European Parliament session, 9-12 July 2007

Plenary session Strasbourg

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

• Postal services liberalisation - 1st reading directive (debate Tuesday);
• Ban on mercury in measuring instruments - 2nd reading (Debate Monday);
• Portuguese PM on Presidency and Reform Treaty (Debate Wednesday);
• Rome II - 3rd reading (Diana Wallis MEP, Lib Dem, Yorks & Humber).

 

Postal services directive

The directive designed to extend the liberalisation of postal services across the EU is set for its 1st reading in Strasbourg (debate Tuesday morning; vote Wednesday).

The European Parliament's Transport Committee adopted 59 amendments to the European Commission's original proposal. Principal among these were:

• To extend by two years the deadline for an end to postal service monopolies in EU Member States (now to come into effect by 31 December 2010);
• National operators no longer able to have a monopoly on mail delivery below 50g;
• Until markets are opened up fully, no national monopoly operators are authorised to operate in countries which have already opened up their postal markets fully, such as the UK;
• The maintenance of a 'universal service', with letters to be collected and delivered at least 5 days a week, for all EU citizens;

For the full report and amendments adopted in committee, please use this link to europarl.europa.eu. This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure, where the European Parliament has equal decision-making power with the Council of Ministers. If the Council accepts all amendments adopted in Strasbourg, the directive will become law; if not, it will return to the European Parliament for a 2nd reading at a later stage.

 

Mercury ban

A proposed ban on using mercury in non-electrical measuring instruments is set to receive its 2nd reading with debate on Monday and vote on Tuesday. The Environment Committee overwhelmingly approved the position of the Council of Ministers, which dropped the open-ended exemption from the rules for barometer manufacturers. If the full Parliament follows the committee vote, the exemption for barometers would last two years meaning that from 2010 new devices cannot be sold if they contain mercury. The ban will come into effect 6 months sooner for other instruments such as 'fever thermometers' and sphygmomanometers.

During the 1st reading debate, in November 2006, the following UK MEPs spoke: Martin Callanan (Conservative, North East), Linda McAvan (Labour, Yorks & Humber), Jim Allister (Independent, Northern Ireland).

For the Environment Committee report (called a Recommendation at 2nd reading), please use this link to europarl.europa.eu.

 

Sócrates in the European Parliament - Presidency and Reform Treaty

The Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates will present the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2007. Top of his agenda, and of Wednesday morning's key debate, will be the proposed inter-governmental conference (IGC) on drafting a reformed EU treaty. Also among the Portuguese priorities: relaunching the Lisbon Agenda (aimed at making the EU more economically dynamic and competitive); EU-Africa relations and a summit in December.

The Portuguese Prime Minister has said he aims to have the IGC up and running by 23 July, with a new Treaty adopted by heads of state and government at a summit in October. The ratification process in each Member State would then last well into 2009.

The IGC cannot formally convene until the European Parliament has delivered its opinion. Although MEPs had an initial debate on the outcome of the recent Summit on 27 June, the Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee will only adopt its formal position on the IGC on Monday in Strasbourg, with the whole Parliament due to vote on Wednesday.

UK MEPs who took part in the 27 June debate are: Graham Watson (Lib. Dem, South West); Timothy Kirkhope (Cons., Yorks & Humber); Andrew Duff (Lib. Dem, Eastern); Jim Allister (Ind., N. Ireland); Richard Corbett (Lab, Yorks & Humber).

 

Rome II - 3rd reading

Yorkshire & Humber Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis will lead Monday's 3rd reading debate on the Rome II Regulation governing non-contractual obligations in cross-border disputes. The aim of the Regulation is to improve the functioning of the internal market in the EU – one of the main issues concerns the differing levels of damages applied by different member states’ legal systems. Traffic accidents lead to the majority of cross-border disputes involving EU citizens. At the European Parliament's insistence, provisions on personal injuries and compensation are included in the final text of the Regulation. A clause on defamation in the media was, however, deleted in the final negotiations and will now be considered when the new rules are reviewed next year.

