Paul-Henri SPAAK, Room 06B01

PV CPG 29.06.2017

PE-8/CPG/PV/2017-13

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

       

CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS MINUTES

of the ordinary meeting of Thursday 29 June 2017

Paul-Henri SPAAK, Room 06B01

Brussels

PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS

MINUTES

of the ordinary meeting of

Thursday, 29 June 2017

from 09:30 to 11:30 hours

Paul-Henry SPAAK, Room 06B01

Brussels

CONTENTS Page

PE 605.733/CPG 2/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS

MINUTES

of the meeting of Thursday 29 June 2017

from 9:30 to 11:30 hours

Brussels

The meeting opened at 09:38 hours with Mr Antonio TAJANI,

President of the European Parliament, in the chair

Present

Mr TAJANI, President

Political Group Chairs Political Group Chairs Mr WEBER (EPP) Mr PITTELLA (S&D) Mr ZĪLE (Acting) (ECR) Mr VERHOFSTADT (ALDE) Mr SYLIKIOTIS (Acting) (GUE/NGL) Mr LAMBERTS (Co-Chair) (Greens/EFA) Mr LUNDGREN (Acting) (EFDD) Mr JALKH (Acting) (ENF) Ms DODDS1 (NI)

Also Present

Mr WELLE, Secretary-General Mr WINKLER, Deputy Secretary-General

Invited: Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs Also invited - Item 23.2 Mr MORAES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs The Council2

1 Present pursuant to Rule 26 (2) of the Rules of Regulations of Procedure 21 Present for items 1-3

3/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 represented by Ms TUTS Mr KERLEROUX

The Commission1 represented by Mr FORTI Mr PINE

The Economic and Social Committee1 represented by Ms ADAMISOVA

Office of the President Mr CANGA FANO Mr CHIOCCHETTI Mr CORAZZA Mr HAGLUND Ms SALVELLI Ms GLATINY Ms BOLYA

Office of the Secretary-General Mr MANGOLD Ms FERNANDEZ PERLES Ms FREDSGAARD Mr DE FINANCE

Office of the Deputy Secretary-General Mr JAVELLE

Secretariat

DG Presidency (PRES) Mr LANE/Ms ROBSON/Ms GANDOLFO/ Ms SAILIS1/ Ms FERGER1/Mr NATSCHERADETZ1

DG Internal Policies (IPOL) Mr RIBERA/Ms VANDENBOSCH/Mr HUBER/Mr CAHEN2

DG External Policies (EXPO) Mr AGUIRIANO

DG European Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) Mr BASSOT

DG Communication (COMM) Mr DUCH GUILLOT/Ms VAN DEN BROEKE

2 Presnt for item 23.2

PE 605.733/CPG 4/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 DG Personnel (PERS) Mr KNUDSEN

DG Infrastructures and Logistics Ms LINNUS

DG Translation (TRAD) Mr MAVRIČ

DG Interpretation and Conferences (INTE) Ms WALTER-DROP

DG Finance (FINS) Mr KLETHI 3 Present for item 23.2

DG Innovation and Technological Support (ITEC) Mr PETRUCCI

DG Security and Safety (SAFE) Mr CAROZZA

Legal Service (SJ) Mr DREXLER/Ms MARTINEZ IGLESIAS

Directorate for relations with political groups Mr SCHWETZ

Secretariat of the Bureau Mr TZIORKAS

Political groups

Mr KAMP/Ms SCRIBAN/Ms LASKAVÁ (EPP) Mr MORENO SANCHEZ/Mr BURU/Ms PEREIRA/Mr CARDELLA (S&D) Mr BARRETT/Mr BOYD (ECR) Mr BEELS/Ms COLERA-GARZÓN/Mr RASMUSSEN/McLAUGHLIN (ALDE) Ms LEPOLA/Ms ASLETT-RYDBJERG (GUE/NGL) Ms TSETSI/Mr BROUWER/Ms BROCHARD/Ms POGLIANI (Greens/EFA) Ms LALOUX/ Mr PITTARELLO (EFDD) Mr CAMPOMENOSI/Mr HOLZFEIND (ENF) Mr BORDEZ (NI)

5/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 Ms WOLLNY, Mr VAUGIER, Mr ROHLJE, Ms BERTULESSI and Ms KOSTIDOU acted as secretaries to the meeting.

PE 605.733/CPG 6/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 1. Adoption of the draft agenda

The Conference of Presidents

- noted and adopted the draft agenda in the form shown in these minutes (PE 605.733/CPG).

7/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 2. Approval of the draft Minutes of the meetings of 15 June 2017

- noted and approved the draft Minutes of the ordinary meeting of 15 June 2017 (PE 605.726/CPG and annex) held in Strasbourg.

