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

• Equitable Life - (Committee of Inquiry conclusions - Tuesday);
• Cat and dog fur - trade ban - 1st reading (Debate Mon. - vote Tues.);
• Spirit drinks labelling - 1st reading directive (Debate Mon.- vote Tues.);
• Pensions portability - 1st reading directive (Debate & vote Weds);
• Postal liberalisation - Committee stage adoption 1st reading (Mon).

 

Equitable Life

Yorkshire & Humber Lib Dem MEP Diana Wallis will lead Tuesday's final debate and vote on the report into the Equitable Life crisis by the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry. The Inquiry was set up in January 2006 in response to petitions from Equitable policyholders. The European Parliament's remit was to look into EU-related aspects of the affair.

Among the conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Committee:

• A recommendation that the UK Government set up a compensation scheme for victims;
• Criticism for the UK regulatory system, in particular the 'light touch' approach;
• A call for a tightening up of the monitoring of EU legislation in the field, as well as an overhaul of EU policy and legislation;
• A finding that the internal market in financial services was not always complemented by equivalent safeguards for consumers purchasing services in another Member State;
• A recommendation that cross-border consumers of financial services be able to have better access to out-of-court remedies, including the possibility to obtain judicial redress collectively.

Commissioner Charlie McCreevy will respond to Tuesday's debate. The Committee's report was adopted by 13 votes to 0, with 4 abstentions - no further amendments can be tabled prior to Tuesday's vote on the report as a whole.

 

Cat and Dog Fur - trade ban

An EU-wide ban on trading in cat and dog fur will come into force by 31 December 2008 provided MEPs back the position of the Internal Market Committee at 1st reading. It is over three years since the European Parliament first called for this ban, when evidence came to light that cat and dog fur products were still entering the EU, despite a voluntary code of conduct.

The amendments adopted at committee stage close a loophole which would have allowed cat and dog fur products provided they were 'personal or household effects' or were labelled as not coming from cats or dogs bred or killed for fur production. Internal Market Committee chair (and North West Labour MEP) Arlene McCarthy said: 'We want a ban, not a restriction'.

For a link to the report and amendments adopted in committee, see this link on www.europarl.europa.eu

 

Spirit drinks - labelling debate Monday - vote Tuesday

What goes into vodka? And how can whisky bottles be labelled? - These are two of the questions addressed in new EU rules about to receive their 1st reading in the European Parliament. The exact wording of the proposed Regulation has been the subject of last-minute informal negotiations between MEPs and the Council of Ministers so we can expect new amendments to be tabled between now and Tuesday's vote.

The aim of the whole proposal is to safeguard product quality, protect producers' rights and give consumers reliable information. It will also enable EU producers to safeguard their 'geographical indicators' on the world market by ensuring compliance with WTO rules.

The latest text defines traditional vodka as being made from either grain or potatoes. If made from other raw materials, the ingredients must be stated on the label. Regional and technical specifications such as 'Highland' whisky or 'single-malt' must be justified by the Member State of origin.

This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure where the European Parliament has equal decision-making powers with the Council of Ministers. If agreement can be reached at this 1st reading, the Regulation could come into force as early as September 2007. If the Council of Ministers cannot accept all amendments adopted at 1st reading, the proposal will return to the European Parliament for a 2nd reading at a later stage.

 

Pensions portability - debate Wednesday

The ability to transfer occupational pension rights when moving between different EU Member States is the subject of a directive receiving its 1st reading in Strasbourg. The directive aims to help people who intend to work abroad at some point in their lives.

33 amendments to the European Commission proposal were adopted by the Employment Committee of the Parliament. These covered issues such as: waiting periods before an employee can join a company scheme; vesting periods when employees can join but have no benefits; dormant pension rights for workers who leave an employer but retain their pension in that employer's scheme; and transferability of pension rights.

For a link to the full report and amendments adopted at committee stage, see this link on www.europarl.europa.eu

This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure where the European Parliament has an equal say with the Council of Ministers. If Council accepts all amendments adopted by Parliament at 1st reading, the directive will take effect in 2008. If not, the directive will return to Parliament for a 2nd reading and implementation will be consequently delayed.

 

Postal services liberalisation - committee vote

The Transport Committee is set to vote on Monday evening on the proposed directive liberalising postal services across the EU. The main issues are: the date on which the full opening up of the market should take place; and how to fund in each country the notion of universal service to remote and outlying areas. The full Parliament is scheduled to have its 1st reading debate and vote in July in Strasbourg.