The text of the Regulation has been agreed in conciliation discussions between the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. It now requires formal adoption by both institutions. Once approved, the Regulation will apply as soon as it is published in the EU's Official Journal (probably later this summer).

 

Other legislation and EU funding programmes

Airline tickets

Transparency in the sale of air tickets is the main subject of Tuesday's debate (Wednesday vote) on a Regulation amending existing rules for authorising air services to operate in the EU. The aim is to achieve transparency when purchasing air tickets so that consumers receive a full breakdown of any taxes, fees or extra charges.

MEPs in the Transport Committee adopted 53 amendments to the European Commission proposal. The most significant amendment says: "Air fares published in any form, including on the Internet, which are addressed directly or indirectly to the travelling public shall include all applicable taxes, non-avoidable charges, surcharges and fees known at the time of publication. Air fares shall not incorporate costs not actually incurred by air carriers. Optional price supplements shall be communicated in a clear, transparent and unambiguous way at the start of any booking process"

For the full report and all amendments adopted at committee stage, see this link to europarl.europa.eu. This is the 1st reading in the codecision procedure. Unless the Council of Ministers approves all amendments adopted by the European Parliament, the proposal will return for a 2nd reading at a later stage. If agreement is reached with the Council, the Regulation could take effect later this summer.

 

Road infrastructure safety

A proposal for a directive on road infrastructure safety management is likely to lead to one of the closest votes of the week. A majority of 19-18 in the Transport Committee voted to reject the directive outright on the basis that it would merely add red tape, where an exchange of best practice was sufficient. The aim of the proposal was to ensure a uniformly high level of safety at all stages of the planning, design and use of roads in the EU. This would involve training for planners, compulsory audits and inspections. A simple majority of MEPs present is needed at this 1st reading stage.

 

Critical infrastructure and terrorism

In 2004, in the aftermath of the Madrid train bombings, the European Council decided that an overall strategy was needed to protect critical infrastructure where damage in one Member State might impact on the economy and public confidence elsewhere in the EU. The proposed directive is now due for consideration by MEPs (though the final say on the directive lies solely with the Council of Ministers). In the 47 amendments adopted in the Civil Liberties Committee, it is stressed that the EU should avoid duplicating work already under way in Member States; other amendments focus on the need to protect data from foreign authorities or private actors. (Debate Monday).

 

Food additives

Four Regulations aimed at updating procedures for authorising food additives, flavourings and enzymes are set for their 1st reading in Strasbourg (Debate Monday; vote Tuesday). The idea is to bring existing rules into line with the latest scientific findings. The Regulations adjust the criteria for approving such additives. MEPs have stressed in amendments that the authorisation procedures need to be more transparent. If approved by both the Parliament and Council of Ministers, the Regulations will come into effect over the next 1-2 years.

 

Company mergers and divisions

A proposal to loosen the rules on the need for independent reports prior to the merger or division of companies is due for its 1st reading in Strasbourg. It is part of the Lisbon Agenda aimed at easing the legislative burden on businesses. The Economic Committee of the Parliament adopted only 3 amendments to the European Commission's proposal, one of which delays its introduction by 5 months to 31 December 2008.

 

Energy efficient office equipment

Thursday morning sees debate on a proposed Regulation designed to implement the new Energy Star Agreement signed on 20 December 2006 between the Government of the USA and the European Community on the co-ordination of energy-efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment.

 

Minimum duty on alcohol

MEPs will vote (Tuesday) on whether to support a rise in the EU-wide minimum levels of excise duty on alcoholic drinks in line with inflation since the EU enlargement of 2004 - that is by 4.5 per cent. The Committee vote was close and the original proposal from the European Commission has already led to heated debate in the May session (when UK MEPs Roger Helmer (Conservative, East Midlands) and Gerard Batten (UKIP, London) spoke). No debate this time - MEPs go straight to the vote.

 

EU Health Programme - funding 2008-2013

The EU's Public Health Programme 2008-2013 is due for its 2nd reading in Strasbourg (debate Monday, vote Tuesday). Although management of healthcare systems is a matter for national governments, co-operation between national authorities, promoting best practice and data-swapping on illnesses and medicines are all activities which can be funded under the EU's programme.