PE 605.733/CPG 8/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 3. Adoption of the final draft agenda for the July part-session (from 3 to 6 July 2017) - Scheduling of key debates in plenary

- noted the following documents:

 the draft agenda for the July part-session (from 3 to 6 July 2017) in Strasbourg, as adopted by the Conference of Presidents on 15 June 2017 in Strasbourg;

 a table dated 29 June 2017 summarizing committee and delegation meetings planned for the July part-session (from 3 to 6 July 2017) in Strasbourg (PE 607.851/CPG).

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr PITTELLA, Chair of the S&D Group, Mr ZĪLE, acting Chair of the ECR Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Mr SYLIKIOTIS, acting Chair of the GUE/NGL Group, Mr LAMBERTS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and Mr LUNDGREN, acting Chair of the EFDD Group, and, after a vote, adopted the final draft agenda for the July 2017 part-session with the following modifications:

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

- decided to bring forward from Wednesday afternoon the topical debate entitled 'EU defence plan and the future of Europe' as second item in the afternoon, and to extend the sitting until 24:00;

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

- decided to add Council and Commission statements on ‘Single Seat of the European Parliament’ after the Joint Debate on Sustainable development;

Thursday, 6 July 2017

- agreed to add a vote on a decision on setting up a temporary committee on terrorism.

9/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 4. Communications by the President

4.1 Bilateral m eetings o n the margins of the European Council meeting on 22 and 23 June 2017

- heard the President report, that, on the margins of the European Council meeting, he had met Mr MACRON, President of the French Republic, and that they had discussed, inter alia, migration policy and the necessity to adopt the Asylum Package and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to strengthen external borders security, the need to develop a strategy for Africa, as well as the UK withdrawal from the EU, free and fair trade, and employment policy;

- heard the President report that President MACRON had accepted the invitation to come to a forthcoming part-session in Strasbourg;

- heard the President report further he had also met Mr LÖFVEN, Prime Minister of Sweden, to discuss the European Pillar of Social Rights and the preparation of the Social Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 17 November 2017.

4.2. The President’s visit to Luxembourg

- heard the President report that he had met the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Mr BETTEL, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and that he had given a speech in Luxembourg’s parliament, and that he had visited the European Investment Bank (EIB), and that the discussions with his interlocuteurs focussed on migration, the relocation of asylum seekers, and the EU’s investment plan for Africa.

4.3. Preparation of the Joint Declaration on legislative priorities

- heard the President invite the Group Chairs to submit contributions ahead of the monitoring meeting on the Joint Declaration on legislative priorities for 2017 with Mr JUNCKER, President of the Commission, and the Presidentinoffice of the Council, on 5 July 2017, and

PE 605.733/CPG 10/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 heard him thank Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC), for the submission of the CCC’s input for the presidential monitoring meeting on the Joint Declaration on the EU's legislative priorities for 2017;

- heard the President underline the need to ensure good legislative planning for the Commission’s work programme for 2018, which would be the last one before the European elections in 2019, and that important legislative files, such as Trade Defense Instruments, should be handled swiftly, with a view to a timely adoption.

11/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 5a. Setting-up of a temporary committee on terrorism - exchange of views

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr PITTELLA, Chair of the S&D Group, Mr ZĪLE, acting Chair of the ECR Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Mr SYLIKIOTIS, acting Chair of the GUE/NGL Group, Mr LAMBERTS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and Mr LUNDGREN, acting Chair of the EFDD Group, focussed on the two different types of temporary committees that could be set up, pursuant to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, and on a possible mandate;

- heard the President propose to bring forward the subsequent meeting of the Conference of Presidents in Strasbourg to Wednesday, 5 July 2017, in the afternoon, in order to consider and submit to plenary a proposal for a decision on setting up a temporary committee on terrorism, to be voted on Thursday, 6 July 2017;

- endorsed the President approach.

PE 605.733/CPG 12/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 5. Exchange of views with Ms Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission

The item was postponed to a subsequent meeting.

13/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 6. Evaluation of the Hearing of Ms Mariya GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate - exchange of views

- took note of the following documents:

 a letter dated 22 June 2017 from Ms HÜBNER, acting Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC), submitting the evaluation of the hearing of Ms GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate (PE 605.817/CPG and annex);

 a letter dated 7 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, submitting a recommendation on the organisation of the hearing for Ms GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate (PE 605.758/CPG and annex);

 a letter dated 29 May 2017 from Mr CLOOS, Deputy-Director General of the Council, informing Parliament of the nomination of Ms GABRIEL as Commissioner-designate (PE 605.762/CPG and annex);

 a letter dated 16 May 2017 from Mr JUNCKER, President of the European Commission, on the allocation of the Digital Economy and Society portfolio for Ms GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate (PE 605.746/CPG);

- heard the President recall that the hearing of Ms GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate, had been held on 20 June 2017 by ITRE and CULT as committees responsible for the hearing, and with IMCO, JURI, LIBE as associated committees, and that the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC) had held an exchange of views at its extraordinary meeting on 22 June 2017 to examine the committees’ letter of evaluation;

- heard Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the CCC, present the assessment of the CCC;

- declared the hearing closed, authorised the publication of the letter of evaluation, and submitted the matter to plenary for a vote.

