Government representative
 - - -
- - -
-
-
ECON - Economic and Monetary Affairs [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage  
United Nations Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences (repeal of Council Regulation (EEC) No 954/79) Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Regulation - OEIL
European Statistical Governance Advisory Board Sharon Bowles (ALDE) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Decision - OEIL
European Advisory Committee on Community Statistical Information Policy Ieke van den Burg (PSE) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Decision - OEIL
Indirect taxes on the raising of capital (recast version) Werner Langen (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of amendments Directive - OEIL
Adoption by Cyprus of the single currency on 1 January 2008 Werner Langen (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views
 Decision - OEIL
Adoption by Malta of the single currency on 1 January 2008 Werner Langen (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views
 Decision - OEIL
A new statistical classification of products by activity (CPA) Guntars Krasts (UEN) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Regulation - OEIL
EXCHANGE OF VIEWS with Mr. Eddy Wymeersch, Chairman of CESR (Committee of European Securities Regulators)
 - - - -
Community Statistical Programme, 2008-2012 Zsolt László Becsey (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Adoption of draft report Decision - OEIL
Financial services policy (2005-2010) - White Paper Ieke van den Burg (PSE) Non legislative Adoption of draft report White Paper - OEIL
- - -
-
-
EMPL - Employment and Social Affairs [ list ] 5-7 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Exchange of views with Commissioner Spidla on the Annual Policy Strategy 2008 - - - -
Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century Jacek Protasiewicz (EPP-ED) Non legislative Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report. Green Paper - OEIL
Qualifications framework for lifelong learning Mario Mantovani (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report. Recommendation - OEIL
EURES Activity Report 2004-2005: Towards a single European labour market Jan Andersson (PSE) Non legislative Consideration of an oral question. Adoption of motion for a resolution further to a question for oral answer. -
Stocktaking Social Reality Elizabeth Lynne (ALDE) - Exchange of views -
Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work Karin Scheele (PSE) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Regulation - OEIL
- - -
-
-
ENVI - Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage  
Implementation of EU environmental legislation in Member States - - Exchange of views with Commission representatives -
Monitoring and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fuels (road transport and inland waterway vessels) Dorette Corbey (PSE) Codecision first reading Consideration of working document Directive - OEIL
Green Paper: Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke, policy options at EU level Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED) Non legislative Consideration of draft report OEIL
Ecodesign requirements for energy-using products (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) Frédérique Ries (ALDE) Codecision first reading Adoption of draft report Directive - OEIL
Batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators (implementing powers conferred on the Commission) Johannes Blokland (IND/DEM) Codecision first reading Adoption of draft report Directive - OEIL
Measuring devices containing mercury María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) Codecision second reading Adoption of draft recommendation for second reading Directive - OEIL
Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Irena Belohorská (NI) Non legislative Adoption of draft report Thematic Strategy - OEIL
Framework directive on the sustainable use of pesticides Christa Klaß (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Regulation - OEIL
- - - - -
ITRE - Industry, Research and Energy [ list ] 7 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency Romana Jordan Cizelj (EPP-ED) Consultation Exchange of views Decision - OEIL
Energy-efficient labelling programme for office equipment (recast version) Nikolaos Vakalis (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Adoption of draft report Regulation - OEIL
Conventional energy sources and energy technology Herbert Reul (EPP-ED) Non legislative Exchange of views Communication - OEIL
Export and import of dangerous chemicals Erika Mann (PSE) Codecision first reading Exchange of views -
- - - - -
IMCO - Internal Market and Consumer Protection [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage  
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission        
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 Consideration of working document Regulation - OEIL
The Single Market Review: tackling barriers and inefficiencies through better implementation and enforcement Jacques Toubon (EPP-ED) Own initiative Exchange of views OEIL
Specific problems in the Transposition and Implementation of Public Procurement Legislation and its relation to the Lisbon Agenda Arlene McCarthy (PSE) Own initiative Consideration of draft report. Consideration of amendments. Adoption of amendments OEIL
Green Paper on the Review of the Consumer Acquis Béatrice Patrie (PSE) Non legislative Consideration of draft report Green Paper - OEIL
European Contract Law Diana Wallis (ALDE) - Exchange of views -
Harmonisation of the Member States' legislation on credit for consumers (repeal of Directive 87/102/EEC) Kurt Lechner (EPP-ED) - Debate in committee - Presentation of and Discussion on the political agreement -
Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons Gisela Kallenbach (Verts/ALE) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Directive - OEIL