The European Parliament has pushed for the programme's objectives to include reduction in health inequalities; and a reference to complementary medicine. Other examples of areas where funding will be offered include: activities to enhance safety of organs and blood products; participation of civil society in health policy-making. The overall level of funding has also been agreed between Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Tuesday's vote and the subsequent ratification by the Council should ensure that the new funding programme can start from 1 January 2008.

Among the UK recipients of funding under the current programme which runs to the end of this year: St George's Hospital, South London; University of Exeter; University of Glasgow; Public Health Laboratory Service Board. The following UK MEPs spoke in the 1st reading debate in March 2006: John Bowis (Conservative, London); Linda McAvan (Labour, Yorks & Humber); Caroline Lucas (Greens, South East); Bairbre de Brún (Sinn Féin, Northern Ireland)

 

OTHER ISSUES

 

• TRIPS and medicines: The issue of medicines and their availability in developing countries will be to the fore in Wednesday evening's debate on TRIPs (intellectual property agreements at the WTO). MEPs are concerned at how WTO rules have been working in practice and want to see a more proactive EU response to help poorer developing countries cope with ongoing health crises. Commissioner Peter Mandelson will respond to the debate and to the oral questions tabled.
  
• Financial services: MEPs will be putting forward their response to the European Commission's White Paper on financial services during Tuesday's debate. The resolution set for adoption on Wednesday will make recommendations on a wide range of financial services issues, including the role of credit rating agencies; hedge funds, private equity and risks of market abuse; prudential regulation.
  
• Maritime policy: An overall strategy for EU maritime policy will be discussed on Tuesday. Among issues likely to be raised: shipping emissions; possible emissions trading for shipping; renewable energies; safety around the dismantling of ships; and a suggested EU label and prize for exemplary maritime regions of the EU. A resolution with recommendations for the strategy will be put to the vote on Wednesday.
  
• Railways: MEPs will be discussing European rail networks as they review existing European legislation in the field on Tuesday. Among issues likely to be raised: lack of network interoperability; the need for a European Rail Traffic Management System for six key routes (none of which links to the UK); the use of state subsidies for rail networks.
  
• Labour law: 'Flexicurity' (combining flexibility and job security) will be one of the issues discussed as MEPs address the challenges for EU labour law in the 21st century. A number of issues of interest in the UK, such as working time and the rights of temporary agency workers, are likely to be raised in Tuesday's debate. A non-binding resolution will be adopted on Wednesday.
  
• Liquids on aircraft: With airport security back in the news this week, the European Parliament is set to vote a resolution on the restrictions affecting air passengers' rights to take liquids on board aircraft. The resolution addresses costs; lack of uniform application of the rules across the EU; and technical difficulties in detecting explosives in liquids. The following UK MEPs spoke in the last European Parliament debate on the subject on 12 February 2007: David Martin (Labour, Scotland); John Purvis (Conservative, Scotland); Jim Nicholson (UUP, Northern Ireland).
  
• Darfur: A delegation of MEPs returns from Darfur on 6 July, having visited displaced people in the region and refugee camps in eastern Chad. The European Parliament will be adopting a resolution on Wednesday which is likely to call for a hybrid force of UN and African Union peacekeeping troops to the region.
  
• Trichet / Juncker: The situation in the Eurozone will be the subject of Wednesday afternoon's key debate with Eurogroup Chair Jean-Claude Juncker, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and Commissioner Almunia.
  
• Ukraine / Macedonia: Wednesday evening sees a debate on Ukraine, where EU membership is seen as a possible long-term prospect, and on Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic), where recommendations for further reform are being made following its application for EU membership in 2004.
  
• EP sessions 2008: On Wednesday 11 July, MEPs are due to adopt the calendar for plenary sittings of the European Parliament in 2008.

 

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

Plenary session Strasbourg

Committee meetings

Hearings

Diary Dates

Further information

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Diary Dates

Plenary session Strasbourg

Committee meetings

Hearings

Diary Dates

Further information

Un / Subscribe

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Further information