PE 605.733/CPG 14/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 7. Requests from parliemantary committees to draw-up own initiative reports under Rule 52, and requests for application of Rule 54, and related requests

The Conference of Presidents, without debate

- took note of a letter dated 15 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC), submitting requests from parliamentary committees for authorisation to draw-up own-initiative reports under Rules 52 and 113, and for the application of Rule 54 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (RoP) (PE 605.797/CPG and annexes);

- took note of the requests for authorisation for six non-legislative own-initiative reports under heading C (subject to authorisation and quota) from the AGRI and PECH Committees and authorised them to be drawn up;

- took note of the ECON Committee request to draw-up an own-initiative report entitled “Economic policies of the euro area”, consistent with the Commission’s decision to put forward recommendations for the euro area as a whole, replacing the current report on the implementation of the ongoing European Semester for Economic Policy Coordination, subject to automatic authorisation and out of quota, in line with the Conference of President’s decision of 5 July 2012 on Parliament’s involvement in the European Semester, and authorised the proposed ECON report to be drawn-up as requested;

- noted and endorsed the agreement reached between the ECON and EMPL Committees on the association of EMPL under Rule 54 to the proposed above-mentioned ECON report, with a division of competences as set out in the relevant letter;

- noted and endorsed the drawing up of six annual activity and monitoring reports under heading D (under automatic authorisation, four of which out of quota) by the AFET, ECON, LIBE and PETI Committees;

- took note of the LIBE Committee request to draw-up its annual activity and monitoring report entitled “Annual report on the Situation of Fundamental Rights in the EU 2016” in derogation from the applicable quota limiting the number of own-initiative reports that may be drafted simultaneously, with a view to keeping a consistent timing for the Annual report;

- recalled that the rules on own-initiative reports had been recently amended by the Conference of Presidents, on 7 April 2016 and by corrigendum on 15 July 2016, on the basis

15/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 of a recommendation from the CCC, nevertheless exceptionally authorised the LIBE committee request, while inviting the Committees to plan key own-initiative reports in line with the rules and quota applicable to the relevant part of the parliamentary term;

- noted and endorsed the drawing up of three implementation reports under heading E (under automatic authorisation and out of quota) by the EMPL, ENVI and PECH Committees;

- noted and endorsed the agreement reached between the ENVI and AGRI Committees on the association of AGRI under Rule 54 to the ENVI implementation report entitled “Implementation of the Plant Protection Programme Regulation EC/1107/2009”;

- noted and endorsed the AFET Committee request to draw-up a Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the Eastern Partnership, in the run-up to the November 2017 Summit, pursuant to Rule 113.

PE 605.733/CPG 16/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 8. Attribution of competence for the legislative report on controls on cash entering or leaving the Union and repealing Regulation n° 1889/2015

- took note of a letter dated 13 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC), submitting a recommendation on the contestation by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the competence of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) regarding a legislative report entitled “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on controls on cash entering or leaving the Union and repealing Regulation No 1889/2015” (COM(2016)0825 - 2016/0413(COD)) (PE 605.788/CPG and annexes);

- noted that it had not been possible to find a solution acceptable to the committees concerned;

- took note of the recommendation from the Chair of the CCC that the ECON Committee be associated to the legislative report on controls on cash entering or leaving the Union under Rule 55;

- endorsed the recommendation of the Chair of the CCC.

17/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 9. Request for an extension of the term of office of the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion

- took note of a letter dated 6 June 2017 from Mr LANGEN, Chair of the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA), requesting a three-month extension of the Committee’s term of office (PE 605.765/CPG and annex);

- recalled that, under Rule 198(11) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a Committee of Inquiry should conclude its work by presenting to Parliament a report on the results of its work within no more than twelve months from its constituent meeting, while Parliament could decide twice to extend this period by three months;

- noted that, in line with Parliament’s decision of 8 June 2016 on the setting up of the PANA Inquiry Committee, the Committee of Inquiry should submit its final report within twelve months of the adoption of that decision;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 16 March 2017, the Conference of Presidents had endorsed a three-month extension of the Committee’s term of office and that, on the same day, Parliament had approved that extension;

- endorsed the request and forwarded it to the plenary for final decision.