5 June 2007, 15.30 – 19.00

Public hearing on the "Internal Market Package for Goods "

      
- - - - -
INTA - International Trade [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage  
With the Council and Commission - - - -
Presentation of the mission to Geneva from 2 to 4 May 2007 - - - -
Seminar by the Commission on Trade Defence Instruments - - - -
Exchange of views with Commissioner Peter Mandelson on the Commission's Legislative and Work Programme for 2008
 - - - -
Presentation by Commissioner Peter Mandelson on the DOHA round and latest developments on trade related issues
 - - - -
- - - - -

TRIPS and Access to Medicines

Tuesday, 5 June 2007, 9.00 - 11.15 am

Opening by Mr Helmuth Markov, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade

STUDY ON "ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICINES - LESSONS LEARNED SINCE THE DOHA DECLARATION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICY OPTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION"

  • Presentation of the study by Professor Frederick M. Abbott, Edward Ball Eminent Scholar Professor of International Law, Florida State University College of Law
  • Professor Jerome H. Reichmann, Bunyan S. Womble Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law, Durham N.C.
  • Questions and comments by Members

 

MINI-HEARING ON TRIPS AND ACCESS TO MEDICINES

  • Presentation by a speaker from EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) (tbc)
  • Presentation by Mr Greg Perry, Director General, EGA (European Generic Medicines Association)
  • Presentation by Dr Elil Renganathan MD PhD, Executive Secretary, WHO Secretariat on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (tbc)
  • Presentation by Mr Paul Cawthorne, Head of Mission in Thailand, Médecins Sans Frontières
  • Presentation by Professor Carlos M. Correa, Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Industrial Property and Economics, Law Faculty, University of Buenos Aires
  • Questions and comments by Members
  • Conclusions
 - - -
- - - - -
TRAN - Transport and Tourism [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
Accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services Markus Ferber (EPP-ED) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments Directive - OEIL
Road infrastructure safety Helmuth Markov (GUE/ NGL) Codecision first reading Consideration of amendments. Adoption of 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 Consideration of amendments. Adoption of draft report Green Paper - OEIL
Identification, designation and protection of European Critical Infrastructure Renate Sommer (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of amendments -
Implementation of the first railway package Michael Cramer (Verts/ ALE) Non legislative Adoption of draft report Report - OEIL
Interoperability of the Community rail system Josu Ortuondo Larrea (ALDE) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Directive - OEIL
Amendment of Directive 2004/49/EC on safety on the Community's railways Paolo Costa (ALDE) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Directive - OEIL
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing a European Railway Agency Paolo Costa (ALDE) Codecision first reading Consideration of draft report Regulation - OEIL
- - - - -
REGI - Regional Development [ list ] 7 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
In the presence of the Council and the European Commission - - - -
Preparation of the Fourth Report on Cohesion of the European Commission - Exchange of views with Ms Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Commission in charge of the Regional Policy - - - -
The role and effectiveness of cohesion policy in reducing disparities in the poorest regions of the EU Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (PSE) Own initiative Adoption of draft report OEIL
- - - - -
AGRI - Agriculture and Rural Development [ list ] 4-5 June 2007 full agenda committee homepage
-
With the Commission - - - -
Exchange of views with Jean-Michel LEMETAYER, President of COPA - - - -
Certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption (amendment of Directive 2001/114/EC) Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of draft report Directive - OEIL
Common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999) Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP-ED) Consultation Consideration of draft report Regulation - 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 Consideration of draft report Regulation - OEIL
Presentation by the Commission of the situation concerning exports of meat from Poland to Russia (possibly) - -<