 

Other UK connections

• Multiple sclerosis

Louise McVay, a Nottinghamshire woman, tabled a petition to the European Parliament back in 2001 on treatment of people with multiple sclerosis. Following the European Parliament report on this petition in 2003, various multiple sclerosis campaign groups have drawn up a Code of Best Practice which was sent to the EU institutions last month. On Thursday morning in Strasbourg, the Chair of the Parliament's Petitions Committee will be asking the European Commission what it has done to implement Parliament's 2003 resolution and what it plans for the Code of Practice.

 

• Fishmeal - Scotland Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson

Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson will present his report on fishmeal and fish oil on Monday. The UK is the largest consumer of fishmeal in the EU because of its large fish farming sector. Discards from marine fisheries are widely used by the fishmeal industry and 33% of fishmeal consumed in the EU is fed to farmed fish. The report also looks at the issue of fishmeal and fish oil in animal feed given fears in some quarters of a potential link to BSE or other TSEs. MEPs will vote on a resolution suggesting ways forward for the sector.

 

• Millennium Development Goals - Wales Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock

Glenys Kinnock MEP (Labour, Wales) will present her report on the Millennium Development Goals on Tuesday. At issue will be criticism of certain EU Member States which have missed the interim target of 0.33% of GNI being earmarked for aid. The UK is not free of criticism also as the 5th highest 'inflator of aid', whereby debt relief is included in overall aid calculations.

 

• Public procurement - North West Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy

Arlene McCarthy MEP (Labour, NW) will lead Tuesday's debate on public procurement. She will be reporting on implementation of existing EU public procurement rules, while another MEP will be leading on proposed changes to review procedures on the awarding of contracts. Arlene McCarthy's report focuses on issues such as: national champions, illegal awarding of contracts, late or improper implementation of EU directives. It makes a series of recommendations for action from the European Commission and Member States.

 

• Defence procurement - North West Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy - Tuesday

Defence procurement is the subject of an oral question to be tabled by North West Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy to the European Commission. The question asks for a progress report on the drafting of a directive on defence equipment procurement and asks for an evaluation of the directive's potential impact on jobs in the sector.

 

OTHER ISSUES

• Exports of mercury: MEPs will have their 1st reading of a proposed Regulation banning exports of mercury. This is not to be confused with the other legislation concerning use of mercury in measuring instruments such as barometers (due for 2nd reading in July). 39 amendments to the European Commission proposal were adopted in the Environment Committee covering issues such as: what types of mercury to ban for export; the date when the ban should come into effect (1 December 2010 say MEPs); extending the ban also to imports; and conditions for storage of mercury remaining within the EU. (Debate Tuesday; vote Wednesday).
  
  This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure. Unless, the Council of Ministers accepts all amendments adopted by the European Parliament at 1st reading, the proposal will return for a 2nd reading at a later stage.
  
• Fiscalis 2013 - tax co-operation: The EU's funding programme aimed at facilitating co-operation between national tax authorities is due to receive its 1st reading in Strasbourg. The Fiscalis 2013 programme provides a forum for best practice in the fight against fraud and illegitimate trade, among other issues. At issue is whether to extend the programme to the authorities of the EU's neighbouring states. London Labour MEP Mary Honeyball was the only serving UK MEP to speak in the debate held in 2002 ahead of the last Fiscalis programme.
  
• Racism: In April 2007, the Council of Ministers reached informal agreement on new rules concerning racism and xenophobia, with a particular focus on incitement to racial hatred and on maximum penalties for genocide denial. Wednesday's debate and the vote on Thursday give MEPs the chance to express their views on the subject, although the final decision on the new rules rests with the Council of Ministers.
  
• Middle East: Having debated the issue of the Middle East on 6 June in Brussels, MEPs will now vote on a resolution on Wednesday. London Conservative MEP Charles Tannock was the only UK MEP to speak in the earlier debate, though three other UK MEPs visited Palestine at the end of April on an official visit (John Bowis, London - Cons; Chris Davies, NW - Lib Dem; Caroline Lucas, SE, Greens).
  
• Broadband: The issue of access to broadband for remote and/or rural areas is due for discussion on Monday. MEPs will be making recommendations on the extent to which EU structural and rural funds can be used to improve broadband access in areas which are not currently attracting sufficient investment.
  
• Russia/Energy: The EU's relations with Russia are once again set for debate on Monday. The EU currently takes over 60% of the Russian Federation's oil and natural gas exports and its current partnership agreement with Russia expires in December 2007.

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