PE 605.733/CPG 18/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 10. Request from the Committee on Budgetary Control to represent the European Parliament in the inter- institutional exchange of views on matters concerning the European Anti-Fraud Office

- took note of a letter dated 13 June 2017 from Ms GRÄSSLE, Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT), requesting authorisation for the Bureau and Coordinators of the CONT Committee to represent Parliament in the inter-institutional exchange of views on European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) policy, which was scheduled to be held on 23 November 2017 on Parliament’s premises (PE 605.805/CPG and financial statement);

- noted that, under article 16(1) of Regulation (EU/EURATOM) No 883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by the OLAF, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should meet the Director-General once a year for an exchange of views at political level to discuss the Office’s policy relating to methods of preventing and combating fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union;

- noted that, whilst no decision would be taken at the meeting, under 16(4) of the above-mentioned Regulation, the institutions participating in the exchange of views should take into account in their actions, the opinions expressed in that exchange;

- authorised the inter-institutional meeting to take place on Parliament’s premises and the Bureau and Coordinators of the CONT Committee to represent Parliament in the interinstitutional exchange of views on OLAF policy, as requested, and invited the CONT Committee to report back on the outcome of the inter-institutional exchange of views.

19/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 11. Proposal for the nomination of the Director to the Governing Board of the European Training Foundation

- took note of a letter dated 14 June 2017 from Mr HÄNDEL, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), submitting a recommendation for the appointment of the next Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF) (PE 605.803/CPG and annexes);

- recalled that, under Article 10 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1339/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a European Training Foundation, the Director of the Foundation should be appointed by the Governing Board for a period of five years from a list of at least three candidates submitted by the Commission, and that, before being appointed, the candidate selected by the Governing Board should be invited to make a statement before the competent committee(s) of the European Parliament and answer questions put by its/their members;

- noted that the term of office of the ETF Director could be extended once for not more than three years, and that the term of the new Director would start as of 1 September 2017;

- noted that the ETF Governing Board had selected Mr ONESTINI as candidate for the position of the next Director of the Foundation;

- noted that, on 30 May 2017, the EMPL Committee held an exchange of views with the selected candidate and that the EMPL Committee’s Coordinators had given unanimous support for the formal appointment of Mr ONESTINI as next Director of the Foundation;

- endorsed the EMPL Committee’s recommendation and invited the President to inform the President of the European Commission and the Chair of the ETF Governing Board accordingly.

PE 605.733/CPG 20/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 12. Request from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to send a fact-finding mission to Ljubljana, Slovenia, and to Zagreb, Croatia, from 19 to 21 September 2017

- took note of a letter dated 24 May 2017 from Mr HÄNDEL, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, requesting authorisation to send a fact-finding mission to Ljubljana, Slovenia and to Zagreb, Croatia, from 19 to 21 September 2017 (PE 605.721/CPG, annex and financial statement);

- noted that the request was not included in the draft six-month programme of committee missions outside the three places of work and inside the EU, the candidate countries and the EEA, for the second half of 2017;

- noted that the three day fact-finding mission (including travel time) was to be composed of up to eight Members, all using the remaining available annual committee quota; during a week set aside for external parliamentary activities, in line with the applicable rules;

- recommended that the request be authorised and forwarded its recommendation to the Bureau for final decision.

21/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 13. Request from the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to send an ad hoc delegation to Tunis and Djerba, Tunisia from 18 to 22 September 2017

- took note of letters dated 1 and 26 June 2017 from Mr MOARES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), requesting authorisation to send an eight Member ad hoc delegation, plus Chair, to Tunisia, from 18 to 22 September 2017 (PE 605.744/CPG, PE 605.853/CPG and financial statement);

- recalled that the original request had been included in the draft six-month programme of committee missions outside the EU, candidate countries and the EEA countries during the second half of 2017;

- recalled further that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference of Presidents had withheld its decision and invited the LIBE Committee to liaise with the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (DMAG), which were authorised to hold meetings in Tunis and in the South of Tunisia during the same week;

- welcomed the LIBE proposal for a coordinated programme and joint meetings with DMAG;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference of Presidents had stressed that there was no provision for the addition of committee chairs to ad hoc delegations outside the European Union, candidate countries and EEA countries, and that a committee chair could only be added to the ad hoc delegation, in addition to the seven Members, on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent for forthcoming travel by committees;

- authorised, on an exceptional basis, the sending of an eight Member ad hoc delegation, plus Chair, to Tunisia, provided that the mission, to be coordinated with DMAG, did not exceed five days including travel time, and that the security situation on the ground allowed for the mission to go ahead.

PE 605.733/CPG 22/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 14. Request from the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy to send a delegation to Santiago, Chile, from 29 October to 2 November 2017

- took note of a letter dated 2 June 2017 from Mr BUZEK, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), requesting authorisation to send an ad hoc delegation to Santiago, Chile, from 29 October to 2 November 2017 (five days, including travel time (PE 605.745/CPG, annex and financial statement);

- noted that a request for a ten Member ad hoc delegation had been included in the draft six-month programme of committee missions outside the EU, candidate countries and the EEA countries during the second half of 2017;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference of Presidents had withheld its decision pending further information and details of the programme of the mission;

- noted that the number of participating Members had then been reduced to a seven Member ad hoc delegation plus Chair, for a fact-finding mission with a series of visits and meetings within the ITRE Committee’s general remit, as foreseen in the draft programme;

- authorised the sending of a seven Member ad hoc delegation plus Chair, on an exceptional basis.

