European Parliament session 13-16 December 2004
MEPs meet in Strasbourg next week for the European Parliament plenary session. Highlights of the agenda include:
- Turkey - application to join EU (Debate Mon - vote Tues)
- Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (Tues)
- 2005 EU budget (2nd reading vote Thurs - debate Tues)
- Preparing December EU summit (Weds)
Among issues being led by UK MEPs:
- Pesticides Directive (2nd reading - rapporteur Robert Sturdy MEP, Cons, Eastern);
- European Asylum System (report by Jean Lambert MEP, Greens, London);
- Bulgaria (application to join EU - report Geoffrey van Orden MEP, Cons, Eastern);
- Democracy & human rights - non-EU countries (report Edward McMillan-Scott MEP, Conservative, Yorkshire & the Humber).
Turkey
On Monday MEPs will discuss whether to approve the opening of negotiations on EU membership for Turkey. The Parliament will adopt its opinion on Tuesday. Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has reservations, but gives the green light to the opening of formal negotiations without undue delay. The idea of offering Turkey a 'privileged partnership' rather than full EU membership was rejected in committee, but may be put to the vote again in the full house. The final say rests with EU heads of government and state who meet at the end of the week in Brussels.
Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia
EU enlargement is also the theme in Wednesday's debates. Geoffrey van Orden MEP (Conservative, Eastern Region) will present his report on Bulgaria's progress towards EU accession. The report adopted in committee suggests that Bulgaria should be in a position to join the EU on 1 January 2007.
In discussing Romania's progress towards meeting the criteria needed for EU membership, MEPs stress that much still needs to be done, in particular in the areas of justice, corruption and protection of minorities and children.
The European Parliament has also been asked to deal urgently with the matter of access for Croatia to EU funding to aid their preparations for accession.
Preparing the December EU summit
On Wednesday MEPs will debate the issues on the agenda of this month's meeting of EU Heads of State and Government (Brussels, 16-17 December). Top of the agenda is whether to open negotiations on EU membership with Turkey. Other issues include: review of progress towards EU membership for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia; the fight against terrorism; EU funding for 2007-2013; EU drugs strategy 2005-2012.
Parliament's President Josep Borrell will address the EU Summit on 16 December.
EU Budget 2005 (Tuesday)
MEPs will adopt their 2nd reading on next year's EU budget - deciding how funds will be distributed across the various areas of EU activities. The vote follows face-to-face negotiations between Parliament and the Council of Ministers in conciliation. Under structural funding, the PEACE II Programme would be prolonged for a further 2 years with €50m in the 2005 budget and €58m in 2006.
PEACE II Programme
The formal proposal to extend the PEACE II Programme may also be added to Parliament's agenda for this session (decision not made at time of writing). This is being steered through parliament by Jim Nicholson MEP (UUP, Northern Ireland). The current programme has provided funds since 2000 to projects in Northern Ireland and the border regions of the Republic of Ireland. In addition to the budget vote, due this session, the programme needs a formal legal basis for it to continue through 2005 and 2006.
Sakharov Prize 2004
The Belarusian Association of Journalists will be awarded the 2004 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Tuesday at 11am (UK time). Parliament's President Josep Borrell has said: 'The results of the latest elections in this country make it clear that those fighting for freedom of information in Belarus and everywhere else in the world deserve our support'.
Previous Sakharov Prize winners include: Nelson Mandela (1988), Aung Saan Suu Kyi (1990), Taslima Nasreen (1994), Leyla Zana (1995).
UK MEPs
Pesticides - Robert Sturdy MEP (Conservative, Eastern Region)
MEPs will vote their 2nd reading on a proposed change to EU rules on pesticide residues in food or feed. Among the issues to be decided are: definitions of good agricultural practice and maximum residue levels; possible reporting of retailers and traders whose products exceed maximum levels; limits for imported commodities. The amendments adopted at committee stage place greater emphasis on consumer protection. To be passed at 2nd reading under the codecision procedure, any amendment requires the support of at least 367 MEPs (ie 50% + 1). Debate Tuesday.
Asylum - Jean Lambert MEP (Greens, London)
The whole issue of asylum policy in the EU is up for debate on Tuesday as MEPs consider proposals made by Jean Lambert MEP. Among the issues to be discussed are: fair-sharing of responsibility; procedures for granting asylum; protection for non-political refugees where their home country is at war; the issue of transit centres for asylum seekers; and monitoring those who return home. MEPs in committee saw no case for transferring decisions on asylum claims from national authorities to the EU.
Democracy and human rights - Edward McMillan-Scott MEP (Conservative, Yorkshire & The Humber).
The current programme supporting democracy and human rights in non-EU countries is up for renewal next year. MEPs will debate a proposal to extend the programme to the end of 2006. Unlike other areas where the EC provides funds for non-EU countries, projects here can be run without the consent of the host government.
Other issues this session
- Barroso priorities: European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will present his strategic political priorities to the European Parliament on Tuesday, giving MEPs the chance to have their say on the overall political direction of the Commission.
- Drugs: MEPs will discuss the European strategy on fighting drugs, ahead of the EU summit debate the following weekend. A lively debate is likely as views differ strongly across the EU and between parties. The focus of the strategy, in the view of the parliamentary committee which adopted the current report, is that any approach should be science-based rather than based on an 'emotional response'. Debate Tuesday.
- Europass: Legislation aimed at setting up Europass is due for its 2nd reading on Tuesday. This is based around a European CV, including details of training courses undertaken and educational qualifications, the aim of which is to make it easier for applicants to explain their skills and qualifications to a prospective employer in another EU country. Many of the amendments adopted by the European Parliament at 1st reading have now been incorporated into the proposal so a smooth passage is likely, with possible entry into force on 1 January 2005.
- Trawling / Deep-water coral: On Thursday MEPs will vote on a proposal to protect deep-water coral reefs from the effects of trawling in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Reconstruction of Iraq: MEPs are due to debate further funding for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Iraq. (Tuesday).
- Future funding of the EU - 2007-2013: The legal framework and priorities for EU budgeting for the years 2007-2013 will be the subject of an oral question to the Commission on Tuesday.
The European Parliament has set up a Temporary Committee to help define the European Parliament's priorities in the ongoing discussions. Terry Wynn MEP (Labour, North West) is a member of that Temporary Committee.
Full information can be found in "The Briefing" at: www.europarl.eu.int/press/index_publi_en.htm
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