European Parliament session Brussels, 6-7 June 2007

EP plenary session

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• Desmond Tutu in the EP - Tuesday 5 June - on Darfur
• EU Constitution/Treaty - roadmap
• Visa Information System - 1st reading - Sarah Ludford MEP (Lib Dem, London)
• Performing artists - protection at work

 

Desmond Tutu in the European Parliament - 5 June

Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be speaking to MEPs in the main parliamentary chamber the day before the official plenary session begins. He has been invited, along with Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams, to take part in a special debate on the situation in Darfur.

 

EU Constitution - a roadmap

With this month's EU Summit (21-22 June) set to focus on the future of the EU Constitutional Treaty, MEPs take this opportunity to give their views on latest developments.

The Summit is the culmination of Germany's six-month presidency of the EU - it is also, of course, Tony Blair's last summit as UK Prime Minister. The German Presidency is due to present EU leaders with a roadmap for taking the EU constitutional process forward. This will be a follow-up to the Berlin Declaration of March 2007, which called for institutional changes to be in place by the time of the next European Parliament elections in June 2009.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Dutch PM Jan Peter Balkenende addressed the last European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg with their visions on the future of the EU. This time, MEPs will debate with the German Foreign Secretary and Europe Minister. MEPs will also adopt a report and resolution outlining the European Parliament's views on a potential road-map.

 

Visa Information System

London Lib Dem MEP Sarah Ludford will be presenting her two reports on new rules setting up a system for exchange of data between Member States on visa applications from non-EU citizens wanting to enter the Schengen area. The aim is to prevent someone refused a visa by one Schengen country being able to apply to others (so-called 'visa shopping'). The Regulation is also aimed at fighting fraud and easing the threat to Member States' internal security.

MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee have focused in particular on data protection issues, especially with the proposed introduction of biometrics in the information to be exchanged. The UK's involvement is also the subject of one of the amendments adopted at committee stage. The European Commission proposal was that the UK should take part; the Committee amendment clarifies exactly how the UK authorities could be involved. Final say on this aspect, however, remains with the Council of Ministers

MEPs will also discuss the application of the Prüm Treaty on exchanging data for combating terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal immigration. The UK is not a party to the Treaty.

 

Situation of performing artists

Employment conditions for performing artists who move around Europe for their work are to be discussed on Wednesday evening. The report and resolution up for discussion addresses the problems faced by artists, musicians and even circus performers who try to transfer their social rights across EU borders. Among the suggestions in the resolution as adopted by the Culture Committee: a practical handbook for European artists; an electronic social security card; a database allowing for easy recognition of qualifications.

 

Other issues

• New Bulgarian MEPs: The session on 6 June opens with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering welcoming the 18 Bulgarian MEPs elected on 20 May. Their mandate starts on 6 June and ends at the next European elections in June 2009.
  
• Cod stocks in the Baltic: Dwindling cod stocks in the Baltic are the subject of debate on Wednesday evening. MEPs will discuss a proposal from the European Commission which addresses the issues of quotas, numbers of permitted fishing days, and the minimum size of cod caught. Final decision lies with the Council of Ministers.
  
• European Parliament budget 2008: MEPs will adopt a resolution on the estimated needs for the European Parliament budget in 2008. The Budgets Committee proposes a budget of €1,427m with various strategic priorities. The final budget for 2008 will only be voted on in December 2007, but the draft budget will appear later this summer.
  
• Middle East: Javier Solana, the EU's Foreign Policy Representative, will take part in Wednesday's debate on the Middle East. EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering has just returned from a visit to the region, where he spoke to the Israeli Knesset. He called for a 'new start' in the region and suggested a joint conference on peace and security.

 

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