23/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 15. Request from the Delegation for relations with Japan to reschedule its inter-parliamentary meeting to take place in Strasbourg, from 5 to 6 July 2017

- took note of a letter dated 7 June 2017 from Mr JEŽEK, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Japan, requesting authorisation to reschedule the 37th inter-parliamentary meeting (IPM), in Strasbourg, to take place from 5 (Wednesday afternoon) to 6 July 2017 (Thursday morning) (PE 605.766/CPG and financial statement);

- recalled that, at its meeting on 17 November 2016, the Conference on Presidents had authorised the 37th EU-Japan IPM, in Brussels, on 8 June 2017, provided that resources were available;

- authorised the rescheduling as requested, provided that the meeting did not coincide with a key debate and that resources were available.

PE 605.733/CPG 24/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 16. Request from the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly for authorisation to hold the 10th EuroLat plenary session and meetings of the Standing Committees, Executive Bureau and Working Group on Security, Political Families, Civil Society and Women’s Forum in San Salvador, El Salvador, from 18 to 21 September 2017

- took note of a letter dated 1 June 2017, from Mr JÁUREGUI ATONDO, Chair of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American (EuroLat) Parliamentary Assembly, requesting authorisation to hold the 10th Ordinary Plenary Session, meetings of the four EuroLat Standing Committees, Executive Bureau, Working Group on Security, EP-LAC Political Families, Civil Society and Women’s Forum in San Salvador, El Salvador, from 18 to 21 September 201 7 (PE 605.747/CPG, annex and financial statement);

- noted that the request for authorisation of these meetings had initially been included in the programme of activities of the standing inter-parliamentary delegations for the first half of 2017, without destination, and that it had to be rescheduled and was further included in the programme for the second half of 2017 with El Salvador as a destination to be confirmed;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 6 April 2017, the Conference of Presidents had approved the change of venue from Rome to Florence, from 22 to 24 May 2017, of a series of requested EuroLat meetings, including the four Standing Committees, the Executive Bureau, the Working Group on Security, the EP-LAC Political Families, Civil Society and Women’s Forum meetings;

- recalled that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference of Presidents had noted the request to hold the 10th Ordinary Plenary Session, meetings of the four EuroLat Standing Committees, Executive Bureau, Working Group on Security, EP-LAC Political Families, Civil Society and Women’s Forum in El Salvador (venue to be confirmed), from 18 to 21 September 2017, and further noted that the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America had requested a meeting within the framework of the EuroLat meetings in El Salvador, on 21 September 2017, as well as the EU-Chile JPC Bureau for which the INTA Committee had expressed an interest for its Standing Rapporteur to be invited to attend;

25/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 - recalled further that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference of Presidents had withheld its decision, and requested that El Salvador be reconsidered as a potential meeting venue stressing that a satisfactory security situation on the ground remained a crucial consideration in choosing the destination, and had invited Parliament’s representatives in the relevant EuroLat bodies to make every effort, and as a matter of principle, to ensure that the venue would be set in line with the rules and established practices, recalling that the 9th Ordinary Plenary Session and related meetings had taken place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 19 to 22 September 2016 and that, as a general rule and in line with established practice, the Assembly would meet in principle once a year, alternately in a Latin American or Caribbean country and on Parliament’s premises or, on an exceptional basis, in the Member State holding the rotating EU Presidency of the Council, as recalled in its decision on 17 November 2016;

- recalled that, under the current rules and unless otherwise stipulated in international agreements, each standing inter-parliamentary delegation responsible for more than one country could request authorisation to hold more than one inter-parliamentary meeting per year, if the meeting proposed took place in one of the countries that the delegation covered; recalled further that "under the rules in force, Bureaus of multilateral assemblies should meet on the margins of their plenary sessions or via video conferences";

- noted that, the Chair of the EP Delegation to the EuroLat Parliamentary Assembly, had reported that during the above-mentioned EuroLat meetings in Florence, the LAC component unanimously reiterated that the venue of the next EuroLat set of meetings should be San Salvador, with El Salvador hosting the EU-CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government, from 26 to 27 October 2017, and that since that country was included among those defined as high alert and critical destinations, all necessary security arrangements, including training and binding instructions to participants if appropriate, would be made before the mission went ahead;

- heard the President report on the security situation in El Salvador, and insist that, on the basis of a mission security assesment confirmed by the European External Action Service, authorisation for the mission could only be granted under strict security arrangements for all participating Members and accompanying staff;

PE 605.733/CPG 26/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 - held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr ZĪLE, acting Chair of the ECR Group, Mr SYLIKIOTIS, acting Chair of the GUE/NGL Group, and Mr LUNDGREN, acting Chair of the EFDD Group;

- authorised, by majority vote, the requested meetings to take place in El Salavador on the strict condition that the preparation for that mission included specific security briefings and that practical security arrangements would be put in place, to be followed diligently by all participating Members and accompanying staff.

27/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 17. Request for authorisation to hold a meeting of the Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 22 to 23 September 2017

- took note of a co-signed letter dated 8 June 2017, from Ms HARMS, Co-Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and Mr PIRINSKI, Co-Chair of the Euronest PA Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society (Euronest PA, SOC Committee), requesting authorisation for an extraordinary meeting of the Euronest PA SOC Committee, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 22 to 23 September 2017 (PE 605.774/CPG, annexes and financial statements);

- recalled that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, it had authorised the rescheduling of the 6th Plenary Session and related meetings, to be held in Kiev, Ukraine, from 30 October to 1 November 2017, while, at its meeting on 9 February 2017, it had already authorised, on an exceptional basis, the rescheduling of a number of EURONEST PA meetings including a joint meeting of the Euronest PA POL/SOC Committees in Brussels, on 23 March 2017;

- noted that this extraordinary and third meeting of the Euronest PA SOC Committee decided by the Euronest PA Bureau on 23 May 2017, had not been included in the draft programme of activities for the second half of 2017 and would not only derogate from the Euronest Rules of Procedures but, for the second time this year, from Parliament’s applicable rules;

- nevertheless exceptionally authorised the request, on the understanding that interpretation would be provided by Parliament’s counterparts.

PE 605.733/CPG 28/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 18. Request from the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament to send an ad hoc delegation to the Parliamentary Summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to be held from 27 to 28 November 2017

- took note of a letter dated 6 June 2017 from Mr GAHLER, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament, requesting authorisation for an ad hoc delegation to participate in a Parliamentary Summit to be co-organised by the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from 27 to 28 November 2017, ahead of the 5th Africa-EU Summit of Heads of State or Government, taking place on the subsequent two days (PE 605.763/CPG, annex and financial statement);

- recalled that, at its meeting on 11 May 2017, the Conference on Presidents took note of an indicative request that was included in the six-month draft programme of activities of standing delegations for the second half of 2017 and had withheld its decision pending the availability of further information, including a financial statement;

- further recalled that, at that same meeting, it had authorised the sending of a five DEVE Member ad hoc delegation, from 27 to 30 November 2017, to Abidjan, provided that the mission did not exceed five days including travel time, and had invited the President to excuse those five Members’ absence in plenary;

- noted that the inter-parliamentary meeting with the Pan-African Parliament had taken place in Midrand (South Africa) from 10 to 12 May 2017;

- noted that the requested ad hoc delegation would be composed of 20 Members, including the President of the Parliament, the Chairs of the DEVE, AFET, INTA, SEDE, and DROI Committees and the Chairs of the Delegations to the ACP-EU JPA and for relations with South Africa, in addition to the twelve D-PAP Members;

- further noted that the meeting dates could not be influenced by Parliament and would not coincide with a week set aside for external parliamentary activities but with days set aside for committee and political group activities;

29/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 - noted that the applicable Rules had not foreseen the possibility of standing delegations requesting ad hoc delegations;

- nevertheless authorised the request on an exceptional basis, on the understanding that interpretation would be limited to one language only and that the Members would return in time for the 2017 November II part-session, and provided that the security situation on the ground allowed the mission to go ahead; and invited the Delegation to ensure a coherent yearly planning of its activities, in line with the applicable Rules.

PE 605.733/CPG 30/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 19. Request from the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group for authorisation to participate in an inter-parliamentary conference entitled “Independent and modern public administration”, to take place in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, from 28 to 29 September 2017

- took note of a letter dated 13 June 2017 from Mr McALLISTER and Ms McAVAN, Co-Chairs of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG), requesting authorisation to send a delegation of six Members to an inter-parliamentary conference on “Independent and Modern Public Administration in the EU Enlargement Countries”, in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, from 28 to 29 September 2017 (PE 605.790 CPG, annexes and financial statement);

- noted that the conference would be jointly organised by the European Parliament and the Parliament of Montenegro, providing interpretation from the languages of the region into English and vice-versa as part of the logistic support, and would be hosted by the EUsupported Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA);

- noted that the conference coincided with one day set aside for parliamentary committee and political groups activities (Thursday) and two days without parliamentary activities (Friday and Saturday of week 39);

- authorised the request to send a delegation of up to six Members to be appointed by the political groups in accordance with the rolling d'Hondt system, which should also apply to the non-attached Members, and who should preferably be drawn from the relevant Committees, notably AFET, and also IMCO and ITRE, in relation to the e-Government aspect of the conference.

31/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 20. Request for authorisation to send a delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy to be held in Tallinn, Estonia, from 7 to 9 September 2017

- took note of a letter dated 13 June 2017 from Mr McALLISTER, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), requesting authorisation to send a 16 Member delegation to the 11th Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CFSP/CSDP), to be held in in Tallinn, Estonia from 7 to 9 September 2017 (PE 605.792/CPG, draft programme and financial statement);

- noted that the above-mentioned Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Tallinn was included in the programme of inter-parliamentary activities with national parliaments for the second half of 2017, which was approved by the Conference of Presidents on 11 May 2017, noting that such delegations had to be authorised on an individual basis;

- noted that the proposed dates for the Inter-Parliamentary Conference coincided with one day set aside for both parliamentary committee and political group activities (Thursday) and two days without parliamentary activities (Friday and Saturday);

- noted that, under the applicable Rules, where possible, ad hoc delegations should undertake missions during the weeks set aside for external parliamentary activities, noted further, that the dates of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference had been set by the Presidency-in-office of the Council;

- authorised the sending of a 16 Member delegation to the CFSP/CSDP Inter-Parliamentary Conference, to be led by the Chair of the AFET Committee, its Members, including the Chair, to be appointed by the political groups as follows: 5 Members from the EPP Group, 5 Members from the S&D Group, 1 Member from the ECR Group, 1 Member from the ALDE Group, 1 Member from the GUE/NGL Group, 1 Member from the Greens/EFA Group, 1 Member from the EFDD Group, and 1 Member from the ENF Group, and be preferably drawn from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.

PE 605.733/CPG 32/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 21. Request from the Group of the European People’s Party to hold a Bureau meeting in Braga, Portugal, from 9 to 10 November 2017

- took note of a letter dated 14 June 2017 from Mr BIESMANS, Deputy Secretary-General of the EPP Group, requesting authorisation to hold a meeting of a delegation of the Group in Braga, Portugal, from 9 to 10 November 2017 (PE 605.809/CPG, and financial statement);

- noted that the dates of the meeting coincided with one day set aside for parliamentary committee activities and political group activities (Thursday) and one half-day without parliamentary activities (Friday);

- noted that interpretation into seven languages had been requested;

- authorised the request by way of exception.

33/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 22.1 Delegated and implementing acts - Screening of current files

- recalled its decision of 19 April 2012 to request the competent services to carry out an ongoing screening procedure of upcoming legislative proposals in order to avoid placing on the plenary agenda any vote(s) leading to a first-reading agreement on dossiers where such decisions might be legally questionable (PE 605.793/CPG);

- recalled its decision of 27 November 2014 to request a monthly overview of the delegated acts (and draft RPS measures) under scrutiny, indicating also any possible action taken by committees;

- took note of the letter of 16 May 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, forwarding the results of the screening of files in view of the June 2017 part-session; and noted that no legal concerns had been raised in relation to any of the dossiers scheduled for vote during that part-session.

PE 605.733/CPG 34/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 22.2 Overview of delegated acts and draft RPS measures currently under EP scrutiny

- took note of the note dated 23 June 2017 from the Secretary-General, providing an overview of the state of play on delegated and implementing acts as at 22 June 2017 (PE 605.818/CPG and annexes);

- recalled the horizontal guidance that it had adopted on 19 April 2012 on the inclusion of delegated acts in the basic legislative act; consequently, maintained its request to the Conference of Committee Chairs to carry out a monthly screening of the agreements reached;

- recalled its decision of 27 November 2014 to request a monthly overview of the delegated acts (and draft RPS measures) under scrutiny, indicating also any possible action taken by committees.

35/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 22.3 First reading agreements - Committee decisions to enter into negotiations and state of play of files currently under negotiation

- took note of a letter dated 23 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, submitting recent decisions adopted by committees in view of first, early second and second reading as well as the state of play of files currently under negotiation (PE 605.819/CPG and annexes I and II);

- recalled its decision of 12 March 2015 to request the competent services to ensure the greatest degree of transparency in the legislative process possible and to request that an overview of negotiating mandates for first reading agreements be made available to it on a regular basis, and noted that the Conference of Committee Chairs would continue to provide systematic information to the Conference of Presidents on all legislative files under negotiation in first, early second and second reading, in accordance with the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 10 March 2011;

- noted that under Rule 69c and Rule 69d of the revised Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, committee decisions to enter into first reading negotiations and early second reading negotiations would be announced in plenary.

PE 605.733/CPG 36/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 23. Urgent matters and any other business

23.1. Joint request from the Committees on Development and on International Trade to send a delegation to the World Trade Organisation Sixth Global Review of the Aid for Trade to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 11 to 13 July 2017

- took note of the letter dated 20 June 2017 co-signed by Mr LANGE, Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), and Ms McAVAN, Chair of the Committee on Development (DEVE), requesting authorisation to send an ad hoc four Member delegation to the Sixth Global Review of the Aid for Trade of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 11 to 13 July 2017 (PE 605.815/CPG, programme and financial statement);

- noted that, the INTA and DEVE coordinators had agreed to request authorisation for a delegation composed of four Members, one from DEVE Committee and three from INTA Committee respectively;

- noted that the ad hoc delegation coincided with three days set aside for parliamentary committee activities (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday);

- noted that no interpretation had been requested;

- authorised the sending of an ad hoc delegation composed of four Members as requested.

37/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 23.2 Exchange of views with Mr Claude MORAES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on the Committee’s request to draw-up an own-initiative report on the situation in Hungary, under Rules 45, 52, and 83 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure

- took note of the following documents:

 a letter dated 22 June 2017 from Mr TAJANI, Parliament’s President, to Mr MORAES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), on the LIBE Committee report on “The Situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament (EP) resolution of 17 May 2017)” (PE 605.861/CPG);

 a letter dated 13 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, submitting the LIBE Committee request for authorisation to draw- up an own initiative report on “The Situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament (EP) resolution of 17 May 2017)” out of the quota of the committee for own-initiative reports (PE 605.789/CPG);

- heard Mr MORAES, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), recall the committee ground rules for the allocation of reports and differing precedents in the past, and report that the LIBE coordinators had expressed their readiness to take a decision on the allocation of the report by consensus or by vote, at their meeting on 11 July 2017, with due consideration of the institutional nature of the report;

- held an exchange of views with the participation of Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, Mr PITTELLA, Chair of the S&D Group, Mr ZĪLE, acting Chair of the ECR Group, Mr VERHOFSTADT, Chair of the ALDE Group, Mr SYLIKIOTIS, acting Chair of the GUE/NGL Group, Mr LAMBERTS, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, and Mr LUNDGREN, acting Chair of the EFDD Group, focussed on, inter alia:

 the general rules on the allocation of reports;

 the choice of a rapporteur as a prerogative of the LIBE committee;

PE 605.733/CPG 38/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017  the exceptional character and insitutional nature of the report, requiring a two-thirds majority for approval in the plenary vote and therefore the building of a large consensus in the preparation;

 the need for reporting back to the Conference of Presidents on a regular basis;

 the role of the Chair and the coordinators;

- heard the President conclude that the exchange of views had highlighted the need for a coordinated and coherent approach in view of the dimension and the institutional nature of the report, and heard him invite Mr MORAES to report back to the Conference of Presidents on a regular basis;

- endorsed the President’s approach.

39/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 23.3 High-level conference on migration management

- heard Mr SYLIKIOTIS, acting Chair of the GUE/NGL Group, note that his Group would have had appreciated a timely information that an invitation had been extended to Mr AL- SARRAJ, Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord of Libya;

- heard the President recall that a programme had been circulated and that establishing good relations with countries from which migratory flows originated was in line with Parliament’s resolution of 25 October 2016.

PE 605.733/CPG 40/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 23.4 Relations with Turkey

- heard Mr WEBER, Chair of the EPP Group, propose to hold an exchange of views on inter- parliamentary relations with Turkey at the subsequent meeting of the Conference of Presidents;

- heard the President welcome the proposal and recall that the Conference of Presidents had agreed on 8 June 2017 to return to the situation in Turkey and the state of EU-Turkey relations, at a subsequent meeting.

41/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 23.5 European Ceremony of Honour for Dr. Helmut Kohl on 1 July 2017

- heard the President report that in order to honour the legacy of Dr. Helmut Kohl, Honorary Citizen of Europe, the European institutions would be co-organising a European Ceremony of Honour on 1 July 2017 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and that Members were welcome to attend, whereas it could not be considered to be a day of parliamentary activity.

PE 605.733/CPG 42/44 EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 24. Items for information

24.1 Internal correspondence

- noted the following documents:

 a letter dated dated 15 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, submitting a “Report on the Structured dialogue”, Summary Report, between parliamentary committees and the Commissioners (PE 605.811/CPG and annex);

 a letter dated 15 June 2017 from Ms WIKSTRÖM, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, on the Code of Conduct for negotiating in the context of the ordinary legislative procedure (PE 605.830/CPG);

 a letter dated 27 June 2017 from Ms HÜBNER, Acting Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, submitting the Conference of Committee Chairs' input to the presidential monitoring meeting on the Joint Declaration on the EU's legislative priorities 2017 on 5 July 2017 (PE 605.862/CPG and annex).

24.2 Inter-institutional correspondence

There was none.

24.3 External correspondence

There was none.

43/44 PE 605.733/CPG EN PV CPG 29.06.2017 25. Date and place of next meeting

- noted that the next ordinary meeting would be held on Wednesday 5 July 2017 from 14:30 to 16:00 hours in room R1.1, the Louise Weiss Building, Strasbourg.

The meeting closed at 11.20 hours.

PE 605.733/CPG 44/44 EN